HELP I've just done something incredibly stupid

Newbie Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 4

I've just topped my break fluid up with water and screenwash!!! What the f*ck do I do now? The car and hence the pump have not been turned on but I've no idea how to bleed it.

Can anybody help?

Newbie Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 4

it's a kangoo diesel by the way

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

lol

how much did you stick in? Not that it really matters.

Gte a turkey baster or something, or if needs abe a hose suck it out then let it out into a jar.

Then pour in brake fluid.

Newbie Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 4

Just found out it's the power stearing liquid not the break fluid

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

you don't know the underbonnet very well do you!

Less of a problem with the ps fluid but you really want to get it out matey. Drain the oil and refill it.

Site Subscriber Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 150

lol, like chris said mate, drain the oil, fill it back up with power steering fluid, and i recommend you never open the bonnet again Very Happy

you live and learn i suppose Wink

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

you should not be able to put too much of water in there in the first place as the max level is on the top of the bottle.so you must be talking about 50ml of water (max) and this is of course if your power steering was not too low ?
as the water is much lighter than oil it will sit down the bottom ,so that 50ml of water you stuck in should be by the drain plug allready,in that case idont undestand why you should drain the whole system rather than the water only ???
may be chris h can enlighten us a bit more pls

Gay Rights Activist Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 1268

why would he be topping it up if it was full?!

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

yes water is heavier so as i mentioned earlier it will sit at the bottom and i am just assuming that due to simple rules of physics.

he did not mention how much water he stuck in the tank and i know from my renault that power steering fluid would not usually be less than the min mark unless you got a leak or something ,which he would notice by now.

i am not saying i am perfectly right,its justa bit of a brain gymnastics. so i am expecting some wise person to prove i am wrong (if i am )

Gay Rights Activist Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 1268

I was only messing!

It would need to be drained regardless off where it would sit in the reservoir, since when the pump operates it would mix and emulsify

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

and bugger up the rack if he added enough water in.

Newbie Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 4

thanks for all your help!!!

rac man drained it, apparantly about the 12th Kangoo he's done this year - which makes me feel a bit better.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

12 kangoos this year eh? he's been a very busy boy today hasn't he Wink

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

schakal wrote:

yes water is heavier so as i mentioned earlier it will sit at the bottom and i am just assuming that due to simple rules of physics.

he did not mention how much water he stuck in the tank and i know from my renault that power steering fluid would not usually be less than the min mark unless you got a leak or something ,which he would notice by now.

i am not saying i am perfectly right,its justa bit of a brain gymnastics. so i am expecting some wise person to prove i am wrong (if i am )

You mean Oil is Heavier than water?

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

lets put it this way ;
oil is much denser than water and that makes oil float in water and obviously water sinks down the bottom.
you can actually do an experiment athome to see what happens .put a bit of sunflower oil etc in a glass and add some water .you will see they wont mix and as i am saying again .the water will sink down the bottom of the glass and oil will float on top of water,and thats why i sugessted that the first thing that will purge out of the drain plug would be water assuming that the drain plug is at the bottom of the power steering system.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

schakal wrote:

oil is much denser than water and that makes oil float in water and obviously water sinks down the bottom.

you mean oil is less dense than water Razz

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

Neal 19 16v wrote:

schakal wrote:

oil is much denser than water and that makes oil float in water and obviously water sinks down the bottom.

you mean oil is less dense than water Razz

yes thats the one neal well spotted mate.
whatever i say ,OIL WILL FLOAT .

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Yeah, sorry, was having a stupid moment Razz

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

huwwatkins wrote:

Yeah, sorry, was having a stupid moment Razz

the same here mate i cocked up Crying or Very sad

with the wording at some point .but its all cleared now Smile

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

lol got there in the end boys.

i see where schakel is coming from tho....the water would sink to the btm of the reseviour (sp?) and so siphoning the top fluid out could just remove some oil and not the offending water...

which makes draining the whole lot and refilling (with correct stuff) the best thing to do.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

when i made a hole down the bottom of that plastic bottle ,the first thing coming out was the water itself.after all the water poured down oil started coming out.
my idea was just taking the drain plug out a little to let the water out and once the oil starts coming out ,just tighten the plug and top it up .rather than draining the whole system.