Oops, anti-freeze as engine coolant?

quadsbaby · 01-10-2010, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannibul

Wat?

No...

Wiper Fluid = Alcohol and Water

Anti-Freeze = Ethalin Glycol (sorry for spelling), with maybe an additive.

Pre-Mixed Anti-Freeze = Ethaline Glycol and Water with maybe an additive at 50/50 ratio.

Anti-Freeze = Engine Coolant - the terms are interchangeable.

Wiper fluid is not either of those.

Yes.

Wiper Fluid = Water, Alcohol (either isopropanol, methanol, or ethanol), and often Ethylene Glycol (to keep the wiper fluid from freezing in colder climates).

Engine Coolant = either Ethylene Glycol or Propylene Glycol or Organic Acid + Corrosion inhibitors... very rarely (I think mostly in the UK now, methanol is used as a substitute for glycols).

Engine Coolant is a subset of Antifreeze, so not all antifreeze is considered engine coolant. Given the way the OP described it, I assumed he meant antifreeze wiper fluid, which would be Methanol + Ethylene Glycol, which would be fine for his engine coolant as the added methanol's not going to really be a problem. Even if he used wiper fluid without antifreeze, it's still not a huge problem as long as it's just a top off.

Jjaden · 01-10-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadsbaby

Yes.

Wiper Fluid = Water, Alcohol (either isopropanol, methanol, or ethanol), and often Ethylene Glycol (to keep the wiper fluid from freezing in colder climates).

Engine Coolant = either Ethylene Glycol or Propylene Glycol or Organic Acid + Corrosion inhibitors... very rarely (I think mostly in the UK now, methanol is used as a substitute for glycols).

Engine Coolant is a subset of Antifreeze, so not all antifreeze is considered engine coolant. Given the way the OP described it, I assumed he meant antifreeze wiper fluid, which would be Methanol + Ethylene Glycol, which would be fine for his engine coolant as the added methanol's not going to really be a problem. Even if he used wiper fluid without antifreeze, it's still not a huge problem as long as it's just a top off.

Yes you are correct to assume I used antifreeze wiper fluid. I only added about a third or a container. After reading the thread it appears I would be ok not worrying about it and will be just fine driving around.

ChrisSlicks · 01-10-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjaden

Yes you are correct to assume I used antifreeze wiper fluid. I only added about a third or a container. After reading the thread it appears I would be ok not worrying about it and will be just fine driving around.

The RainX washer fluid has other additives that will leave a residue on surfaces and repel water molecules, not a good thing for your engine. If you haven't started the car just drain the overflow tank, assuming that is where you added the washer fluid.

kannibul · 01-10-2010, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadsbaby

Yes.

Wiper Fluid = Water, Alcohol (either isopropanol, methanol, or ethanol), and often Ethylene Glycol (to keep the wiper fluid from freezing in colder climates).

Engine Coolant = either Ethylene Glycol or Propylene Glycol or Organic Acid + Corrosion inhibitors... very rarely (I think mostly in the UK now, methanol is used as a substitute for glycols).

Engine Coolant is a subset of Antifreeze, so not all antifreeze is considered engine coolant. Given the way the OP described it, I assumed he meant antifreeze wiper fluid, which would be Methanol + Ethylene Glycol, which would be fine for his engine coolant as the added methanol's not going to really be a problem. Even if he used wiper fluid without antifreeze, it's still not a huge problem as long as it's just a top off.

By layman definition / common usage, antifreeze is engine coolant.

Referring to wiper fluid with an anti-freeze properties as antifreeze is a confusion of terms for most people. In fact, I've never heard of someone referring to wiper fluid as antifreeze until this thread in my 31 years of existance...

That was my intent with the terms are interchangeable in relation to engine coolant = antifreeze.

Antifreeze - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"My antifreeze is low, I better get some!" When I type that, what is YOUR first thought as to the meaning?