How bad did i f*ck up?

I changed my calipers today and accidentally topped off my brake resivor with power steering fluid. Maybe. 1/4 of the resivor. It was in the system for 4 hours and I drove about 15 miles before i realized and immediately flushed the system. Now what?

 

Flush it till it's completely clear brake fluid at all 4 corners?

 

Yeah

 

My tacoma calls for atf for power steering did you put red atf in there?

 

No it was prestone PS fluid comes in a yellow bottle

 

I'd get it out asap. It will damage seals very quickly. You might get lucky but the damage has been done.

 

Yeah i flushed the system as soon as i realized.

 

Good luck

 

Thanks.

 

Well you still had brakes I assume, but yeah get alot of D.O.T. fluid & flush system

 

Uh oh!

 

Calm down everyone, its fine, just flush it out two or three times using a whole bottle of brake fluid.

For those that disagree, then suggest what he should start tearing apart first.

 

On a side note you really should use atf for your power steering....says it right on the cap.

 

Flush it and your fine.....power steering fluid is a lotttttt less damaging than brake fluid....example- put a dab of power steering fluid on your paint.......then put a dab of brake fluid on your paint.lol.

 

I personally don't think you did much of any damage. Both fluids are hydraulic fluids, even ATF is just a special hydraulic fluid, but they have different properties for stuff like compressability, or contaminate absorption, or lubrication capabilities like lubing the impeller of a power steering pump.

being in the auto parts business, i've sold a lot of o-rings for multiple purposes, mostly for hydraulics on tractors. but i sell people the same o-rings for stuff like master cylinders, power steering lines, and some for rubber brake hoses.

I've never had a single person come back ever saying the o-ring deteriorated because of any of the fluids. you can rest assured, you didn't do any damage.

the real reason you shouldn't use PS fluid in your brakes is because PS fluid will compress more than brake fluid. so it will feel spongy under extreme/emergency circumstances. you just cant trust it like brake fluid. but yes, make sure to bleed the system properly and get every bit out that you can.

 

I think if you flush it good you will be fine. I think it could damage the seals over time if left in there, but if you flush it good now I think you will have little to no damage.

 

I would agree, no harm no foul, because its just fluid used for hydrolic pressure so the ONLY thing I see as a problem is it may have different hydrolic compression rates.

if you haven't already done so break the lines loose from master cylinder and flush it separately then reconnect and flush out the lines

 

How can ATF damage seals?????????? Automatic transmissions and power steering units are full of 'em.

 

Seals that aren't designed for it. Being he realized it immediately and flushed it's different. Feel free to top yours off and try it out though.