Expert: Kevin Pilotte - 3/25/2004

Question
Hi, computers are more my thing than cars, and as such i have a fairly general question.
I have a 1990 plymouth voyager and it recently, earlier today, was making a pinging sound. I filled the radiator, it was COMPLETELY EMPTY, should i be allright to drive if i was only going with it empty for tops an hour maybe two?
My stepfather doesnt want me to drive my van to work even tomorrow should i be ok to drive till i can get it checked out on sunday,today is thursday?
Thank you for any help you can give me. thank you for being here for me to atleast ask even if you cant tell me the answer.

MCL
Travis

Answer
Remove the radiator cap after the vehicle has been sitting for a few hours, cold. Start the engine, turn the heat on MAX hot, and watch the level of the coolant in the radiator. As the engine warms up. the level might go down. Add coolant until it will not accept any more. This might take 20 minutes to get the engine to operating temperature. Once the engine is at operating temperature, and the radiator is full, install the radiator cap. Be sure the coolant over flow tank is at the proper level. Keep an eye on the level in the over flow tank. If it goes down below the mark, add coolant to the tank. If it continues to go down, have it checked by a competent mechanic.