Updated at: 11-08-2022 - By: Lucas

Despite your best efforts, you find that the power steering fluid you have on hand is depleted, and you’d like to replenish it. Because both systems are hydraulic, there’s nothing to worry about by using the brake fluid.

They’re both hydraulic fluids, yet their chemical compositions couldn’t be more disparate. The two fluids can’t be used interchangeably since they’ll wreak havoc on the power steering pump, the master cylinder, and other pricey components.

Here, we’ll go through the differences between power steering fluid and brake fluid, as well as the dangers of mixing the two in an emergency.

What Is Brake Fluid Made Of?

Can I Use Brake Fluid For Power Steering Fluid

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Adding more braking power is made possible by the lubricating properties of brake fluid. Based on the non-compressible properties of liquid, the hydraulic system is used in the system.

Brake fluid is made to exacting specifications. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Society of Automotive Engineers are just two of the organizations that set the standards (SAE standard). The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards DOT standard is the most widely used standard.

Based on the DOT standard, the following table shows the essential characteristics of braking fluids.

Standard

The DOT 2

Ether of glycol

Narrow-Ordered Traffic Scale 4

More than four-and-a-half stars

Silicone

The ether of glycerol or the ester of borate

Brake fluid’s effectiveness is heavily influenced by its viscosity. Even with systems with micro valves and quick activation, the fluid must keep the same viscosity under high heat and extreme cold in order to function properly. The lowest viscosity fluids are DOT 4+, DOT 5, and DOT 5. 1.

There are places where high temperatures can occur in the system, such as at the brake calipers. It’s a problem since gas is compressible, which means that the hydraulic effect is lost. If an air bubble became trapped in the brake system, you may have felt this.

The ABS module, brake calipers, wheel cylinders, brake lines, and other components must be protected against corrosion by the brake fluid in addition to being non-corrosive. Additives and corrosion inhibitors are incorporated into the fluid composition to attain this result. The use of noncorrosive silicone oils instead of glycol-based mixtures has been attempted, however the downsides, especially ABS system incompatibility, have hindered its spread.

Brake fluid is made up of three main components: anti-freeze, lubricant, and water.

Lubricating synthetic materials, anti-corrosive additives, and glycol ether or borate ester.

What Is Power Steering Fluid Made Of?

Can I Use Brake Fluid For Power Steering Fluid-2

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Hydraulic fluid is also used in power steering fluid. As a result, you’ll be able to spin the steering wheel more easily and quickly. Because of the lack of a power steering pump in older cars, turning the wheel when the car was still required a large amount of force.

Power steering fluid is made from mineral oil, silicone, or any other kind of synthetic compound. As a result, it may be deduced that power steering fluid is more like automatic transmission fluid than brake fluid.

Risks Of Using Brake Fluid As Power Steering Fluid

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Brake and power steering fluids cannot be interchanged due to their fundamentally different chemical compositions.

Even if additives like glycol ether or borate ester are used to reduce the corrosiveness of braking fluid, the substance itself is still corrosive. Rubber seals, not being able to withstand the chemical composition, would wear out quickly.

The absence of lubricant is a more serious issue. Compared to brake fluid, power steering fluid has better lubricating characteristics. The power steering pump will quickly wear out if the brake fluid is used in place of the normal steering fluid.

What Can I Use As A Power Steering Fluid Alternative?

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In some cases, some manufacturers recommend that you use the same fluid for both your automatic transmission and your power steering.

Manufacturers will produce distinct packaging and advertise the fluid at a different price because automobiles use power steering fluid much less than transmission fluid. To be sure you’re not being conned, consult your owner’s manual and see what kind of fluid your power steering requires.

When it comes down to it, the price difference between buying your oils on Amazon, local stores, or petrol stations isn’t all that big; you should buy a backup and keep it in your trunk regardless of where you buy it. These oils include engine, transmission, brake, and power steering oil.

What If I Accidentally Poured Brake Fluid Into Power Steering Reservoir?

Damage and dangers from using the improper fluid rely mostly on how many miles you’ve put on your car after topping up.

No harm will be done to your power steering pump if you accidentally spilled brake fluid into it and noticed it before starting the engine, It is possible, however, to permanently damage the power steering pump by driving for a long period of time.

No matter what, the next step is always the same. Replace the old fluid with new power steering fluid and perform a thorough system flush.

FAQs

What can be used as a substitute for power steering fluid?

Except for an automatic transmission oil, there is no substitute for power steering fluid. Then you don’t need to buy power steering fluid, and you can use the same type of transmission oil that you already have on hand.

Can you use DOT 3 instead of power steering fluid?

Do not use this product since it is glycol-based, which can eat away at the rubber seals and cause damage to the power steering pump.

Can I use engine oil in my power steering?

You could, theoretically, if the oil compounds are exactly the same, but I would strongly discourage it. When the cost of fluid far outweighs the danger of failure, there’s no reason not to buy power steering fluid specifically for your car.

Does brake fluid hurt the power steering pump?

Viscosity and heat resistance are the key qualities of braking fluid, however lubrication is not one of them. Brake fluid, on the other hand, is unable to meet the lubricating needs of a power steering pump. Without lubrication, the pump would wear out and eventually fail.

How do you bleed power steering?

Raise your car on jack stands so that the front wheels are off the ground and the engine is cold. Add fluid to the power steering reservoir if necessary, but do not close the reservoir cap. Ten to twenty full rotations of the steering wheel to the left and right are recommended. Adding more fluid will be necessary as a result of air being forced out of the reservoir.

After all of the bubbles have dissipated, close the gas cap and start the car up. It’s time to re-check the reservoir level. If more fluid is needed, top it off and keep going until the level is just right.

How do you drain power steering fluid?

It is necessary to lift the car and remove the skid plate in order to access the low-pressure line for power steering fluid draining. When the hose is disconnected, all of the hydraulic fluid will be drained into the pan.

Can you use hydraulic fluid for power steering fluid?

You can’t just use any hydraulic fluid in the power steering system, even if it’s a hydraulic system. The chemical composition of different fluid types vary widely, and if you don’t use the correct one, you risk damaging your power steering pump.

Summary

When it comes to power steering fluid, don’t ever use brake fluid in place of it. Using the wrong power steering fluid can cause serious harm to your car’s pump, thus you should always use the correct fluid for your vehicle.