What happens if I accidentally poured antifreeze into the windshield wiper fluid container in my car?

Question

I also accidentally poured the windshield wiper fluid into the antifreeze container in my car. What should I do? I mixed up the two.

Answer 1

The antifreeze in the washer tank isn't that bad and you can just drain it and flush it out with fresh water.

The washer fluid in the coolant tank is a problem but can also be easily flushed out. There is a drain at the bottom of your radiator and if you open it and put a hose in the top of the radiator and flush it for a bit then start the engine and let it keep flushing until it runs clear, you should be good. Then just shut the car off, let it all drain out and then close the plug and fill it with coolant.

It's shouldn't hurt the negine as long as you don't leave it in there for too long. The onoly thing I can think would be bad is it won't properly cool the engine and can possibly start eating at the gaskets. On the plus side, it is a cleaner and it will clean out your system.

If you can't flush it, any mechanic should be able to do it for under 50 bucks. Jiffy lube and places like that can do it.

Answer 2

your windshield will get covered in green (or red) liquid that will dry out your wipers and possibly cause a problem with the tubing that connects the wiper fluid resevoir to the nozzel below your windshield. The cure, siphon out the antifreeze with a turkey baster, and if you don't have that, pick up a siphon from your local parts store. They are cheap. After you siphon out the antifreeze, fill the resevoir with tap water, and let the washing begin..... you'll need to pump the water through the system by pushing the button, or lever, or whatever it may be on your steering column until all the water is gone. This will flush the system. Then, fill up the resevoir with the correct fluid, and good to go.

Answer 3

Don't use the washers the coolant will damage your paint and smear all over your windshield making it imposable to see where you are going. if you can remove the reservoir easily remove it and flush it out with clean water and then put in the correct fluid. If it's hard to get to disconnect the hose if possible at the reservoir or worst case at the nozzle and drain it into a container you may have to run the washer pump for a few minutes to pump it out.

Answer 4

Haha. Not to worry, I think. You can take care of the antifreeze in the washer fluid, just put a hose into it and let it run, the antifreeze will eventually dilute out. However, you are going to need to get a coolant flush done as soon as possible. You dont want that floating around your engine.

Answer 5

you shoul drain the radiator and fill box and refill it with 50/50 water and anti freeze. You need the antifreeze to lube the water pump and protect the motor. On the windhsield wipers, drain it out and refill with proper fluid, anti freeze will leave a "film" on your windshield, and can ruin the paint on your car if left on it.
good luck, and don't feel bad, it's a very common mistake.

Answer 6

which one? Did you put anit-freeze in windshield washer, or windshield washer in the radiator 'overflow'. If you put antifreeze in the windshield washer tank, DO NOT USE. Drain it out & clean it with rubbing alcohol, ect.
If you poured windsheild wiper fluid into radiator overflow tank, don't worry about it.

Answer 7

Antifreeze will affect painted surfaces of your car, therefore you do not want it splashing the car body when activating the washers, You can use a water hose to displace the antifrezze out of it.
Windshield fluid will do no harm at the coolant reservoir.

Answer 8

Assuming it's really RV antifreeze (the stuff used in fresh water systems) and not antifreeze for the engine, then it won't do damage. But I wouldn't want to clean my windows with it. If you can, siphon it out and put in the right stuff.

Answer 9

drain both. The drain is usually at the bottom of the radiator, and the plastic cup for the wiper fluid comes out.

Answer 10

Nothing but a smearing windshield when you use it. Stick a garden hose into the bottle and flush it out really well, it'll be ok.