My dear son while driving back from college in my 1990 300D with an OM602 calls me this morning to confirm that he has (already) put the washer fluid in the right place, because the washer sprayer still isn't working for some reason. Turns out he topped off the coolant overflow with washer fluid. After redirecting him to the right tank, I tell him to keep driving (he probably has about 6-7 hours more to go).

So what is the worst that happen? I am thinking not much, but the car was due for a coolant flush anyway.

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80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

the worse that could happen, is nothing at all.....

go ahead and do your coolant flush with the Mercedes-Benz branded citric acid chrystals according to the procedure.......might as well be soon, all he did was dilute the coolant ratio some......this could only be a problem if you have a deep freeze......quick solution, just take the hose off the overflow tank, empty the tank, and the reconnect it and refill with straight coolant, that'll bring the ratio back up some.....

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-Justin

I believe in extreme automotive perfection whenever possible.......there is no such thing as "It doesn't matter" !!!

1985 300 CDT - 287k miles

1980 240 D - 340k miles

With extras !!

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Little or nothing.

IMO any chemical reaction would be minor.

A basic flush, neutralize, then refill is all you need.

Addressing your son, and his LACK of knowledge may be more time consuming..


.

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1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
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He is lucky he didn't scald himself pull the cap off.

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80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

Most washer fluid has an anti-freezing agent in it anyway, so if anything I'd think it was probably the best fluid for him to dump into the coolant.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

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He must have been absent the day you were teaching what fluid goes where. May have been there, but was some where else.

Tie the Window Washer into the Coolant system, this will simplify it for him. then you will have a hot coolant de-icer window washer.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

One of my mechanic's customer's sons was driving her car and thought it was overheating. Being a good, conscientious, son, he pulled into the next gas station and bought a gallon of anti-freeze. He opened the hood, removed the cap, and poured in the gallon. He bought another gallon and poured that in. He repeated this process until he could see anti-freeze in the opening and then replaced the cap. It must have been bone dry. Good thing he stopped.

The car would not restart. The engine was locked up. The starter would not move it at all. Over heated, locked up the engine, sorry mom.

The car sat in the shop's parking lot for a few months while the customer decided what to do and while they looked for a used engine. Eventually the customer sold the car to the mechanic because the labor cost of putting in a used engine would be more than the car was worth.

A few more months pass before the car is pushed into the shop and put on a hoist to remove the engine to see what's what. He puts a socket and a breaker bar on the crank pulley. The crank turns a little. Either it is locked up, or it's not. What's going on? Let's drain the oil and see if there is any metal in it. He puts the oil drain pan in place and removes the oil plug.

The drain pan quickly overflows with a mixer of oil and anti-freeze all over the shop floor. What a slippery slimy mess. There must have been 4 or 5 gallons.

He filled it with the proper amount of crankcase oil. Started it and ran it for a minute or so. Drain, repeat, until no visible trace of anti-freeze comes out with the oil.

Least you think he got a car on the cheap... the first long trip he took, about 250 miles from home, he hit a large deer so hard it broke the cam gear. After the mechanical and sheet metal repairs... he about broke even... except for all of his labor....

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Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

No more streaks

__________________

Cleaning out the engine with a hose.

I read this several years ago...

I'm done with this car! - MustangForums.com


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Lots of repair shops make their own windshield washer juice. It's water, isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to prevent freezing, a squirt of dish soap (Dawn is preferred), and a couple of drops of the food coloring of your choice (usually blue). So, nothing there that will do any harm.

Carry on.......

Dan

The best way to address it might be to have him do the coolant system flush. Fortunately, it will be an inexpensive lesson.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

No problem if he was here. The washer fluid here is "+32 F", just distilled water w/ blue dye. Some strange environmental rule. To keep from ruining my washer system (freezing), I add isopropyl alcohol. If any consolation, my son is as clueless as yours, but he wouldn't even phone me. He won't even answer when I ask him about checking the oil in my 300D he is driving. He even has an engineering degree (bio-).