3 Cups of Windshield Washer Fluid into Coolant Reservoir
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
3 Cups of Windshield Washer Fluid into Coolant Reservoir
Our SL500 Windshield Washer System fluid level light was on. I bought an "All Season" washer fluid.
The owner's manual has the engine fluid reservoirs incorrectly labeled. Which led me to top up the Coolant Reservoir with about 3 cups of Windshield Washer Fluid
.
After realizing this error I sucked about 3 cups of liquid out of the Coolant Reservoir so that it was not over full. But the fluids are mixed up in the reservoir now, which can not be reversed. We have not started the car up since.
The coolant system was flushed during regular maintenance about 6,000 miles ago and was currently at a full level.
What bothers me now is that there has been 3 cups of water, weak antifreeze and soap solution (which is the "All Season" washer fluid) mixed in with our coolant system fluids which is water and a higher concentration of antifreeze.
Will the small amount of soap alter the Ph of the system?
Should I have the coolant system flushed just to be safe?
Any problem driving tomorrow before getting around to doing the flushing?
Thanks for your advice.
The owner's manual has the engine fluid reservoirs incorrectly labeled. Which led me to top up the Coolant Reservoir with about 3 cups of Windshield Washer Fluid
.After realizing this error I sucked about 3 cups of liquid out of the Coolant Reservoir so that it was not over full. But the fluids are mixed up in the reservoir now, which can not be reversed. We have not started the car up since.
The coolant system was flushed during regular maintenance about 6,000 miles ago and was currently at a full level.
What bothers me now is that there has been 3 cups of water, weak antifreeze and soap solution (which is the "All Season" washer fluid) mixed in with our coolant system fluids which is water and a higher concentration of antifreeze.
Will the small amount of soap alter the Ph of the system?
Should I have the coolant system flushed just to be safe?
Any problem driving tomorrow before getting around to doing the flushing?
Thanks for your advice.
Last edited by ChrisB; Oct 10, 2006 at 02:01 AM.
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Fluid
Given you had 3 cups in a 14 qt system and didn't run it but removed it. The concentration should be very low. I would just 
it. But then that's just my $.02.
You could figure the solid / active material by scientific methods you would find a very small amount of material.
Then use 100x (dry weight)/(dry weight+wet weight) to get % concentration. Remember to use 8.33#'s gal for water weight so with approx. 3.5 gals of water the weight would be about 29#'s. You probably only have .03 #/s or less of active material in 3 cups of the liquid and you removed most of it so lets assume you have .015#'s left. You should have a concentration of less than .001% which should give you no problem. But just my opinion. Best of luck Jim
it. But then that's just my $.02. You could figure the solid / active material by scientific methods you would find a very small amount of material.
Then use 100x (dry weight)/(dry weight+wet weight) to get % concentration. Remember to use 8.33#'s gal for water weight so with approx. 3.5 gals of water the weight would be about 29#'s. You probably only have .03 #/s or less of active material in 3 cups of the liquid and you removed most of it so lets assume you have .015#'s left. You should have a concentration of less than .001% which should give you no problem. But just my opinion. Best of luck Jim
Last edited by vettdvr; Oct 10, 2006 at 09:24 AM.
