To err is human.

[simmitc]

Two months ago I changed the oil in one of the engines. A convenient container was to hand for transporting the waste oil to the recycling centre.

A month ago I had three days hectic activity polishing three cars and servicing one. I then had a day tidying the garage before going on holiday.

This morning I decided to check and top up anti-freeze. Grabbed the canister from the stock pile of anti-freeze and poured some of the contents into the radiator.

Yes, you've guessed, old anti-freeze containers are good for waste oil. Normally I would label them, but was in a rush previously, and then today grabbed the wrong can.

At least it was oil in the radiator and not anti-freeze in the sump. At least oil floats on water. Perhaps it will stop the water pump from squeaking.

[beero]

Oil floats, so, in theory you can fill the rad with water to overflowing and the oil should come out.

[rayofleamington]

Oil floats, so, in theory you can fill the rad with water to overflowing and the oil should come out.

oil does float so you can get it out by overfilling and also using paper towels to soak it up...

however if it stays in there it will get churned into sludge which is more difficult to remove... and oil can damage the radiator hoses and heater hoses..

[simmitc]

Thanks for the comments. Indeed, as I wrote originally

At least oil floats on water.

so yes, I had already extracted at least most of the mess by filling and mopping, sorry I didn't make that clear - I was just confessing that, despite what some people think, I am human! Hopefully it's a timely warning to others to always clearly label containers.

[Matt]

I have so many cans old old oil etc kicking about I always look at whats in them before pouring them anywhere!

[chickenjohn]

I use empty screenwash containers to store old oil for the trip to the tip. They are clear containers and so you can see the black oil inside rather than the blue screenwash.

[melanddoug]

I've done exactly the same thing myself, but with Power Sterring Fluid (triumph stag) into the Brake fluid reservoir.

The fluid containers are almost identical (yellow, same shape, same cap, especially if the label is worn!)

I fixed it in just the same way. poured more brake fluid in to get it to overflow then mopped it woth a tissue until the red of the PSF had gone. Better than trying to bleed it and have the PSF get further intot he system (just like your oil in water!)

On another note, I was once laying about on my back under the front of said Stag changing the steering rack, but forgot to bleed the PSF out first. (I was young..ish .. ) I'd just got to the point when I was disconnecting a pipe which was being difficult, and when it finally released I relaxed from holding my arms up for half an hour solid. The fluid flowed... oops..

My girlfriend at the time was just arriving with some tea and saw my legs sticking out from under the car, then heard a clunk, saw me go limp and a load of red fluid puddle out from underneath the car.

Poor girl panicked and nearly spilt me tea! Would have been an awful waste.