Brake fluid vs. Power Steering fluid? - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Paul Workman · 04-28-2018

Being far from a chemical guru, I defer to someone here who is.

The situation: My son's friend accidentally put DOT 3 hydraulic fluid into the power steering reservoir (85 Caprice). Upon near immediate discovery, the steering was purged and the proper GM P/S fluid was reinstalled - the car wasn't driven more than 10 miles after the discovered mix-up occurred.

Question: What harm, if any, would result from inadvertently using DOT3 in place of (GM) power steering fluid have - especially in the very short-term? Hydraulic fluid is hydraulic fluid, yes?

04-28-2018	#1
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,466	Brake fluid vs. Power Steering fluid? Being far from a chemical guru, I defer to someone here who is. The situation: My son's friend accidentally put DOT 3 hydraulic fluid into the power steering reservoir (85 Caprice). Upon near immediate discovery, the steering was purged and the proper GM P/S fluid was reinstalled - the car wasn't driven more than 10 miles after the discovered mix-up occurred. *Question: What harm, if any, would result from inadvertently using DOT3 in place of (GM) power steering fluid have - especially in the very short-term? Hydraulic fluid is hydraulic fluid, yes?*