While in a rush to get out, I put the fluid in the wrong place. The car has not overheated but I have smelled the fluid evaporating. There is no difference in engine temperature or running condition. Its a 2002 civic LX with the non vtec motor. Can I leave it in to evaporate or should I change the fluid?
Put windshield wiper fluid in antifreeze reservoir, will it do damage?
Change the fluid. What's that gonna run you? About $6? I'd rather spend the $6 change the fluid and know that everything's okay than leave it in there do some irrepairable damage and have to buy a new car.
Windshield wiper fluid is heavily alcohol based. It evaporates quickly so that it doesn't leave streaks.
Anti-freeze is polyethylene glycol. It's designed to keep your engine cool. It stays consistently the same viscosity no matter what the temperature is. Either way, it's a bad idea to be trying to cool your engine with alcohol.
CHANGE IT.
Put windshield wiper fluid in antifreeze reservoir, will it do damage?
The only thing you might notice is that there will be a foam build-up in the resevoir from the wiper fluid cleaner, but other than that, it will be ok.
Depends on how much you put in. but it shouldn't be a problem. Have the coolant concentration checked to make sure that it won't freeze and adjust as neccesary.
unless your car has a coolant leak it will not evaporate as cooling systems are considered sealed, unless they have leaks. you need to flush your coolant, probably a few times. the cheapest way to do this is to drain and fill with DISTILLED water 2 or 3 times. and afterward, refill with the proper coolant. washer fluid is not compatible with coolant and will cause rusting of the radiator and engine block.
You should remove the wiper fluid from the resevoir. Unbolt the resevoir and clean it out if you have to. Then only put 50/50 premix antifreeze into it. Do you wish to risk harming your vehicle for this ?
Flush the cooling system. Washer fluid can have some pretty strong cleaners that your seals and gaskets might not take too well to.
Good time to flush the system, re-fill it 50/50 and if thermostat is original change it too. It won't harm anything if only a little was added.
