Put SOME brake fluid in the power steering reservoir

:banghead: I made a dumb, and embarrassing mistake....I did not fill the res completely with brake fluid, I realized my mistake almost immediately, but some did get in there. I topped it off with power steering fluid....will it be ok, or will I have to flush the entire system? The reaseon I ask, is because I know it's ok with some cars. I have a 99 chevy cav...HELP! Thanks.

Oh dear!

I hope you haven't driven it yet, or even turned it on?


The two fluid types are quite different, enough brake fluid in the power steering could damage parts in the rack through lack of lubrication.


If you haven't driven it yet, or even turned it on, then you can drain the reservoir by removing one of the lines from the bottom.
Flush some new, clean power steering (or ATF) fluid through just to make sure it cleans out all of the brake fluid.

This should solve your problem :cool:


If you have started it, or driven it, then you have a much bigger problem as it will have mixed the fluids together and pumped them through the system.
To fix that you need to drain the whole power steering system and flush it several times with new clean power steering fluid.


Good luck, and let us know what happens.

It might be time todo a flush on both the power steering & brakes.

Thanks, luckily I have not driven it yet and I plan on flushing and refilling the reservoir tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes!

I just got finished siphoning the contaminated fluid completely from the reservoir, then drained what was left out of the return hose. It's all filled up now with fresh fluid. Lesson learned....pay attention!! Lol, thanks guys.

BTW, how would I go about saving a signature for each post ie. make, model of my car? Thanks.

I just got finished siphoning the contaminated fluid completely from the reservoir, then drained what was left out of the return hose. It's all filled up now with fresh fluid. Lesson learned....pay attention!! Lol, thanks guys.



Just glad you caught and were able to fix it :cool:


To edit your signiture, go into "User CP" and click the link on the left called "Edit Signature"

Just glad you caught and were able to fix it :cool:
Thank you, and the car is running great!

To edit your signiture, go into "User CP" and click the link on the left called "Edit Signature"

Thank you, and the car is running great!