Washer fluid into coolent

[blacklabel]

Had a Derp moment. Was rushing and put a bottle of washer fluid into my coolent resavoir. It's a 2010 Ram 1500. I'm not mechanical inclined at all. Seeing differing answers on the Internet. Figured beyond would be a good place to come. Is there an easy fix? Is it okay? Or am I fucked

[lilmira]

Go get it flushed?

[Cos]

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[jacky4566]

$110?! Coolant is like $50 and a bucket and your done.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by jacky4566
$110?! Coolant is like $50 and a bucket and your done.


Originally posted by blacklabel
I'm not mechanical inclined at all.

[Cos]

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[Nismorphed]

No problems if left maybe down the roads there could be problems but I wouldn't worry and just flush it sooner than later

[Rat Fink]

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[Kloubek]

Disclaimer: I'm in no way suggesting you run the vehicle with the windshield fluid in the coolant lines.

...buuuuttt... what's the worst that can happen? WW fluid is just water with alcohol. At worst, I could see the alcohol evaporating. And then water... well...

Certainly get it flushed regardless.

[blitz]

Originally posted by blacklabel
put a bottle of washer fluid into my coolent resavoir.


Originally posted by blacklabel
I'm not mechanical inclined at all.

:rofl:

Did you put the full 4 L in? If so there's probably way too much fluid in your expansion tank. How close is the nearest dealer/shop to your house?

[Cos]

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[ShermanEF9]

its not good. the ingredients attack seals and dry them out. it would be advised to get it flushed ASAP

[revelations]

Im mechanically inclined and I still put washer fluid in my res once. :rofl:

Just stick a garden hose in the res tank .... flush it all out, and then siphon the water itself out some how or just dump 4L of distilled water into the res tank to get overflow and get rid of as much tap water as possible (tap water is bad, but the little thats left after wont make a difference).

[spikerS]

I really don't think it will hurt too much, it is really just a detergent solution with some alcohol to prevent freezing.

I wouldn't worry about driving it to the shop or whatever to get a flush. I think most fast lube shops do this service too.

I think if you flush it, the worst you are going to suffer are some really clean coolant lines. Nothing *SHOULD* chunk up as the alcohol in the washerfluid should thin it out.

[MR2-3SGTE]

First of all, how much did you put in? Did you just put in a little to top it off? Or are we talking about a full bottle? A little would not hurt it enough to cause significant damage. There wouldn't be any issues driving it down a few km to a shop for a flush, unless you put in quite a large amount

[blacklabel]

I was able to syphian most of it out with a turkey baster. Attached a 3/4 water line to the end of the baster to get the stuff that was really deep. Got about 3L of it out. Man I feel like an idiot. Luckily it was all in the reserve

[zipdoa]

I would avoid using tap water for a flush. Distilled only IMO.

[Kloubek]

Why is that Zipdoa? After a flush it gets drained anyway. They make flush kits which are designed specifically to hook up to a garden hose.

Now, using distilled water as your 50/50 mixture is preferred, of course....

[Maxt]

Washer fluid is most of the time methanol. I've seen people mix it in heating plant feed tanks with ethylene glycol by accident and it precipitates a hard white crystal substance that plugs up passages. if you just filled up the overflow bottle chances aren't not in the main cooling system yet. Get it drained and refilled.

[01RedDX]

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[top_speed]

Can't you just take out the expansion tank and spill out washer fluid??