Car shampoo instead of windscreen washer

Matt2008 · 01-09-2010, 10:54 AM

I put half a litre of what i thought was BMW windscreen washer fluid into my car earlier this afternoon. At the time I thought it was foaming more than usual but took no notice.
Went out for a drive and used the screenwasher quite a bit because of all the sludge/snow about.

When i got back, I moved the supposed 'windscreen washer fluid' and saw it was car shampoo instead

Will this do any damage?

Tunna_uk · 01-09-2010, 11:06 AM

Oh Dear !!! LOL

It will be OK just fill it to top with water and then use it till its empty...

Might clog up but I doubt it

Matt2008 · 01-09-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunna_uk

Oh Dear !!! LOL

It will be OK just fill it to top with water and then use it till its empty...

Might clog up but I doubt it

I'm gutted

Might take it out tom and just hold spray on till it's empty as I topped it up to brim with water.

Tunna_uk · 01-09-2010, 11:32 AM

Don't worry bout it.
Just leave it.
when weather gets better you could get it drained out.....under wheel arch liner I think.

Dr Dave · 01-10-2010, 03:25 AM

If it were me I would insert a hosepipe into the tank as far as it would go and flush the tank as best I could and then refill with proper screenwash etc.

Don't think I'd want to run the pumps for that length of time to empty the tank.

SoYank · 01-10-2010, 07:28 AM

I'd try siphoning or pumping it out through the filler pipe and then refill with proper fluid. Hopefully your shampoo isn't the kind with the wax in as well.

fuzzer123456 · 01-10-2010, 08:24 AM

yep , syphon..

host in tank , host in mouth and suck and remember and move mouth before liquid comes out. Won't be long in emptying the tank

or buy one of those cheap things if you don't fancy a mouth of carwash

midlife · 01-10-2010, 09:35 AM

Yup, get that stuff out if you can - then flush And refill.

midlife · 01-10-2010, 09:37 AM

Btw, Try not to get engine eletronics wet - especially spark plug areas !

simples · 01-10-2010, 09:57 AM

or use a jet wash hose to suck the water out, be done in 2mins

Matt2008 · 01-10-2010, 01:44 PM

Did a trip today of about 70 miles so used washer to drain most of tank in 1st 30 miles. Luckily was raining so it washed the stuff of the car and even looks a bit cleaner now!
Stopped once empty and added a litre of water and sprayed that through and refilled once home with screenwash/water this time

hopefully this should things.
Shampoo was BMW brand so don't think it has wax in.

01-09-2010, 10:54 AM	#1
Matt2008 Private First Class 19 Rep 181 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cambs iTrader: (0)	Car shampoo instead of windscreen washer I put half a litre of what i thought was BMW windscreen washer fluid into my car earlier this afternoon. At the time I thought it was foaming more than usual but took no notice. Went out for a drive and used the screenwasher quite a bit because of all the sludge/snow about. When i got back, I moved the supposed 'windscreen washer fluid' and saw it was car shampoo instead Will this do any damage?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-09-2010, 11:06 AM	#2
Tunna_uk Captain 72 Rep 797 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Le Mans Blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Teesside UK iTrader: (0) Garage List E90 BMW 325i M Sport [0.00]	Oh Dear !!! LOL It will be OK just fill it to top with water and then use it till its empty... Might clog up but I doubt it
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-09-2010, 11:32 AM	#4
Tunna_uk Captain 72 Rep 797 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Le Mans Blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Teesside UK iTrader: (0) Garage List E90 BMW 325i M Sport [0.00]	Don't worry bout it. Just leave it. when weather gets better you could get it drained out.....under wheel arch liner I think.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-10-2010, 03:25 AM	#5
Dr Dave Zummerzet Zyder Drinker! 112 Rep 5,541 Posts Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somerset iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 330d M Sport [0.00]	If it were me I would insert a hosepipe into the tank as far as it would go and flush the tank as best I could and then refill with proper screenwash etc. Don't think I'd want to run the pumps for that length of time to empty the tank. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-10-2010, 07:28 AM	#6
SoYank Major General 571 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	I'd try siphoning or pumping it out through the filler pipe and then refill with proper fluid. Hopefully your shampoo isn't the kind with the wax in as well. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-10-2010, 08:24 AM	#7
fuzzer123456 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 37 Posts Drives: 2012 118d M sport auto Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	yep , syphon.. host in tank , host in mouth and suck and remember and move mouth before liquid comes out. Won't be long in emptying the tank or buy one of those cheap things if you don't fancy a mouth of carwash
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-10-2010, 09:35 AM	#8
midlife ocasionally in crisis 52 Rep 2,358 Posts Drives: '08 335i cabrio Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: .......... iTrader: (0)	Yup, get that stuff out if you can - then flush And refill. __________________ If your car isn't scary - it's just not fast enough ! RPI IC / UR catless DPs / JB3 2.0 beta / UR CAI / Quaife LSD / Snow Methanol Injection / VK oil cooler upgrade / Forge DVs / M3 rear sway / Riss catch can / Paddle shifting 6AT / M Sport steering wheel / Logic 7 / Dunlop Direzza Z1 255/235 /
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-10-2010, 09:37 AM	#9
midlife ocasionally in crisis 52 Rep 2,358 Posts Drives: '08 335i cabrio Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: .......... iTrader: (0)	Btw, Try not to get engine eletronics wet - especially spark plug areas ! __________________ If your car isn't scary - it's just not fast enough ! RPI IC / UR catless DPs / JB3 2.0 beta / UR CAI / Quaife LSD / Snow Methanol Injection / VK oil cooler upgrade / Forge DVs / M3 rear sway / Riss catch can / Paddle shifting 6AT / M Sport steering wheel / Logic 7 / Dunlop Direzza Z1 255/235 /
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-10-2010, 09:57 AM	#10
simples Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 274 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: london iTrader: (0)	or use a jet wash hose to suck the water out, be done in 2mins
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-10-2010, 01:44 PM	#11
Matt2008 Private First Class 19 Rep 181 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cambs iTrader: (0)	Did a trip today of about 70 miles so used washer to drain most of tank in 1st 30 miles. Luckily was raining so it washed the stuff of the car and even looks a bit cleaner now! Stopped once empty and added a litre of water and sprayed that through and refilled once home with screenwash/water this time hopefully this should things. Shampoo was BMW brand so don't think it has wax in.
	Appreciate 0 Quote