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help!!! put transmission fluid in inverter coolant system

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by whburling, Jul 7, 2016.

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  1. whburling

    whburling Junior Member

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    I made a very stupid mistake.

    I am now looking for a way to rectify my situation.

    My original intention was to replace the engine oil in the car. I was in a hurry(yes....I know) I could not find the oil drain plug. I did find a large bolt which turned out to be a drain plug for the inverter coolant instead.

    the instant the fluid drained from the car, I knew it was not engine oil. I did not know the drained fluid was inverter coolant. It had the color of a transmission fluid but significantly less viscous.

    So with the mindset of transmission fluid, I put one half container of transmission fluid into the inverter coolant reservoir. I did not know it was the inverter coolant reservoir. Neither the brake nor inverter reservoir appear to be identified. then suddenly I realized what I had done. I just could not believe what I had just done.


    the car has not been turned on. I have not heard the inverter pump turn on.

    Now the question is how to back out of this situation.

    Here are my ideas for a solution. I welcome all possible solutions and criticisms of my proposed solution.
    I would appreciate not personally attacking my stupidity. Yes. I was stupid. Now I need to do something about the problem I created for myself.

    (1) inverter coolant is nothing but water and ethylene glycol (and oil). so i may not be in as bad a situation as I thought.

    (2) I drained as much of the transmission fluid out of the inverter system as gravity would allow.

    (3) to get out as much of the remaining oil as I can, I am going to flush with CITY water without the use of the inverter pump. flushing is by gravity and some hose pressure. Draining is through the bottom flush bolt (24 mm). The idea is that because I made my mistake before the inverter pump was turned on, then maybe I contaminated only the reservoir but not the pump and pump lines.

    (4) I will not get all the oil out by flushing, but maybe a small residue might not harm me.

    (5) after draining the system for awhile, I will then put the drain plug back in and fill the inverter system with CITY water), I will then turn on the inverter pump and continue to flush the inverter system but through the bleeder valve.

    (6) I will continue circulating inverter city water until all traces of pinkish color are gone. Some oil is bound to be attached to internal surfaces.

    (7) At this point, I will drain the inverter system of CITY water and insert distilled water and bleed and operate
    the inverter pump until air is removed.

    (8) I will then run the car with ONLY distilled water in the inverter coolant system. Distilled water is a signficantly better heat transfer fluid than any mixture of glycol and water and eventually the transmission fluid oil that I put into the inverter coolant will emulsify, making it easier for me to remove from the inverter coolant system by purely draining the emulsified coolant.
    (8) REVISION....AS SUGGESTED BY Zad....I will use toyota glycol in this step.

    (9) after a few hundred miles....drain and put the proper inverter coolant into the inverter coolant system.
    9) REVISION....AFTER A FEW HUNDRED MILES i WILL REPLACE THE TOYOTA COOLANT WITH FRESH TOYOTA COOLANT.

    Thanks for any positive recommendations you folks can make
    bil
     
    #1 whburling, Jul 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2016
  2. aaroncv3

    aaroncv3 Member

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    I have no qualified expertise to offer here, but your proposed solution sounds like it just might work. Maybe even work well.

    Argumentum ad hominem is generally frowned upon. I think you're safe here.
     
    #2 aaroncv3, Jul 7, 2016
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    1. The transaxle fluid is "red"
    2. The original long life coolant from Toyota is "pink". Red coolant is also available (hopefully that wasn't in there)
    3. Make sure you don't confuse those 2
    4. Make sure you indeed didn't drain the transaxle fluid, that's red in color.

    Since you have not turn on the car, I would just drain and keep flushing with water. If everything comes out "clear". Then I would just add the proper "pink" long life coolant to the inverter. Then I would start the car and let it circulate.

    I know it's fun and exciting to work on your own car, but you have to be certain where everything is and not guess at it. Let's have some fun and make this safe for both yourself and your car.
     
    #3 JC91006, Jul 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2016
  4. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    The last thing I would do is contact the dealership's service department. They'd probably rub their hands together in giddy anticipation of charging the most outrageous amount they can concoct.
     
