# Anti-freeze **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** neon, dodge\ **Created:** [December 5, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335 "2010-12-05T19:57:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boobymayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@boobymayes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boobymayes)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/1 "2010-12-05T19:57:50Z")
I made a mistake. I thought I was adding anti-freeze, I mistakenly put about a spoon of oil into the overflow. Have I done any damage? I have not started the car since. ---
**Author:** ![rripstop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/65b543/32.png) [@rripstop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rripstop)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/2 "2010-12-05T20:08:23Z")
The oil will float. You can try to soak up as much as you can with a paper towel. Or better yet, take the overflow tank off, clean it out and put it back on. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/3 "2010-12-05T20:09:53Z")
Don’t go into panic mode. That small amount of oil isn’t going to hurt anything. Now if you want, you could stick a rolled up paper towels into the reservior to absorb the oil. If the engine hasn’t been started, the oil will be floating on top of the coolant. Tester ---
**Author:** ![boobymayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@boobymayes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boobymayes)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/4 "2010-12-05T20:11:09Z")
First of all Thank you. I do not know how to take the overflow tank off. ---
**Author:** ![boobymayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@boobymayes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boobymayes)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/5 "2010-12-05T20:13:08Z")
Thank you. I will try that. Also, there was not any anti-freeze in the over-flow. ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/6 "2010-12-05T20:19:24Z")
This indicates that you have a problem with your cooling system and should get that checked out. Just putting anti-freeze (premixed with water) into the overflow reservoir isn’t likely to do anything if your system is very low on coolant and/or has a leak. ---
**Author:** ![boobymayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@boobymayes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boobymayes)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/7 "2010-12-05T20:22:24Z")
Ok. and Thank you. There is coolant in the radiator, I just always add it to the over-flow; Is that wrong? ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/8 "2010-12-05T20:26:25Z")
No, that’s not wrong, but the overflow (if everything is working correctly) should stay about half full. Empty indicates a problem. ---
**Author:** ![boobymayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@boobymayes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boobymayes)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/9 "2010-12-05T20:27:48Z")
Thank you. I will have it checked out. Have a great day. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/10 "2010-12-05T20:33:53Z")
If there was no coolant in the reservior when the oil was added, remove the hose from the radiator below the radiator cap, and point it into a container. Now pour hot water into the reservior until all the oil is flushed out. Tester ---
**Author:** ![boobymayes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@boobymayes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boobymayes)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/58335/11 "2010-12-05T20:37:11Z")
Thank you. I will attempt that. Thanks again and have a great day.