Can Brake Fluid Be Used For Power Steering?
The list of fluids that are necessary for our automobiles is rather extensive. Many different fluids are required for the operation of our automobiles, and each of these fluids has a particular function. Because brake and power steering fluids are examples of hydraulic liquids, I wonder…
A question: is it possible to utilize brake fluid for power steering? A resounding “no” is the official response. Should you decide to use brake fluid in your power steering system, you would be causing considerable harm to the apparatus.
Comparison between Power Steering Fluid and Brake Fluid
In contemporary automobiles, brake and power steering fluids are liquids used in a hydraulic system. However, the similarities between the two fluids extend only a little farther than that.
Brake and power steering fluids are not interchangeable since they were developed and improved over the years to fulfill diverse functions inside automobiles. Brake fluid and power steering fluid are not synonymous.
Putting brake fluid in your power steering reservoir will have several consequences in addition to reducing the effectiveness of your power steering. It will result in significant harm.
The following is an explanation of the several distinctions that exist between power steering fluid and brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | Power Steering Fluid |
| Composition: 60%-90% solvent, 5%-30% lubricant, 2%-5% additives | Composition: 85%-90% lubricant, 10%-15% additives |
| Usually Glycol-Ether based | Usually Petroleum-based |
| The main purpose is to transfer force into pressure in the brake system. | The main purpose is to lubricate the power steering pump. |
| The secondary purpose is to keep brake lines from corroding. | The secondary purpose is to provide pressure to the power steering system. |
| Caustic, will strip paint from your car | Not caustic |
| Light yellow when new. Amber to brown as it ages. | Yellow, amber or pink when new. Brown to black when it ages. |
| Low compressibility | Low compressibility, but not as low as brake fluid |
| Not a good lubricant | A good lubricant |
The power steering in your vehicle may not have issues due to all of the qualities of the brake fluid. Because brake fluid is acidic and has limited lubricating capabilities, it is impossible to utilize it in your power steering system. These are the two primary reasons why this is not possible.
The Brake Fluid Does Not Contain Enough Lubricant
Because of its low concentration, brake fluid, which contains just 5% to 30% lubricant, would not be an effective lubricant for the power steering pump. It may provide the power steering pump with some lubrication, but it will not be sufficient. The power steering pump must have a lubricant content of between 85 and 90 percent in the power steering fluid.
All of the moving parts of the power steering system will not be able to operate with the same ease if they do not have the appropriate lubrication. This is particularly true in the areas of the power steering system where metal is rubbing against metal.
As a consequence of this, your power steering will become irregular and will finally stop working.
The brake fluid is a caustic substance.
When you consider that brake fluid can’t from your vehicle, you can only picture the damage that it may do a system that was not designed to handle the causticity of brake fluid.
Because of the brake fluid, the seals, gaskets, and rubber hoses that are part of the power steering system would sustain damage beyond repair. Either it will cause them to bulge and leak or cause sections to disintegrate.
There would be a full breakdown of the power steering.
The expense of repairing the issues that came about as a result of brake fluid in the power steering
So, how much would all of this set you back?
This depends on the amount of damage the brake fluid caused, which in turn depends on the amount of brake fluid you put in and whether or not it infiltrated the complete power steering system.
Here are some figures that are about in the ballpark to assist give you an idea. These are estimates, and the actual costs may vary based on the car you bring in, the location, and the technician you take it to.
If you put brake fluid in your power steering, you must wash out the old fluid and replace it with fresh fluid. This will be necessary if anything goes wrong. If you cannot yourself, the price will be at least $69.99 (Source). The price may change based on the amount of power steering fluid that your particular car requires.
The technician must disassemble the power steering system to restore the rack seals. As a result, the labor expenses associated with the work will rise. The cost of components and labor can range anywhere from $600 to $1,000 (Source).
The cost of replacing a hose in your power steering system, including the price of the materials and labor, may range from $388 to $512 on average (Source).
If there is a problem with the pump itself due to a lack of lubrication, the average cost to replace the pump is between $459 and $659 (Source).
Which source is responsible for this misunderstanding?
Are you aware that brake fluid and power steering fluid are interchangeable? Perhaps you have heard this from a friend, a family member, or another person in whom you have complete faith. This is a widespread myth.
My theory is that the origin of this issue lies in the fact that early power steering systems were equipped with automatic transmission fluid, which existed before the development of power steering fluid.
They are both primarily used as lubricants, which is why this was achievable. More detergents are included in automatic transmission fluid, which is the primary distinction between the two fluid types.
However, brake fluid has never been utilized as power steering fluid, even though it seems to have been thrown in with power steering fluid.
Consider the following scenario: you put brake fluid in your power steering system.
The power steering system will likely sustain damage due to brake fluid. If you inadvertently insert brake fluid into your power steering system, it is imperative that you thoroughly cleanse the system. This video provides a detailed explanation of the technique, but I have also written it down.
Only attempt to flush your power steering system if you are confident in your ability to work on your vehicle and are prepared to make a mess.
- It would be best to not switch on the automobile and drive it alone. This will assist in preventing the brake fluid from finding its way into the power steering system, reducing the potential harm it might do. If you need to switch the vehicle on, the brake fluid you poured should still be in the reservoir.
- Remove as much fluid as possible from the reservoir containing the power steering fluid using a turkey baster. Be sure you have a container ready to use for the old fluid.
- Should you feel uneasy about working on your vehicle, seek the assistance of an individual well-versed in automobiles to guide you through the subsequent procedures.
- Raise the vehicle so the front wheels are up off the ground, then spin the steering wheel so that the front wheels move back and forth. The reservoir will acquire a greater quantity of fluid.
- It is possible to extract the remaining liquid from the reservoir using the turkey baster.
- You must disconnect the low-pressure connection and let the liquid drain into a container using the appropriate method.
- To flush out our more old fluid, turn the wheels back and forth.
- Fill the reservoir with new power steering fluid, then wait for it to drain through the system and into a container before removing it.
- Try this three times.
- Complete the process by putting everything back together and adding power steering fluid to your power steering system.
- It is possible to have the power steering system cleansed once again by a professional if you wish to take additional necessary precautions.
You should take the vehicle to a professional to drain the brake fluid out of the power steering and repair any damage if you have previously driven the car with brake fluid in the power steering.
When it comes to the brakes, is it possible to use a power steering fluid?
It is common knowledge that brake fluid cannot be used for power steering, but is it possible to utilize power steering fluid to replenish your brake fluid?
No, as you could have guessed, is the correct response.
It is not possible for the rubber used in brake lines to contain fluids that are derived from petroleum, such as power steering fluid. As soon as the seals come into touch with the steering fluid, they will quickly expand, obstructing the braking line.
Transporting the tainted fluid through the braking system with only one press of the brake pedal is sufficient. Following the introduction of the power steering fluid, the braking system will fail in a short amount of time.
Disassembling the braking system, cleaning out the lines, and replacing rubber components would be the only way to solve the problem.