    #4 KennyGS, Jul 7, 2016
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  5. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    Don't do #8. Once you flush out whatever ATF-WS you poured in, replace the Toyota coolant.
    If you need to buy some more of the Toyota coolant later, it won't cost you very much.

    I personally wouldn't risk running distilled water for several hundred miles in a system that is designed for coolant.
    Sure, there is no risk of freezing the water in the summer but there is a remote chance you'll overheat and destroy your inverter.
    And wouldn't you be extra sad (and stupid) then?
     
    #5 jadziasman, Jul 7, 2016
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    +1. The coolant isn't just antifreeze - the anticorrosives are important too. Plain water'll start right in on the aluminum. You probably aren't planning to have it in there long enough to lead to leaks, but sometimes plans get off track. Another possible product of aluminum in water is a kind of blobby whitish jelly that can clog passages.

    -Chap
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Jul 7, 2016
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  7. whburling

    whburling Junior Member

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    I could not agree with you more. I wish I understood where my mind was. Normally it is very clear and I do great work. I have no excuse. thank you for your concern. the transaxle oil is drained via a hex bolt which I did not touch. i am sure I opened the inverter drain plug...as putting water in the reservoir in the engine compartment did drain out through the plug I had opened.

    Yes...you are right...the original fluid was pink and of very low viscosity.

    thank you, once again, for your comments
     
    #7 whburling, Jul 7, 2016
  8. whburling

    whburling Junior Member

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    You are right on. I will revise the step and purchase the toyota coolant and after a hundred miles replace it again. Is there a way I can measure the coolant temperature with techstream?
     
    #8 whburling, Jul 7, 2016
  9. whburling

    whburling Junior Member

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    thank you for your suggestion. as suggested earlier by jadziamon, I am revising step 8 to use the toyota coolant. Thank you again.
     
    #9 whburling, Jul 7, 2016
  10. whburling

    whburling Junior Member

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    THANK YOU for your suggestion....i did reply to you but it showed up in the wrong place!!!!!
    sorry about that. I think I am hopeless tonight.
     
    #10 whburling, Jul 7, 2016
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best.(y)
     
    #11 bisco, Jul 7, 2016
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  12. whburling

    whburling Junior Member

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    I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. You were all so positive and full of helpful suggestions. I was so disappointed in myself and began doubting myself.

    I am 71 so I look for signs of senility. I am also a Vietnam vet who tends to be Bipolar...

    I am sure these are all excuses. I just can't imagine myself being so stupid. so impulsive. I am normally cautious and plan extensively before acting. BUT the reality is that I grossly failed myself. I did it. I own my mistake.

    You guys helped calm me down and re-establish the old me.

    Thank you,
    bil
     
    #12 whburling, Jul 8, 2016
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I once started pouring motor oil into an automatic transmission. Lapses happen, you're tired, distracted, or whatever. I think it's going to be good.
     
    #13 Mendel Leisk, Jul 8, 2016
  14. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    The man who makes no mistakes is the man who does nothing!
     
    #14 GrGramps, Jul 8, 2016
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  15. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    I'd be surprised if you can't get inverter coolant temp readings from techstream as I have my Scangauge set to display it.

    If the oil is lighter than the coolant shouldn't it float to the surface of the reservoir and be able to be suctioned off the top?
     
    #15 JimN, Jul 8, 2016
  16. b100

    b100 Member

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    You can flush it out with water, just take a hose off at the bottom and spray water in to the system for a while. Then top it off with coolant. Drive and refresh the coolant. This should work in my opinion.
     
    #16 b100, Jul 8, 2016
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'd flush with coolant though: it's pre-mixed, so first running water through, it'd be hard to get back to (US spec) 50/50 mix.
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Jul 8, 2016
  18. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Thank you for your service!! Judging by your age, you must have been in the service for awhile and have seen a lot. That said, go easy on yourself. Your doing fine. Your list of what to do to fix it was impressive. You got this!!!
     
    #18 Montgomery, Jul 8, 2016
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