I just put windscreen liquid into the radiator header tank. GRRRR! Is that harmful to the cooling system! Anything I can do! Too scared to start the car in case. I'm gonna try and unplug then drain the header tank. Any suggestions gratefully appreciated
kazbanz,
Feb 19, 8:54am
how much "windscreen liquid" ! what exactly is in this stuff!
hawat,
Feb 19, 9:01am
The stuff you usually put into the windscreen washer tank - no more bugs or something similar. Probably about a couple of tablespoons. Was absent mindedly using up the last bit in the bottle before buying anew one
intrade,
Feb 19, 9:03am
when was the coolant last changed! because it should be changed every 2 years
hawat,
Feb 19, 9:05am
Thanks intrade but what has that got to do with "would putting windscreen washer liquid into the header tank be harmful to the cooling system" !
intrade,
Feb 19, 9:11am
(dont know but if the coolant was to be changed anyhow then you could now do it and the bug stuff would be gone the same time.)))))) I dont know how the header tank is set up is it seperate from the radiator or is it part of the main cooling system. If you can undo the header and empty it out and refill with propper only antifreeze then it be what to do.
kazbanz,
Feb 19, 9:20am
short version OP--pretty unlikely the bug stuff will do any harm
gammelvind,
Feb 19, 9:25am
Might get a bit frothy
booost1,
Feb 19, 9:33am
The pH value of detergent in around 2 points lower than the ethylene glycol you'd normally have in your cooling system. Going by what my mechanic told me if left in your engine too long it could accelerate corrosion through the motor. Assuming you haven't turned the motor over yet just disconnect the return pipe from the bottom of the header/overflow tank and give it a good rinse :) The hose clamps and mounts for the header can be a bit awkward but it shouldn't take ya much more than a half hour to sort it.
hawat,
Feb 19, 9:34am
Thanks guys (huh! is that sexist! Not meant to be) After the initial panic I kind of arrived at the point of thinking that such a small amount would probably be ok and yes intrade the flush and replace will take care of any long term issues. However I didn't want to start the car up if it was going to be expensive or terminal. Wish Berg was open today, a quick phone call to him would have settled it.
fiatracer,
Feb 19, 9:38am
assume you put it into the filler bottle. get a short length of tuning, siphon it out, and refill the bottle. If you havent run the engine, it wont have gone beyond the bottle. [assuming the 540 has a rad filler bottle up against the firewall, remote from the radiator. Can't remember if it was my 540 or 740 that was like this! or maybe my 735 paddock car!]
fiatracer,
Feb 19, 9:38am
tuning -= tubing :-)
hawat,
Feb 19, 12:04pm
yep fiatracer you are correct. Remote filler bottle close to the firewall. Short piece of plastic pipe did the trick, Emptied it out and refilled with clean water, all good
saxman99,
Feb 19, 12:16pm
You probably should have refilled the expansion tank with coolant, not water.
hawat,
Feb 19, 12:24pm
hmmmmm good point saxman should have done that. But its going to have a full flush soon anyway. Been about 2 years since the last one
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