Scottish Elises

I spent last night making up a few new sections of break pipe then got my father to lend a hard, or rather a foot, while I ran around a bled the system.

Alls well and breaks working well but I’ve just discovered that my father topped up the system with the bottle of power steering fluid from the shelf rather than the dot 4 break fluid which was sitting right next to it.

Question is will the PS fluid rot out my break lines or is hydraulic fluid hydraulic fluid and its not worth worrying about.

Advice appreciated.

hmmm... you got to laugh at that one!
you sure you're not using your old man as an excuse?

i wouldnt have thought power steering fluid is any more corrosive than brake fluid, but im sure someone will be along shortly to answer with a wealth of knowledge and experience in this matter

Yup a stupid thing to do but honestly it was Dad, I was crawling about with my spanner opening the bleed nipples. You would have thought that he would have checked.

Conversation went a bit like this “I’ve topped up the reservoir, do you have any more break fluid? Yes – there’s a new bottle on the shelf. OK got it! Glug, glug.

Still – worse things happen at sea.

I'd change it asap as it's most likely got a different boiling point and may break down with the temps in the brakes but I'm no expert, just as safety precaution I'd put the right stuff in!

Mark

Our survey says

http://www.type2.com/library/brakes/brakef.htm wrote:Certainly never pour any other type of fluid, such as power steering fluid, ATF, or motor oil into the brake system, as those petroleum- based fluids will deteriorate the seals and other rubber components, potentially causing brake failure.

Looks like you'll need to drain and flush the whole system out