Washer fluid in the coolant reservoir

[ATVT721]

I’m hoping this isn’t a huge deal, but wanted to check with someone more knowledgeable.

My girlfriend borrowed my truck today, and while she was out the washer fluid light came on. Being the nice girl that she is, she bought a gallon of it at the gas station and refilled it.

When she took back off, she noticed the light came back on. Rather than put more in, she decided to just come home.

Well it turns out that she actually put the entire gallon of fluid into the coolant reservoir, not the washer fluid tank.

I realize washer fluid is mostly water and alcohol, but I wanted to make sure this isn’t going to make a huge mess of things. Or should I plan on doing a coolant flush ASAP to get it out of there?

This is in a 2012 5.7 1500, in case that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Treburkulosis]

Do a complete coolant filter change now. Dont drive it another mile. You will need to flush the system as well.

 

[cgrugger]

Scroll down like 15 post to the one titled "how screwed and I?"

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[1SloRam]

Damn, this just happened like a day or so ago. What the hell y’all haha. Flush system. Should be good. Any excess will burn off. Chemicals aren’t much diff than coolant. Good to catch it soon as possible.

 

[Burla]

Stop blaming your girlfriend, we all know you did it, lol. Anyhow, very common mistake.

If someone said nah don't worry be happy you would roll with it?

How did an entire gallon fit in reservoir? You might have not been up with coolant maintenance? Is there any rust around radiator cap?

Coolant doesn't contain cleaners or detergents, it doesn't contain them because they are counterintuitive to what modern coolants do, as in they populate the surface of metal to protect the metal, if you clean that off, you are at risk of rust.

The problem is there is no way to flush modern cooling systems. In our application the drivers side block bolt isn't easily accessible, so to do it right, you will need to add demineraled water until only clear water comes from the bottom of the system, then add concentrated mopar hoat until correct mix %. Look at bright side, it was likely time to update coolant anyhow yes?

verify you are hoat which is a great coolant btw, the 2012 was right on the line, is your coolant orange?

 

[marine6212]

Or use this!


https://www.evanscoolant.com/

 

[ATVT721]

Thank you for the help guys. Luckily I have the next couple days off, so I can take care of the issue before needing to drive again.

 

[Burla]

Thank you for the help guys. Luckily I have the next couple days off, so I can take care of the issue before needing to drive again.

if it hasnt been driven far, most of it is still in overflow, so at a minimum get that out by siphon.

 

[ATVT721]

How did an entire gallon fit in reservoir? You might have not been up with coolant maintenance? Is there any rust around radiator cap?

verify you are hoat which is a great coolant btw, the 2012 was right on the line, is your coolant orange?

I haven’t checked the level in a while, but the motor was replaced less than 5000 miles ago by the local Ram dealer (previous owner) so I would assume it was in good shape. There is no rust or corrosion that I can see.

My coolant is probably orange now, since the washer fluid was orange. Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

 

[ATVT721]

if it hasnt been driven far, most of it is still in overflow, so at a minimum get that out by siphon.

It was probably around 15-20 miles, but the engine was already up to temp when she added it, so I would think it was circulating the whole time.

 

[Burla]

Your girlfriend might have saved an engine, coolant level rarely stays high after an engine change, you have to top it off after any major work, they should have told you that. That was why a gallon fit in there, your system was low. tell your girlfriend good job, but next time do it differently.

 

[Treburkulosis]

As I said in the other thread. It is very easy to do. They are both located up front.

 

[ATVT721]

As I said in the other thread. It is very easy to do. They are both located up front.

Yeah, when she showed me where she filled, it took me a second to realize what she’d done. Definitely an easy mistake to make.