On our local (Minnesota) Yahoo Mini group there appears to have been a rash of people putting washer fluid into thier coolant overflow tank. Now I'm not sure about all the circumstances involved (dark of night...) but am I the only one who believes that the two reservoirs are hard to mix up?

Any thoughts?

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it doesn't seem like rocket science .... all I can think about is the car salesman in "Fargo" ...

 

looooong ago I put transmission fluid into my brakes master cylinder. I've never made a mistake like that again!

 

Prior to this point, I had always had considerable respect for people from Minnesota.

(you did ask for thoughts...)

 

It just doesn't seem possible does it? No matter how hard I analyze this it just doesn't make sense that someone could think that was the washer fluid reservoir! When you consider that the washer reservoirs have little pictures of wipers on them........ And of course it takes about 100 pounds of torque to twist off the coolant tank cap............

 

I might not make that mistake but I think it's very easy, especially for a person who hasn't had a new car in a long time. The washer res. is not too obvious and if the owner found the radiator cap on a cold engine first -- it's possible. Not pretty or smart but maybe the design isn't foolproof.

 

Oh, and pay attention when the dealer is going over this!! If they don't, they aren't doing their job!!

 

>>Prior to this point, I had always had considerable respect for people from Minnesota.
>>
>>(you did ask for thoughts...)

I have to admit, I am a bit embarrased for my state, we are- generally speaking, a well educated intelligent state. This however baffles me.

The thing that really bothered me was the fact that noone seemed the least bit concerned about contaminating the coolant. If it were my car I'd be getting my coolant flushed.

...oh well, what can I say. Mini is definately attracting more people than just auto-enthusiasts (cuteness factor).

Don't lump everyone from our fair state in the same basket. Oblivious people are everywhere!

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I'm not from Minnesota, but my wife tells me she MAY have mixed up and put windshield washer in the coolant tank. WEEKS AGO!!!
I have noticed no ill effects. The car is running like a champ, in fact. The only reason this came up was when the wiper fluid ran out after she had just filled it.
She said she filled the whitish tank with the blue liquid right in front of the engine.
I BELIEVE that's the coolant tank. (No manual in front of me.)
Anyhow, if she did mess up, will the fluid in the coolant tank cause a catastrophic problem, etc. And second, does anyone know a good divorce lawyer?

 

>>I'm not from Minnesota, but my wife tells me she MAY have mixed up and put windshield washer in the coolant tank. WEEKS AGO!!!

Right, but where's your wife from?

I'd forego the divorce until/unless she pours something other than oil into the engine itself.

 

Methinks the wife is a Michigan girl, but I may have to check the lineage of her parents! I'm guessing, even if she did pour some wiper fluid into the coolant that it's not gonna kill Babe (Babe's my car!).

 

Did their dealer not go over the car with them? My dealer went over everything, from where the battery is hidden, how to adjust the seats, how to work the radio to which tanks were for the windshield washer fluid! I mean come on, blue cap with a nice little picture of a windshield wiper on it?!?! I also have the windshield washer headlights which have a seperate resivoir that look the same but are on opposite sides. This probably would have confused me if the dealer didn't explain it to me. (Why would there be 2 resivoirs)

Personally I like to read the cap and look at the tank I am pouring a liquid into before I do it. If I am unsure of what it is, there's always the manual. Though after hearing this, I may have to show my fiance which tank is which. Luckily she usually lets me do all the work on our vehicles.
-Chris