I needed to top up my oil VERY early this morning before setting off for scotland, but for some stupid reason I accidentally topped up with antifreeze instead of oil...
The car ran fine, and I am now in Edinburgh... there are no problems so far, but will this cause any problems?
Moby.
|
|
I honestly don't know for sure, but I think an oil change is cheaper than trouble...it's not that expensive usually, and I'd do it in edinburgh
|
I was going to pop to a fast fit place and get it done to make sure... but hopefully using the antifreeze in place of oil (or at least in part replacement) hasn't done any damage...
Thanks Gen.
Moby.
|
Antifreeze is corrosive, although this will have been partially countered by the remaining oil (which I hope was in the majority!). Under the circumstances I would recommend an immediate oil and filter change now, then another one in a week or so. It may cost £50 rather than £25, but that way you will be as certain as you can be that any debris or remaining antifreeze have been flushed out.
|
ND,
Arrghh!!!!
Antifreeze is NOT corrosive, it may attack paint but this does not make it corrosive. Why is antifreeze used in the engine if it is corrosive!
Antifreeze has two purposes....to lower the freezing point AND to inhibit engine corrosion. It is the latter property that stops working after 2-3 years (for most types) and this is why antifreeze should be replaced every few years.
Agree with the advice to get an oil change asap
regards
Ian L
|
P.S. now if you want something really corrosive...try standard brake fluid, rusts metal, strips paint and is highly flammable to boot.
Ian L.
|
I thought antifreeze was ok with certain metal compounds but am not too sure those same metals will be found around your bearings etc.
|
|
|
|
Being pedantic, Ian L - I don't think brake fluid rusts metal, or it couldn't be sold in metal containers, could it? But it IS hygroscopic, and the attracted moisture causes the corrosion. Traditional hydraulic fluids were esters such as dioctyl phthalate - in fact anything with a high boiling point, a low freezing point and reasonable chemical stability.
|
OK, OK! The bottle I had in the garage says "will cause corrosion"
rather than having the "corrosive" hazard warning label. Also remember (he says with hindsight) most fixed hydralic brake pipes are steel (protected on the outside with plastic).
My error.
I still stand by the opinion that antifreee is not corrosive....in its normal location (ie within the cooling system) it will be in contact with most types of metal present within an engine, brass aluminium, iron, steel, gaskets, seals. It is the water in antifreeze that can cause corrosion, not the glycol and the antifreeze mix contains an inhibitor to prevent corrosion.
However, what happens to the glycol and inhibitors under the high temperatures of the oil is anyones guess.
regards
Ian L.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's an interesting one, this - presumably the stuff you added was glycol-, not methanol-based. Even so, glycol boils around 200°C, so most of it may have been burnt in the cylinders by now. But the corrosion inhibitor additives - what about those? As everyone else says, remove asap. But I don't suppose any serious long-term damage will have been done.
|
Yes, it was glycol- based...
Don't know what I was thinking, just too early in the morning and grabbed the wrong container... d'oh.
I had an oil change up there, and now have returned home and will get another one on monday to make sure.
Car ran fine the whole way back, so hopefully no long term damage.
Thanks all
Moby.
|
|
Check for emulsion on the dip stick and oil filler cap and inside the cam cover if you can see in. If it is fairly clear just go and get the oil and filter changed. then go for a 25 to 30 mile run and it should be just fine. But do not do it again. !! Regards Peter
|
|
|
|
|
