So there I was drivin along at 9 at night when I realized I ran out of windshield washer fluid. So I picked some up and went back to my house where there is next to no lighting. I have never had to refill this fluid since I got the car so I was on a scavenger hunt for the resevoir tank. Well, once I found it I fill it to capacity shut the lid and that was it. Well the next day I tried to use it, and nothing was coming out. I thought this was really odd, but just figured it was clogged or something. So this morning, I finally checked to see what was wrong, and I poured my windshield washer fluid into my engine coolant dept!!!
So my question is, what do I do. Will my car be ok if I let it stay there, or should I be proactive and get it fixed?

 

well most window washer fluids are water and methanol. Coolant is ethyl glycol and water. So the water which is most of what washer fluid is isnt a problem, but the small amount of methanol you dumped in could be a problem. You dumped it in the overflow tank which the car never really pulls much out of especially if you only drove it once. If you only drove it once i would pull out the overflow tank and dump it out and clean it and put it back in. If you drove it a few times theres a chance more got in. I have no idea what the effects of methanol are on glycol so i cant really help you there. I doubt much gt into your system though. If your worried its not hard to do a flush and fill GO TO THE DEALER and buy toyota coolant tho, its the best and good for near the life of the car. There is a small drain at the bottom of the radiator, loosen the drain let if flow into a bucket then tighten and poor in the new stuff.

 

Actually, the car pulls from the overflow every time you drive it. The coolant will move back and forth from the radiator to the overflow as the engine heats and cools. So it is already mixed in your cooling system if you drove it.

Small amounts will not hurt, but you have overfilled your cooling system by topping off the overflow most likely. I honestly dont know what the long term effects on all the seals and gaskets can be. Other than alchohol and water, there are some detergents as well in the washer fluid. Personally, I would take the **** route and flush it out and replace with the toyota premix or a good antifreeze mixed with distilled water.

 

I agree. Flush it and then invest in a flashlight for your glovebox.

 

Another quick sign of filling the wrong part is that when empty, our washer resevoir will hold a full gallon of fluid. So if it is empty and you can only fit a little in.. chances are it is going in the wrong place

 

Thanks Guys! I appreciate all your help! One question though. Can anyone tell me exactly where the plug is to drain the fluid. I am on a time schedule today and it would save me the time of looking for it.

 

run your hand along the bottom of the radiator youll find it.

 

Yeah, dump and flush. Then refill with the right stuff.

 

Yeah, dump and flush. Then refill with the right stuff.

 

So should I just use regular water to flush everything out?

 

Try to use Distilled water to flush if you can, then use Toyota Long Life red coolant.

 

juat be on the safe side, i would drain everything and fill er back up, and be sure and not do it again!

 

dump and flush!

 

And don't forget to buy a flashlight for your car, so you don't end up making this mistake again. I have a mini-MagLite in my glovebox at all times.

 

Also, the washer fluid resevoir is the one with th freaky dipstick in it. (I was cutterly amused by that thing!)

 

I took a Dump then Flushed!!!

 

lol.. mistakes happen