1. Home
  2. Car Maintenance
  3. Brake fluid in the power steering reservoir

Brake fluid in the power steering reservoir

Hi,

Imagine if someone was stupid enough to top up (maybe 50ml) the power steering reservoir with brake fluid.

And then run the car for ~20 miles, with a leak in the power steering system, so that the level in the reservoir went down by 50ml again in

24hr.

I then patched the leak (dont ask!) and realised my error, so syphoned off the contents of the reservoir (~200ml) and refilled with power steering fluid.

Do I need to do anything else?

Thanks for any help Steve Fiesta 1999, Mk5, 1.25 zetec 100,000 miles

Reply to
Nickname unavailable
Loading thread data ...

Without stripping the system there's no chance of removing all the brake fluid, but unless it reacts with the PS fluid, (I'd guess not) I can't see it doing much, if any,harm to rhe seals or mechanics.. Personally I'd take a chance and leave it as-is. . But, if you drained and refilled the PS reservoir a few times over the next few weeks you could hopefully reduce the remaining brake fluid in the system to an insignificant amount. Mike.

Reply to
Mike G

At least you put brake fluid in the PS, not the other way round, which I think would have been fatal. I doubt if what you did would matter.

Rob Graham

Reply to
Rob Graham

one of my customers filled the ps with screenwash :) I changed the fluid a couple of times and it was OK again

Reply to
Mrcheerful

Cool. Thanks guys, that what I hoped. And the double winner is that I managed to hide my stupidity from my girlfriend (the car owner) so if anything hideous happens to the powersteering in future I can deny it's my fault! :-)

Steve

Reply to
Nickname unavailable

Reminds me of a Nun filling the engine oil up with water....

Reply to
Nige

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.