Suppose some dummy used steering fluid in the brake cylinder

[ontherocks]

I know a guy who got up early this morning and was checking the fluids in his Jeep and noticed the brake fluid was a touch low. I must not...er...he was not thinking clearly and grabbed what looked like a bottle of brake fluid and topped it off! It was not until after a cup of coffee that he realized that was steering fluid!

I don't think it will do any harm assuming I don't drive it much until the brake pads are replaced in a few days. What was added amounts to maybe 1/4 cup. What's the verdict?:rolleyes:

[Rifraf]

Yikes!

My guess those two fluids have different densities and you're not going to get even braking. You'll probably have to completely flush the system.

:eek:

[derf]

First piece of advice I'd give to your, ahem, friend:

Coffee first. Work on Jeep second. :D


As far as what it would do to the system, I can't say for sure. I doubt they'd react with each other but mixing the fluids could change your braking properties (i.e. firmer or softer brakes) This change could be abrupt or gradually creep in. I can't say for sure.

To be safe, I'd flush the entire system ASAP.

[satan]

Flush it clean AFTER emptying the master cylinder (don't pump that through the system --

PS fluid is significantly 'larger' than brake fluid (issues with any small passages likethe proportioning valve) and may also soften hoses and seals if left at them too long (most PS fluid is designed to swell butyl and other rubber for better sealing -- not something you'd like to see i the M/C cups, caliper rings or wheel cylinder cups).--


tell your friend to wake up, then empty the master cylinder before bleeding through fresh clean brake fluid (and then bleed through again in a few weeks -- just to be sure)

[JOKERAL]

It's always "my friend" did somthing stupid or "I know this guy" who did somthing dumb. How come it's never, Boy did "I" screw up this time?

Just an observation, we know ONTHEROCKS would never be this careless;)

Jokeral

[ontherocks]

It's always "my friend" did somthing stupid or "I know this guy" who did somthing dumb. How come it's never, Boy did "I" screw up this time?

Just an observation, we know ONTHEROCKS would never be this careless;)

Jokeral

That was quite a sick feeling, realizing after-the-fact what I did!

I was actually able to get most of it out, noticing that the steering fluid was floating on top of the brake fluid, I took a turkey baster and sucked the stuff out. I still haven't driven it yet, and don't plan to until I find the time to get new shoes on there and bleed the system.

Too much night fishing causes problems the next morning! :beer:

[JOKERAL]

OK, admitting you have a problem, is the the first step.
Now repeat after me ... "My name is Ontherocks, and I am a bonehead"

Sorry for making fun of you,:) but I know you will read the label twice next time! Mistakes are ussually the best learned lessons.

I've made yet another observation:
Anytime someone is using a turkey baster, there never seems to be any turkey basting going on!! I myself have used a turkey baster many times ... yet I have never basted a turkey! Add one more thing to the list of stuff I can do with a turkey baster.

Seriously, Satan's advice in an earlyer post sounds like a solid plan of action. Lets not have your next post start out like "My name is Ontherocks ,and I ran into a tree";)

Jokeral