Uh Oh :(. Just Put Some Dot4 Brake Fluid Into The Power Steering Reservoir...

[KrazyKong]

Was doing some fluid checks today and for some reason put in a very small amount of DOT4 brake fluid into the power steering reservoir. Am I stuffed, or are the two fluids close enough that no problems will arise from this?

I havn't driven the car yet since doing this, but have to use it tomorrow for work. Any help would be appreciated.

[JezR31]

Drain the reservoir and put new fluid in their. Might be best not to turn the car on or you'll have to flush the whole system, but you will probably want to do that anyway . Brake fluid is pretty nasty stuff, you wanna get rid of it before it starts to eat any seals in the system.

[KrazyKong]

Crap. I got no way of getting to work if I have to drain the fluid. I put in about a table spoons worth, maybe a tab more.

Is it really going to screw things up if I keep driving it until I get drain it and or flush the system? And what's a ballpark figure for flushing a system anyway?

[msnismo]

Try putting some power steer fluid in a cup/container ( anything clear) and adding some brake fluid to see if the fluid stays on top or sinks...

The amount you put in is small and if the fluid doesn't sink to the bottom of the container rapidly, then I would just drain the reservoir and refill ... although I would flush the system as a precaution at the first opportunity.

If the brake fluid sinks rapidly to the bottom, then I would not drive it until you can flush the system...

Although brake fluid is water based .... so theoretically it shouldn't harm too much in terms of rubber hoses... ??? But don't quote me on that... it's just a thought!!

[turael]

brake fluid goes through rubber hoses fine (think: brake lines near your calipers are rubber)

need to find out which has higher viscosity, and if the brake fluid floats ontop of the PS fluid, simply drain the reservoir as mentioned. if not, well... .... ...