Help! I poured windsheild washer liquid into my coolant tank - 95 Nissan altima?

Question

would a radiator flush solve the problem?

Answer 1

luckily radiator fluid is about 50% water....and your washer fluid is mostly water as well. A simple drain and re-fill would fix it right up. Honestly You could probably drive like that for a little while without any trouble. The washer fluid probably has some form of alcohol in it, so it will boil easier, so if you got in traffic the car might overheat but aside from that it won't harm any internal components.

Answer 2

If you poured it directly into the radiator that is bad (but not terrible as the previous answerer pointed out).

If instead you poured it into the plastic overflow tank that is not as bad since it would only go into the radiator after the thermostat opened while the engine was hot. If everything is cold use a turkey baster or equivalent to get the water out of that plastic tank. You could then put a garden hose in there and keep adding water to it until it has no wiper fluid color. Then get that clean water out the same way. Your radiator will never know that you goofed.

Answer 3

True, a coolant flush would solve your problem but at a high cost whereas a simple drain and fill would also solve your problem but also at a cost.

AND, as Louis has already stated, your anti-freeze should be around 50% water and the dilution of washer fluid is usually around 50% water and 50% anti-freeze, so your coolant system isn't going to be hurt if you just leave it in until your next scheduled service.

Unless you really want to drain it out, you could also drain out you reservoir, add new anti-freeze, and continue on about your business.

Answer 4

a radiator flush is a very good idea
the only thing the alcohol in the washer fluid might harm are the rubber hoses connecting your radiator to your block, i know oil makes them get soft and swell and leak but i dont know what alcohol would do to them
overheating is probably going to happen even on short trips and you're temp guage will probably be acting goofy until you get it flushed

Answer 5

if you don't want to trade your altima for a murano i strongly recommend you to get a pump and evacuate the Windex from your radiator... it might be corrosive or flammable... it depends on the components and the brand... play safe pump it out of your radiator and pour water and pump it again at least two times more until it is all out, then you can pour the radiator refrigerant

Answer 6

dont worry.window wash is water and alcahol...unless u put a gallon or 2 in it forget it...all this flush the radiator stuff is BS.

Answer 7

it's a 95 model and it's japanese.......dnt worry it's at the end of it's useful life soon any way.....did you ever notice that you see thousands of old American cars still on the road compared to just a few piece of crap jap cars ?

Answer 8

Don't worry about it. It will NOT hurt your car.