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This happened to me.. so I have some suggestions.
First.. don't panic!! LOL.. its going to be ok :)
Worst case senario: drain the fluid out of the vehicle and replace it. I wouldn't do that just yet though. Read on and learn a bit.
There is some good news: Windshield wiper fluid is mostly water. Honestly, Im not sure what the 5% of other stuff in the windshield wiper fluid will do. Im thinking that there is a seal in the water pump, so it might damage that. You could leave it in and not do a thing and hope nothing bad will happen. Since I have a new vehicle chose to NOT go with this plan.
A question for you: Did you put it directly in the radiator or in the coolant reservoir? I put mine in the reservoir. This is what I did to fix my problem.
This is what I did. I opened my radiator cap, not all vehicles allow you to do this. I used a turkey baster to check the fluid in the radiator. Mine was all coolant. That was good news.
Now take a look at the reservoir, you MIGHT notice a difference in the color of the fluid. Coolant is usually red, green, or yellow. Windshield wiper fluid is generally blue. So lets hope you can see the difference. Lets hope that the fluids have not mixed. Mine didnt. In mine the windshield wiper fluid stayed on top.
In my vehicle the reservoir is used when the vehicle gets hot. The fluid is then stored in the reservoir. Also, if, for whatever reason, the vehicle loses some fluid, it uses the extra fluid in the reservoir to replace the fluid that is missing.
So good news for me, the windshield wiper fluid was trapped in the reservoir and only there. Lets hope that yours is as well :)
So I took a look at the reservoir and tried to figure out how to get the fluid out. It looked much to difficult to remove the reservoir... but what else could I do. So, as a man usually does, I looked at it for a while and prayed. Then it came to me: Suck the windshield wiper fluid out of the reservoir. BINGO! I grabbed my wet-vac and cut myself 2 feet of old garden hose. I slide the garden hose into the vacuums hose and used some Duct Tape to seal it. I slide the garden hose down into the reservoir and turned the vacuum on. I sucked out the windshield wiper fluid and whatever coolant that was in the reservoir. Viola!
I replaced the coolant with some new fluid and that was that!!
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∙ 12y ago
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Will it damage my van if i accidentally poured windshield washer fluid into the radiator reservoir?
No it won't hurt it. If you only poured a little in the radiator I wouldn't give it another thought. If you poured a quart or more in there you probably need to get your radiator flushed before the temperature starts hitting any extremes. Aluminum engine parts can be a little touchy if they aren't heated and cooled uniformly.
Will it damage my 2013 Chevy Impala if I accidentally poured windshield washer fluid into the radiator reservoir?
In a small amount (a few ounces), probably not. A larger amount may effect water pump seals.
What should you do if you accidentally added radiator fluid to the windshield washer fluid reservoir?
Do not operate the washer. Remove the washer fluid reservoir and flush it with soap and water until all traces of antifreeze is gone.
You accidentally poured brake fluid in the transmission fluid reservoir?
You need to get the trans fluid changed immediatley
What should you do if you accidentally poured brake fluid in the oil reservoir?
Change oil and filter
What should you do if you accidentally poured a little washer fluid into the brake fluid reservoir?
Do not pump the brakes. You will need to get all of the contaminated fluid out and refill the master cylinder.
What happens if you accidentally add antifreeze to the windshield washer bottle?
that will not do any damge just syphon out what you can and refill with windshield washer fluid at least the fluid will not freeze in the washer lines,lol
Where to fill radiator 2003 beatle?
Many VW Beetles from '98 to '05 don't have a traditional old-school radiator cap. The radiator fluid usually is poured into the radiator fluid recovery bottle. There should be a fill line on the bottle.
What do I do if I accidentally put windshield washer fluid in the rad?
drain all coolant then flush. refill with anti-freeze
When you put windsheld washer fluid in rad resever does it bubble emeditly?
Windshield wash should not be put into a radiator.
Where you put fluid in the car?
Engine oil reservoir, differential, radiator, power steering reservoir, brake fluid reservoir, windshield washer fluid reservoir, transmission or clutch.
Where is radiator cap on 94 Saturn sc2?
the ONLY access to the radiator is the overflowreservoir on the passenger side it has a big black cap and its right above the windshield washer fluid tank
