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henryJ
New User

Feb 17, 2008, 8:10 PM

Post #1 of 4 (2668 views)

coolant system	Sign In

I just topped up my windshield washer reservoir on my 2001 Chrysler Caravan; only to discover when I closed the lid that I put W.W. fluid in the Coolant System reservoir! I need to get it to a service station but I am not sure how much damage I have done. I don't want to drive it too far and perhaps damage the engine. Also, the fluid is overfilled, can this be dangerous and should I try to siphon some of it off?

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 18, 2008, 12:53 AM

Post #2 of 4 (2667 views)

Re: coolant system	Sign In

You aren't the first or will be the last with that. Relax but take care of it. The washer fluids are usually just colored methyl alcohol and water and shouldn't hurt the cooling system and will evap out the alcohol so won't act as anti-freeze for long. Overfilled coolant at reservior will just overflow out when it expands which could wet things you don't need doused. Otherwise not really a problem.

It's a good opportunity to just up and change the coolant completely. Alcohols tend to stiffen the rubber parts and that would be the worst of it.

The most important thing is to make sure you are freeze protected. It will still test with the anti-freeze tester but may lose the level of protection soon. How much did you add? If just a qt or something it's not going to mess up the show. It's more important to know why it needed topping off to begin with as that suggests a leak somewhere.

It's more annoying to add anti-freeze to washer fluid as it smudges up on windshield!

Washer and coolant are both water based. Adding water or an oil to the wrong things is big trouble - this should be ok,

T

henryJ
New User

Feb 18, 2008, 7:41 AM

Post #3 of 4 (2661 views)

Re: coolant system	Sign In

Thanks very much Tom for the speedy reply. I feel better now that I have not done any real damage to anything. I probably added about a quart of WW fluid which is rated at -25 degrees F. Hopefully the diluted coolant is still in the minus fahranheit range as the temperatures over the next couple of days will be as low as plus 10 fahranheit, and I probably won't be able to get the system flushed for a few days (auto repair stores closed today for holiday).

I will monitor the temperature and may have to add some antifreeze if it looks like there is not enough protection from freezing before I get the car in.

Thanks again

Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 18, 2008, 9:34 AM

Post #4 of 4 (2658 views)

Accidental Windshield Washer Fluid put in Coolant	Sign In

Relax: 1 qt. isn't going to upset the apple cart. I don't have a chart in front of me (should get one to post) as to what the protection is in what concentration. Most everything calls for -34F which is a 50/50 mix of EG = Ethylene Glycol anti-freeze (typical name - Prestone) so if you look at a chart which some containers have you would know where you are now.

That is: If your system holds 12 qts total (in owner's manual) and it was correct before you had 6 qts of concentrate in it and with the WW fluid (just call that water) it's now 5.5qts of concentrate and you can look that up. The WW won't defeat the EG but just behave like water when the alch burns off.

I won't guarantee this but a mixture protected to about +15F or +20F will not crack an engine but would tfreeze to slush and then CONTRACT instead of EXPAND when frozen. In that case just thawing it out would be back to operational. don't test things like that though!

Now - please check you WW fluid to see what it was. Typical blue is fine. If some funky solution let me know and lets get that out of there. Again the cheaper WW fluid is Methyl Alcohol and should say so.

Sorry for the book here. Changed the subject line as this will get searched out for info by others who have done the same thing,

T

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