Alright, so the other day the windshield wiper fluid light came on. Picked myself up a gallon of some fluid. Popped the hood in the parking lot and popped the cap on the resevoir. I start pouring it in and then noticed that its almost full after only pouring in a 1/2 gallon of fluid. Huh?

 

 

I poured it into the coolant resevoir! :banghead:

 

Ok.. So I lost 1/2 gallon of fluid. It was no biggie to isolate the resevoir from the cooling system. Pop the rubber hose off and pop the resevoir out and dumped the fluid into the wiper fluid bottle.

 

Curiosity is, how much of a difference would it really make to the coolant system had I not noticed?

 

...can't believe I made such a rookie mistake!

I am not sure I even have a coolant reservoir. Whenever I do anything with the coolant its just right at the radiator cap. Maybe it was an option or something.

Alright, so the other day the windshield wiper fluid light came on. Picked myself up a gallon of some fluid. Popped the hood in the parking lot and popped the cap on the resevoir. I start pouring it in and then noticed that its almost full after only pouring in a 1/2 gallon of fluid. Huh?

 

 

I poured it into the coolant resevoir! :banghead:

 

Ok.. So I lost 1/2 gallon of fluid. It was no biggie to isolate the resevoir from the cooling system. Pop the rubber hose off and pop the resevoir out and dumped the fluid into the wiper fluid bottle.

 

Curiosity is, how much of a difference would it really make to the coolant system had I not noticed?

 

...can't believe I made such a rookie mistake!

 

If it makes you feel any better I have done it at least once that I remember. Drained it like you did and never gave it another thought. Whether it is bad for anything I dont know.

 

I am not sure I even have a coolant reservoir. Whenever I do anything with the coolant its just right at the radiator cap. Maybe it was an option or something.

 You should have a reservoir on the back side of the radiator on the passenger side. Should be right there behind the radiator cap. 

You didn't hurt a thing. The cooling system could not have pulled enough washer fluid in to even notice. Just run it.

I believe what he wants to know was if he left it in there and it all got pulled into the system would it hurt anything. I dont know but am kind of curious my self.

You didn't hurt a thing. The cooling system could not have pulled enough washer fluid in to even notice. Just run it.

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I understand not enough got in to hurt anything. I am just wondering if it HAD pulled it in or oops I poured half gallon in the radiator, would that hurt anything. I dont know what kind of effect if any it would have on the cooling system.

Yeah, what dripley said. I never even started the truck in between fluid swap. But just curious as to what wiper fluid would do with coolant in the system.

You would not have hurt anything unless you filled it with washer fluid and tried to run it for a long time like that. It would have coooled fine until it got low enough to over heat. Eventually you would expeience some cooling system failure due to the chemical make up not really made for in an engine block. Washer fluid has the thermal properties of water, but not the corrosion properties of anti-freeze.

I've never done that........................... Yet!

I do have a coolant reservoir!! Wow I wonder how long that thing has been there??

I do have a coolant reservoir!! Wow I wonder how long that thing has been there??

 

Since 2001.  I was on my 3rd or 4th oil change before I noticed I had 2 batteries.

Since 2001.  I was on my 3rd or 4th oil change before I noticed I had 2 batteries.

 

  Well I am glad I'm not the only one around here with this problem