How big of a problem do I have? (aka dumb mistake)
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How big of a problem do I have? (aka dumb mistake)
Would you believe that the picture on the coolant cover looks a lot like a picture of windshield wipers...at least when your bifocals aren't working to well.
The short version...I was rushing and put some (about a quart?) of windshield wiper fluid into the coolant system.
How serious is this?
The manual has "life and death severity level" warnings about using anything but the prescribed coolant fluid.
Do I need to do anything?
TIA
CrofTTy
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Modified "custom-blended" coolant fluid
The short version...I was rushing and put some (about a quart?) of windshield wiper fluid into the coolant system.
How serious is this?
The manual has "life and death severity level" warnings about using anything but the prescribed coolant fluid.
Do I need to do anything?
TIA
CrofTTy
OCT chip
Forge diverter
Modified "custom-blended" coolant fluid
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Since the coolant is a mixture of anti-freeze and water .. and wiper fluid is mostly water...
Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't believe that this is really an issue, particularly since you are talking about a quart in the overall volume. It's not like you dumped the fluid into the crankcase or the fuel tank where the presence of water is a big concern. I wouldn't sweat it myself.
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FLUSH IMMEDIATELY
You have no idea how the combination of G12 coolant and that windshield fluid will react to the metal and seals inside your coolant system under pressure and heat. I've seen scary stuff happen when G12 is not the ONLY thing in VW/Audi coolant systems.
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the sky is falling!!!!
nah, not really. odds are it'll be fine. here's what i'd do:
open the drain at the bottom of the radiator and let it drain into a pan. fillup with distilled water (get them air bubbles out!), run the car to full operating temp, let cool a while, drain again, then going by the manual, refill with the proper amount of G12 coolant (half of the total system capacity) and top off distilled water. this should get most of it out.
open the drain at the bottom of the radiator and let it drain into a pan. fillup with distilled water (get them air bubbles out!), run the car to full operating temp, let cool a while, drain again, then going by the manual, refill with the proper amount of G12 coolant (half of the total system capacity) and top off distilled water. this should get most of it out.
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Technical explanation?
Thanks to everyone. I will flush and refill...However, does anyone know of any technical (scientific) reason that this is harmful. Just curious, not disputing anyones knowledge or input.
I would tend to agree with XCLR8TT, didn't I just add some water to a system that is mostly water? Many years ago I actually got a degree in metallurgy (as I recall)and I can't think of a way that adding water would make the fluid more corrosive. I would think any additives would be only a small percentage of the total and also that the makers of these fluids would avoid anything corrosive. After all, it's getting sprayed all over the car.
Are we talking about fear (albeit, healthy fear) of the unknown, or does anyone really know a reason that this is harmful?
Thanks,
CrofTTy
I would tend to agree with XCLR8TT, didn't I just add some water to a system that is mostly water? Many years ago I actually got a degree in metallurgy (as I recall)and I can't think of a way that adding water would make the fluid more corrosive. I would think any additives would be only a small percentage of the total and also that the makers of these fluids would avoid anything corrosive. After all, it's getting sprayed all over the car.
Are we talking about fear (albeit, healthy fear) of the unknown, or does anyone really know a reason that this is harmful?
Thanks,
CrofTTy