Oops, anti-freeze as engine coolant?

Jjaden · 01-10-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDZRVIT

This is the best course of action and is not that difficult to do.

Sounds easy, I'll siphon it out now and go grab some engine coolant.
Is there a particular coolant I need to use?

kannibul · 01-10-2010, 12:21 PM

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?

IDZRVIT · 01-10-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjaden

Sounds easy, I'll siphon it out now and go grab some engine coolant.
Is there a particular coolant I need to use?

Read the owner's manual, page 9-2. It says use Nissan long life coolant or equivalent and mix 50/50 with water. I would buy coolant according to the colour eg, green or orange or ??? if your stuck on exactly what the Nissan coolant is.

kenchan · 01-11-2010, 04:17 PM

i think the blue is the newest extended life or watever. that's wat my Z has, watever color that was.

and be friendly to the environment. you are not suppose to drain coolant down the drain and so check with your village which location can take coolant...dispose properly.

DooDooBrown · 01-12-2010, 02:16 PM

No big deal, you are essentially putting water and anti-freeze in your car. Wouldn't sweat it...

cjr1881 · 08-11-2011, 06:55 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.

This guy is the only one to pick up on their ignorance. You put antifreeze in your engine coolant, well that is exactly where it is supposed to go...
You were going to put it in your windshield wiper fluid?? nope definitely not.

01-11-2010, 04:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i think the blue is the newest extended life or watever. that's wat my Z has, watever color that was. and be friendly to the environment. you are not suppose to drain coolant down the drain and so check with your village which location can take coolant...dispose properly.

01-12-2010, 02:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
DooDooBrown Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ranson, WV Posts: 178 Drives: 09 370 Touring w/spt Rep Power: 16	No big deal, you are essentially putting water and anti-freeze in your car. Wouldn't sweat it...