General / Off-Topic Car Mechanic Question.

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
My father visited my house today and decided to 'Help' me, by topping up my cars Power streering reservoir with brake fluid.

once he realised what he had done he insisted that he used a syringe to drain off the liquid that he placed in there.

How ever... i know my car and the reservoir levels are now just below Max, where as i know that the level before was just on the Min maker.. (topping the levels up was supposed to be a task for myself this weekend... i knew it was low).

Im a computer guy.... not a car guy.

Anyone here have any suggestions? Know the average cost (UK£) for a garage to drain and replace? What damage could this do if not remedied?

--

Cheers in advance.
 

Speedcuffs

Speedcuffs
Vasco Sapien said:
My father visited my house today and decided to 'Help' me, by topping up my cars Power streering reservoir with brake fluid.

once he realised what he had done he insisted that he used a syringe to drain off the liquid that he placed in there.

How ever... i know my car and the reservoir levels are now just below Max, where as i know that the level before was just on the Min maker.. (topping the levels up was supposed to be a task for myself this weekend... i knew it was low).

Im a computer guy.... not a car guy.

Anyone here have any suggestions? Know the average cost (UK£) for a garage to drain and replace? What damage could this do if not remedied?

--

Cheers in advance.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be good for the power steering pump.
Dunno about prices, haven't had a car for 12 years.:(

What car is it?
 
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Manticore

Manticore
Wrong weight of hydraulic fluid is probably bad news and could affect the performance of the system.......... bummer.
 

Jacques d'Orleans

Banned
Jacques d'Orleans
Vasco Sapien said:
My father visited my house today and decided to 'Help' me, by topping up my cars Power streering reservoir with brake fluid.

once he realised what he had done he insisted that he used a syringe to drain off the liquid that he placed in there.

How ever... i know my car and the reservoir levels are now just below Max, where as i know that the level before was just on the Min maker.. (topping the levels up was supposed to be a task for myself this weekend... i knew it was low).

Im a computer guy.... not a car guy.

Anyone here have any suggestions? Know the average cost (UK£) for a garage to drain and replace? What damage could this do if not remedied?

--

Cheers in advance.
Click to expand...



You can put brake fluid in your power steering system and it will work, but you can't put power steering fluid into your brake fluid tank, because power steering fluid has a much lower boiling point as brake fluid has.
If he has removed all the brake fluid with the syringe from the reservoir, just top it off with steering fluid again and it is ok.

TL;DR:
Brake fluid in power steering reservoir: works (just do it in case of emergency)
Power steering fluid in brake fluid reservoir: Nope, do not even think about it. Never ever do it!
 
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Bob Lighthouse

Banned
Bob Lighthouse
You're probably fine but it should be a cheap fix for peace of mind if you want to have a professional flush/replace the fluid.
If you elect to leave it just make sure you're checking the fluid level at the correct operating temp.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
You can't let your dad forget about this little fiasco, no sir. This has got to come up around the dinner table next Xmas for sure. :D
 

MickyG1982

M
The real question here is why did the fluid need topping up in the first place?

It isn't something that would normally need topped up at all unless there was a leak somewhere in the system.

As long as the car wasn't started after the brake fluid was put in the reserviour simply draining that should be sufficient. As long as the two fluids haven't mixed you should be OK!
 

Bob Lighthouse

Banned
Bob Lighthouse
MickyG1982 said:
The real question here is why did the fluid need topping up in the first place?

It isn't something that would normally need topped up at all unless there was a leak somewhere in the system.

As long as the car wasn't started after the brake fluid was put in the reserviour simply draining that should be sufficient. As long as the two fluids haven't mixed you should be OK!
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My gut feeling is it's supposed to be checked hot, and was checked cold.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Thanks for the responses.

Ive studdied the details, tomorrow i will detach the fluid return just before the pump and drain the system. seems easy enough. Ive not started the car since this happened. so its just the reservoir which needs to be flushed. But i will run the engine with the disconnect to fully drain it. Reconnect and then work out the air pockets.
 

