Originally Posted By: tanstaafl.
With no coolant, the temperature gauge did not register an overheat condition (the sensor needs to be immersed in coolant in order to work).

Is it just me or does that sound like a really chimpy design error? There's really no sensor, even perhaps just for the ECU's benefit not yours, that can detect sudden coolant loss and shut down the engine? I hope these people don't also design nuclear reactors.

Peter