I bought a used car for my daughter and I have put screenwash in the coolant bottle, will this do damage?

Question

I would have tried to drain it but the bottle just glugged away and emptied itself straight away. HELP!!!!!!

yes, I put in about a litre and about 1/4 of it was screenwash. Yes it was by mistake. I will see if I can pull the hose and drain it then. Thanks guys.

Answer 1

First, let me tell you that several people have answered incorrectly to your question. I can't believe that people are answering who don't know the first thing about cars. Don't panic. This is not a big deal. The total volume in your coolant system is probably several gallons, and I bet you got (at most) 1 gallon of cleaner in there. Second, the primary ingredient in your wind screen cleaner is probably water, with a little ammonia or methanol and a smidgen of detergent. This WON'T hurt your engine. If the car overheats, stop the engine immediately and get the radiator flushed. Otherwise, just get it checked as you regularly would and assure there is enough anti-freeze in it to prevent damage over the winter.

Answer 2

The coolant never actually enters the engine it just acts as a heat sink flowing around the engine then returning to the radiator to be cooled. Bubbles might reduce the efficiency of the cooling system but won't cause catastrophic failure like others are implying. Windshield wiper fluid doesn't even bubble much anyway.
My only fear would be that any detergents in the wiper fluid might break down the antifreeze and make it less effective. It would probably be a good idea to have the coolant changed but I don't think it is an emergency.

Answer 3

By mistake? If not, why?
If you're mechanically inclined you can drain the coolant. Use a hose fill it up an fuush it out with water. Drain the water and replace with coolant.

Don't keep the coolant and screenwash bottles on the same shelf.

Answer 4

Dont be cheap. Go to a local junkyard and buy one! I dont think coolant overflow bottles are something that should be fixed. The combination of heat from the engine, and boiling coolant could possibly break the repair, and make it leak again. For the price of buying JB Weld you can buy a perfectly good used one from a junkyard.

Answer 5

Wouldn't do any damage. It's an alcohol so if anything it will keep the car cooler. If it's an older car though the computer won't compensate for this and it will run too cold, meaning more fuel. In many modern cars, well post 96 cars it's advised you put coolant in with the water to help accelerate the heat dispersal.

Answer 6

Relax, its nowhere near as bad as putting oil in the water or vice versa!

Just pop the bottom hose off the radiator and let it drain, then refill with some fresh coolant, also a good idea to use de-ionised water to help against corrosion.

Answer 7

Most screen-washes are methanol based, which is the old form of antifreeze. Most modern cars have aluminium heads so require Etheline glycol antifreeze which is also a coolant. (It prevents the head from warping)

The answer to your question is that short term this will not do any damage to your daughter's car, but it is advisable to flush the system prior to winter. An average small car would require 2 litres of Etheline glycol antifreeze mixed with water.

Answer 8

It may cause damage, windshield washing fluid is not a coolant/antifreeze. Drain the radiator and refill with the proper stuff.

Answer 9

Oh ****, Right what you need to do is go to a garage and ask them to flush the cooant system, screenwash will create bubbles in your engine and these can be very very bad, Id advise that you only run the engine for as long as it takes to get to a mechanic

Answer 10

Should clean the inside of your cooling system nicely but to be safe I would drain the system and replace with fresh coolant / antifreeze.