running vehicle with dead engine battery?

You could very well cause the alt to overheat and fail or even burn. I would not intentionally run an eng with a failed battery.

It will be fine, but your engine battery may need replacement. How old is it, and was this a one time event where it was drained down because something was left on (headlights)?

Dead as in discharged or dead as in not even serviceable?
If any doubt get a new battery first.

battery is about 6 yrs old.... will not hold a charge
I will replace it... but am at least 50 miles from a place to get one. So, was just wondering about the eng trying to charge the battery... and if it is so dead
as to not take a charge... and if and how it might cause other problems if I drive extended time, distance

thanks

I don't know if this is possible for you but if you could just run off the house batteries and take the chassis batt out of the circuit, you would do fine.

Start the vehicle with the house battery then take neg cable off vehicle battery and drive the 50 miles and get a new battery.

Just start with the "house" battery and head for a battery seller. The old battery won't hurt the alternator, it simply has insufficient Pb/H2SO4 plate voltage inside to achieve 12V for a start.

If the chassis battery has an internal short, things will get very hot. Disconnect it if you can.
I once saw a car alternator burn a car up because of this scenario.

Boon Docker wrote:
Start the vehicle with the house battery then take neg cable off vehicle battery and drive the 50 miles and get a new battery.

Very bad advice.
Taking the battery out of the circuit will cause voltage spikes that can damage components.

How about a mobile mechanic? Do you have roadside assistance?
No other buddies to bum a ride to the battery store?