Help I put break fluid in my power steering resevoir!

studentloan

Hi, I'm a numpty. The break fluid light came on on my ford ka so i pulled over at the nearest garage and checked my car manual to see what break fluid i needed. I bought the correct stuff but poured it in the powersteering resevoir.

I phoned for recovery and got it brought back to my flat.

1st problem is the council hasn't given me a parking permit yet.
2nd I don't to drive it

The breakdown guy dropped us off at my flat. (city centre bradford)
He said he could fix it for £50-60 but his shift didn't finish till monday. I don't want to drive it as he said there's too much fluid in the resevoir and it would pop and corrode everything.

I think i need towing to a garage and a pro to do it.?

What do you think i should do and how much should it cost?

My fianc!e wants to kill me as it is her week off and i want to get it fixed asap and don't want to have to wait til monday.

Thanks

Col

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

In the absence of a drain point (not all cars have them and I've no idea if yours does):

If you haven't started the engine since you made this mistake:

Buy a large syringe, and the correct power steering fluid. Syringe as much as you can out of the reservoir (use a thin pipe on the end of the syringe if you can for more reach), then refill with power steering fluid. Do it twice for good measure, after letting the engine idle for a few seconds and turning the wheel lock to lock.


Brake fluid isn't nice stuff, I don't envy you if you started the engine before you realised your mistake. Might be an idea to find out if your steering rack has a drain.

custardy

as said syphon/syringe as much fluid out as you can.
also dont forget the brake light.
could be low fluid or low brake pads if the KA is fitted with pad sensors


to make you feel better i know a guy who put screenwash in his new clios power steering

tomstickland

Should be easy to fix. Depending on the power steering, there will be a hose connection low down in the system somewhere, either a Banjo bolt onto the rack, or a jubilee clip. It's just a matter of disconnecting that and letting the fluid out, then replacing it. Shouldn't cost anything much.


As to the brake warning light coming on, what is the fluid level like? Generally braking systems don't lose fluid.

shown73

On mentioning , to a Ford mechanic, that my power steering fluid was a bit low, I was told to just put some brake fluid into it. Same stuff, apparently.....??

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

NO! It is most definitely not the same stuff!

Brake fluid strips paint!

shown73

Yes, I know that brake fluid strips paint, irrelevant. Haynes manual recommends auto transmission fluid for power steering, and of course, brake fluid for brakes. It would require someone much more technically educated than me to compare differences, if any. My gut feeling is that they are different, but I know and trust the person who made that suggestion, so I'm a bit confused. I was actually about to top up my steering resevoir, so I think I'll wait a bit!

custardy

they are different in viscosity at least.
given the brake fluid is subjected to pressure and the power steeering to pressure and more mechanical forces i would say its not good to use brake fluid

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

shown73 wrote: »

Yes, I know that brake fluid strips paint, irrelevant. Haynes manual recommends auto transmission fluid for power steering, and of course, brake fluid for brakes. It would require someone much more technically educated than me to compare differences, if any. My gut feeling is that they are different, but I know and trust the person who made that suggestion, so I'm a bit confused. I was actually about to top up my steering resevoir, so I think I'll wait a bit!

ATF and power steering fluid are very similar - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON

Brake fluid has a much higher boiling point because braking surfaces can get very hot under prolonged use. They are also hygroscopic, absorbing water from the atmosphere, and thus must be changed periodically (2 years typically).