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WATCH | Here's what happens when you drive a car around a track without any oil

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<i>Image: iStock</i>
<i>Image: iStock</i>

Cars need oil just as much as we need water, but what happens when a car is driven - and hard at that - when there is no oil in the engine?

To see exactly what would happen, one of the guys at Car Throttletook his ragged 1994 Mercedes-Benz C180 and had its oil drained then run around a track.

Knock, smoke, pop

After about 17 minutes, the engine finally seized, splattering a plume of smoke and spraying metal fragments all over the road. The poor engine's last hurrah.

READ: Everything you need to know about your car’s oil

That is mighty impressive considering how much oil these older cars use, but its viscosity is much thicker than the more modern ones of today. 

The duration of how long this engine lasted meant it could have sustained a full lap around the Nurburgring, in theory, but would probably have broken down sooner than that anyway.

If you are driving an older vehicle, it is vital to check your oil and water on a regular basis to prevent any damage to your vehicle.

Watch this crazy video:

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