VR StarLightPL

VR StarLightPL
Vasco Sapien said:
Thanks for the responses.

Ive studdied the details, tomorrow i will detach the fluid return just before the pump and drain the system. seems easy enough. Ive not started the car since this happened. so its just the reservoir which needs to be flushed. But i will run the engine with the disconnect to fully drain it. Reconnect and then work out the air pockets.
Click to expand...

Are you sure your dad didn't turn the engine on? Also I am not exactly expert in this matter but I vaguely remember something about hydraulic pumps not liking to work dry so take care while doing it yourself. Also do remember that this fluid (any car fluid in fact) should be disposed of PROPERLY, by simply dumping it in the drain or in the trash you will damage the environment.
 

Bob Lighthouse

Banned
Bob Lighthouse
Vasco Sapien said:
Thanks for the responses.

Ive studdied the details, tomorrow i will detach the fluid return just before the pump and drain the system. seems easy enough. Ive not started the car since this happened. so its just the reservoir which needs to be flushed. But i will run the engine with the disconnect to fully drain it. Reconnect and then work out the air pockets.
Click to expand...



Find the factory approved method and use it if you're going to flush it all.
I'd confirm the process with several sources as well, and I cracked my first engine case before I had hair on my face.

Try not to flush the reservoir fluid through the system if you can avoid it.
Even siphoning out the reservoir is probably preferable to that.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
StarLightPL said:
Are you sure your dad didn't turn the engine on? Also I am not exactly expert in this matter but I vaguely remember something about hydraulic pumps not liking to work dry so take care while doing it yourself. Also do remember that this fluid (any car fluid in fact) should be disposed of PROPERLY, by simply dumping it in the drain or in the trash you will damage the environment.
Click to expand...

I interrogated him on that issue, he swears that he didnt turn over the car. I know that i need to keep the fluid topped up during the flush, so ive asked a mate to pop over and watch the level. I will be picking up a 3-4 litre Bottle of fluid tomorrow.

As for the enviroment.. I'm usually the guy nagging people in my circles about the enviroment. So propper disposal will be an issue for me.
 
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Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Bob Lighthouse said:
Find the factory approved method and use it if you're going to flush it all.
I'd confirm the process with several sources as well, and I cracked my first engine case before I had hair on my face.

Try not to flush the reservoir fluid through the system if you can avoid it.
Even siphoning out the reservoir is probably preferable to that.
Click to expand...

Im gonna completely drain the reservoir first (suck it out), then top up. Lift the front of the car, then disconnect the return pipe, Turn on the engine and while the car front is lifted full lock the steering left and right to get the fluids flowing. Keep the levels in the reservoir topped up and drain until ive finished the 3 litre bottle.
 
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Bob Lighthouse

Banned
Bob Lighthouse
Vasco Sapien said:
Im gonna completely drain the reservoir first (suck it out), then top up. Lift the front of the car, then disconnect the return pipe, Turn on the engine and while the car front is lifted, full lock the steering left and right to get the fluids flowing. Keep the levels in the reservoir topped up and drain until ive finished the 3 litre bottle.
Click to expand...



Most cars have some odd quirks and things you'll need to do.
You'll want the car level for the final check of course.

I'm not familiar with that model, so do whatever the pros are doing or as close to it as possible, not the random shadetree monkeys with youtube channels...
;)

Be careful and take some time to think about your whole work flow first.
Have ample rags, garbage cans close etc.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Bob Lighthouse said:
Most cars have some odd quirks and things you'll need to do.
You'll want the car level for the final check of course.

I'm not familiar with that model, so do whatever the pros are doing or as close to it as possible, not the random shadetree monkeys with youtube channels...
;)

Be careful and take some time to think about your whole work flow first.
Have ample rags, garbage cans close etc.
Click to expand...

I build SAN enviroments for a living, thinking and over thinking my workflow is ingrained ;)
But i will probably not get any sleep tonight as i over think this job, which im sure any car mechanic could do while in his sleep.
 
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