What will happen since I poured washer fluid into radiator overflow reservoir by mistake?

Question

How do I correct this? Please only serious replies.

Answer 1

Depends how much you poured in...
If you put just a little, it shouldnt be a big deal.

However, if you put alot in by mistake, you need to flush the system....

Take off the radiator and expansion tank cap.
Then remove the valve at the bottom of the radiator, to drain the coolant.
Then replace the valve.
And add purified water to the radiator, and put the caps back on.
Let the car run for 10-15 minutes.
Then remove the radiator cap and expansion tank cap again.
Remove the valve at the bottom of the radiator, and drain the water.
Then put the valve back, and place the cap back on the expansion tank.
Add the correct type and amount of coolant to the radiator.
Replace the radiator cap.
Done.

Answer 2

Empty out the radiator overflow right away. As long as your engine has not been warmed up enough to siphon the fluid into your radiator, you will be fine.

If you can't get the fluid out, stick a garden hose in the overflow tank and run water in until the washer fluid is gone or very diluted.

If your washer fluid is winter grade (-20 to -35) it will have methanol in it. If it is the weaker version, it is mostly water.

If you have already run the vehicle and the engine has become warm, I would suggest draining and flushing your cooling system and adding fresh antifreeze.

Answer 3

Yeah, use a turkey-baster, a bulb syringe. Get as much as you can out of there. It won't really hurt it, but windshield washer fluid does have a small amount of soap in it. The soap might agitate and foam inside the engine causing a boil over. Top off your overflow reservoir after that with anti-freeze and a small amount of water to the COLD line showing on the side.

Answer 4

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RE:
What will happen since I poured washer fluid into radiator overflow reservoir by mistake?
How do I correct this? Please only serious replies.

Answer 5

ok, So theres washer fluid in the radiator... It will wash the inside( hahah -_-) lol anyway You would have to drain the radiator.. then run water through it known as flushing the system then you would fill it back up with the 50/50 mix of coolant. if you leave it in.. I can't tell you what it would do cause I don't know... its pretty much the same as putting windex in your radiator. I would flush it to be on the safe side.... its not hard to do

Answer 6

It is mostly water anyway, so not much will happen. Your cooalnt is 50/50, half water and half antifreeze. Just remove a little if the level is too high, and then don't worry about it much. Just check the concentration of your coolant in a couple months, it might need a little more antifreeze. Maybe get your coolant replaced next fall.

So remove some by siphoning. If some stays in the resivior, don't worry about it.

Answer 7

Siphon it out before it gets into your engine. If it's too late for that, then drain the anti-freeze and flush the system and refill. It probably needs it anyway. You should replace your fluid about every other year to replace the anti-oxidants in the coolant so the block and radiator don't corrode.

Answer 8

Why is everybody saying to syphon?

Take out the overflow reservoir and throw the water down the sink.

The reservoir isnt screwed down. Its just slots in. Take it by both hands and pull up. It should come out easy.

Answer 9

dont start the engine just sipon out the overflow bottle
but i dont see any damage could come for the washer fluid

Answer 10

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Long term, it will damage all of the seals in your cooling system. Based on how much it will cost for new coolant, flush your system out. Play it safe.