Have you accidentally added windshield washer fluid to your coolant reservoir?

[Spiral534]

I don't know. Do you really think people will look at a pic of a little radiator or windshield on the cap before they fill up the reservoir?

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Well, yea of course. But ours have the yellow coolant on the passenger side of the radiator and yellow washer fluid on the driver side of the radiator lol. Dumb mistake but not far fetched when you're on auto pilot.

 

[Spiral534]

I was waiting to see a thread like this pop up.

I haven't yet, but I have worried about it, since they look the same at a quick glance and simply not paying attention, running in "auto pilot" could easily get me to make that mistake, and I am the type to make those mistakes.

Doing that mistake is one of several I worry about the dealership doing if I brought it in for service which is why I took a single small strip of black electrical tape and put it across the coolant cap to remind me or anyone else not to put fluid in there unless they were sure. Simple clean solution to prevent that possible screw up.

Yea, I saw some threads about it but wanted to put my mistake out there. If it helps anyone, I'm not embarrassed. Smart move with the tape if you bring it in for service. Its the auto pilot that got me. I am honestly not a moron, I have a lot on my mind and plate right now, it was a long frustrating day, and I goofed. Definitely won't happen again lol

 

[SD Rebel]

Yea, I saw some threads about it but wanted to put my mistake out there. If it helps anyone, I'm not embarrassed. Smart move with the tape if you bring it in for service. Its the auto pilot that got me. I am honestly not a moron, I have a lot on my mind and plate right now, it was a long frustrating day, and I goofed. Definitely won't happen again lol

No worries, and you don't have to be a moron to make dumb mistakes, some of the smartest people I know make the dumbest mistakes you can think of.

 

[Idahoktm]

Well, yea of course. But ours have the yellow coolant on the passenger side of the radiator and yellow washer fluid on the driver side of the radiator lol. Dumb mistake but not far fetched when you're on auto pilot.

Nobody is saying you're dumb. You posted your mistake, so you have to expect us to bust your balls.

I've never noticed, is there an automotive standard as far as which side each reservoir should be located?

 

[theblet]

No worries, and you don't have to be a moron to make dumb mistakes, some of the smartest people I know make the dumbest mistakes you can think of.

I know a lot of engineers and doctors that are dumb as rocks

 

[Casull]

I feel your pain. Getting rid of a second gallon of washer fluid I had in the garage. Went to top off the Ram, went to the passenger side and did a "huh". Looked around for a couple of minutes before spotting it on the driver's side. Looked at it again a couple of times. Took the cap off to check color and couldn't see any. Finally figured I had to be right and started pouring. Took almost the whole gallon. Obviously it was shipped dry and the dealer didn't put any in either (just got the truck a week earlier).

 

[Quint]

I did it on my 2015 Ram as well. I had never had a vehicle where the radiator cap wasn't metal with a pop top. I saw the plastic top and poured in windshield wiper fluid. I just siphoned until it stopped coming out blue. No harm no foul. It ran for another 70k miles before I traded it in.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I did it on my 2015 Ram as well. I had never had a vehicle where the radiator cap wasn't metal with a pop top. I saw the plastic top and poured in windshield wiper fluid. I just siphoned until it stopped coming out blue. No harm no foul. It ran for another 70k miles before I traded it in.

The radiator cap is different from the overflow. We still have a metal radiator cap.

 

[Spiral534]

Nobody is saying you're dumb. You posted your mistake, so you have to expect us to bust your balls.

I've never noticed, is there an automotive standard as far as which side each reservoir should be located?

Oh, I was expecting it lol.

 

[Darksteel165]

Worst oil filter location ever lol

My 2013 Acadia is way worse then these Rams. It's in the front of the engine half way down with no good way to get to it. Also 0 way to collect the oil except for everywhere. The ram is a walk in the park compared to that.

Doing that mistake is one of several I worry about the dealership doing if I brought it in for service.

My worry is the dealership taking my keys and being inside or around my truck.

 

[HSKR R/T]

My 2013 Acadia is way worse then these Rams. It's in the front of the engine half way down with no good way to get to it. Also 0 way to collect the oil except for everywhere. The ram is a walk in the park compared to that.

My worry is the dealership taking my keys and being inside or around my truck.

My 2020 Traverse has the oil filter on front of engine. I access it from the top, since you can't get it from underneath. Has a little "trough" to help direct the oil down. Not nearly as messy as my Ram, but not the best either.

 

[Darksteel165]

My 2020 Traverse has the oil filter on front of engine. I access it from the top, since you can't get it from underneath. Has a little "trough" to help direct the oil down. Not nearly as messy as my Ram, but not the best either.

On the 2013 the oil hits a bunch of stuff before landing in the pan. I generally see 2 streams or sprays when I look underneath after removing the filter.
On the ram it's super easy (in comparison) to funnel the oil from the plug and filter.
Almost like it'd a competition to see who can make things more awkward to do.

 

[HSKR R/T]

On the 2013 the oil hits a bunch of stuff before landing in the pan. I generally see 2 streams or sprays when I look underneath after removing the filter.
On the ram it's super easy (in comparison) to funnel the oil from the plug and filter.
Almost like it'd a competition to see who can make things more awkward to do.

