My main coolant line just popped open a big leak and the needle went up to the white above the red. I'm parked on the side of the road right as I type this (thanks to my iPhone ) and I have coolant in the trunk but should I call AAA or should I try and make it? I live about 5 miles from where I'm at.

Wow, I seriously hate this damn desert....

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76 MG Midget
78 Datsun 280Z
86 Peugeot 505
01 Subaru Outback

“Owning a car is like owning a dog. Every now and then, it craps on the carpet — but it’s still your dog.” - Jeremy Clarkson

The needle is now halfway and she's cooling down nicley thank god

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76 MG Midget
78 Datsun 280Z
86 Peugeot 505
01 Subaru Outback

“Owning a car is like owning a dog. Every now and then, it craps on the carpet — but it’s still your dog.” - Jeremy Clarkson

AAA. 5 miles = guaranteed overheat/mess up engine

Sounds like you are long overdue for some new hoses!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Alright

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76 MG Midget
78 Datsun 280Z
86 Peugeot 505
01 Subaru Outback

“Owning a car is like owning a dog. Every now and then, it craps on the carpet — but it’s still your dog.” - Jeremy Clarkson

Yeah srsly way overdue, I should have checked it before -.- ugh

__________________
76 MG Midget
78 Datsun 280Z
86 Peugeot 505
01 Subaru Outback

“Owning a car is like owning a dog. Every now and then, it craps on the carpet — but it’s still your dog.” - Jeremy Clarkson

You could drive home, but I'd only go a short distance. Then stop and shut the engine down. Let it cool. Then go a little further. The stop again. Don't let the temp gauge get higher than 100C. It will take a while but waiting for a tow can take a long time as well. You'd have to make sure you have good places to pull off and hang out for a bit.

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Alright, everything is cool now and i'm back home..

Turns out for some reason, I didn't have my AAA card on me :/ So I called my dad and we went to pep boys and bought the hose and installed it right there. It's back to normal now and running fine from what I can tell.

Scared me though when the needle went above the red I was like "CRAAAAAAAP"

I remember reading in my 300E manual that if the engine is overheating, not to shut it off right away but to let it run at idle so it can cool. But I had no coolant and I was afraid of shutting it off, So I ran it a tiny tiny bit above idle so the fan was cooling it down, it didn't do anything but I didn't want to shut it off right away, was that the right thing to do?

__________________
76 MG Midget
78 Datsun 280Z
86 Peugeot 505
01 Subaru Outback

“Owning a car is like owning a dog. Every now and then, it craps on the carpet — but it’s still your dog.” - Jeremy Clarkson

The running at idle before shutting down or equalization of metal temperatures is a good ideal. Thats if the coolant system is intact. You are dealing with any hotspots from high speed running especially. An engine will tend to last longer from doing it.

When coolant is lost from say a ruptured hose things are different. If it is detected by the temperature gauge rising especially. Quickest shutdown practical under the situation is where to go. Wherever the engine is creating heat will only get hotter. Until all the coolant has been blown out of the engine you usually get away with this. Perhaps not on certain engines like the 603 diesel unfortunatly.

if you cannot fix the leak so that pressure may build in the coolant system, you will continue to overheat.

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