Since I use the larger SRT filter, it's pain in the *** to try and use the bag truck, or get something up there to direct oil. I just let it run down the use brake cleaner and a rag to clean up as best I can before putting new filter on

 

[theblet]

My 2020 Traverse has the oil filter on front of engine. I access it from the top, since you can't get it from underneath. Has a little "trough" to help direct the oil down. Not nearly as messy as my Ram, but not the best either.

My grand Cherokee with the v6 has a paper filter which is on top of the engine. Very convenient!

 

[31RamIt]

My 2020 Traverse has the oil filter on front of engine. I access it from the top, since you can't get it from underneath. Has a little "trough" to help direct the oil down. Not nearly as messy as my Ram, but not the best either.

Just changed my wife's oil on her traverse. Reaching between the exhaust to get the filter out is tiiiiight.

 

[Darksteel165]

Since I use the larger SRT filter, it's pain in the *** to try and use the bag truck, or get something up there to direct oil. I just let it run down the use brake cleaner and a rag to clean up as best I can before putting new filter on

I use an SRT filter also.
I use an oil utter and some flex tubing into the oil pan. It stays in the filter with a magnet while it drains, no bag needed.

It is a pain to get it out after it's completely drained, I end up smushing a charismas tree push clip to it's side and can take it right down.

For the drain plug depending on what angle my truck is on either let it drain right into the pan, or a piece of aluminum as a funnel.

 

[Spiral534]

Sweet Baby Jeesus, they're in braille.

Ikr lol. I blame myself for being on auto pilot with a few beers, trying to wrap up a long day with a lot on my mind.

 

[hockeyboy]

On the 2013 the oil hits a bunch of stuff before landing in the pan. I generally see 2 streams or sprays when I look underneath after removing the filter.
On the ram it's super easy (in comparison) to funnel the oil from the plug and filter.
Almost like it'd a competition to see who can make things more awkward to do.

I can't remember now if it was on my 2012 or my 2002, it's been a while now. One of them actually had a little ramp sort of like channel iron under the filter and over the front axle. The oil would drain right down that into the pain with no mess.

 

[gmercury2000]

Well, I never thought I'd see the day where I told myself "you stupid mother f$^&@#" but I did. Just did this the other day. Glad I'm not the only one added washer fluid but couldn't figure out why the light was still on. Opened the hood back up and low and behold my dumbass realized what I did. Well, 84k is close enough for a coolant flush lol.

 

[Boxjumper]

As I sit here and write this, I know how stupid this is going to sound, I normally have common sense - but I had a really dumb moment. I was on auto-pilot changing my oil and washing my 2021 Ram 5.7 and I put half gallon of rainx windshield washer fluid in the coolant tank. In my defense, I am not the first to do this as the coolant tank is black with a yellow cap on the left of the radiator (when looking at it from the front) and the washer tank is black with a yellow cap as well on the right.

I wasn't thinking about it until the next day DURING my 200 mile trip. I thought to myself "uh oh" and I stopped at a gas station, opened the lid of my coolant tank and sure enough, it smelled like straight rainx.
I could not do anything about it at the time, so when I got home the next day, I ordered 2 gallons of mopar concentrate 68163848AB from RockAuto.com (after tons of research, this is the correct part number and best price I could find ~$18 per gallon). I also purchased 6 gallons of distilled water from local grocery store as this is needed (do not use tap water).

I planned on using both gallons of coolant and 2 gallons of distilled water since that equals 16 quarts (manual says it holds 18.3 quarts but as we know, a little stays behind). I also planned on using 4 full gallons of water to run in the truck until at operating temperature plus 10 minutes, with defrost on high heat. But when I opened the drain on the bottom driver side of the radiator, only 5 quarts came out into a 15 quart pan. I did have the radiator cap off. It was all brand new orange/pink colored coolant, no blue rainx. This is good. However, I expected way more to come out, the rest must be in the block and only true way to eliminate is a professional flush. But I dont think I need that since the coolant was normal color.

I siphoned out the coolant tank and it was all blue. This is good too. This tells me that 500 miles of hwy/city did not pull anything from the reservoir.

Since the radiator was now empty and so was the tank, I poured 1 gallon and 1 quart (5 quarts) of distilled water in the radiator after closing the valve.
I then poured the remaining 3 quarts of distilled water in the coolant tank.

I started the truck and let it run to operating temperature plus 10 minutes, with defrost on high heat. I monitored the coolant temp and it maybe got up to 190F and there was heat coming out of the vents.

I let it cool down and drained the 5 quarts of water out of the radiator with the cap off and siphoned out the tank.

I poured in 2.5 quarts of coolant concentrate and 2.5 quarts of distilled water into the radiator after closing the valve. And 1.5 quarts coolant and 1.5 water in the tank.

All good.

Moral of this story is if you accidentally put washer fluid in the tank, just siphon it out, even if you drove it. And if you get out the same amount you put in, you may be just fine.

Yup. Just did it. I’m driving it that way until it warms up outside. How bad could it hurt