Help- Power steering fluid mixed with gas

[Joe]

Yeah, I know that sounds really dumb. But I somehow managed to do that.
Poured half a bottle(~8oz) of power steering fluid in the fuel tank
(10 gallons) of my 1997 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Is that a
potentially dangerous thing for the engine? What could be a possible
way out of this?

Please help...

Thanks in advance.
-Joe

 

[M.J.]

Yeah, I know that sounds really dumb. But I somehow managed to do that.
Poured half a bottle(~8oz) of power steering fluid in the fuel tank
(10 gallons) of my 1997 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Is that a
potentially dangerous thing for the engine? What could be a possible
way out of this?

Please help...

In my estimation there is nothing that can help you recover the lost fluid!
))

I think that steering fluid is harmless to the engine (?). After all its
just light oil,
and may even help with upper cylinder lubrication. If this happened to me I
would just top-off the fuel tank to dilute the solution, and maybe add some
more gas after 1/4 of tank is empty, to further dilute the stuff. 8oz is a
very
small amount.

M.J.

 

[Dmitriy]

Probably not bad for your engine, might make it smoke a bit...

 

[Jim Stewart]

Yeah, I know that sounds really dumb. But I somehow managed to do that.
Poured half a bottle(~8oz) of power steering fluid in the fuel tank
(10 gallons) of my 1997 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Is that a
potentially dangerous thing for the engine? What could be a possible
way out of this?

Probably no harm at all. I'd keep the
gas tank topped up for a couple weeks
to try to dilute it as much as possible.

 

[JohnO]

Yeah, I know that sounds really dumb. But I somehow managed to do that.
Poured half a bottle(~8oz) of power steering fluid in the fuel tank
(10 gallons) of my 1997 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport. Is that a
potentially dangerous thing for the engine? What could be a possible
way out of this?

Knowing now that this isn't going to cost you an engine, only some
light embarassment, how did the steering fluid end up in the gas tank?


And by the way, siphoning out ten gallons of gas wouldn't be too
hard...if it was necessary.

-John O

 

[Dmitriy]

I bet he probably went to put in some engine cleaner type stuff in, but
mixed up the bottles and dumped power steering fluid in... I can
totally see myself doing something like that too hehe

 

[Rick Courtright]

What could be a possible way out of this?

Hi,

Drive it out. Top off the tank, and then re-top it as others have said
to dilute it quickly. Longer, high speed freeway type trips will not
only get it used up quickly, but will help burn it as cleanly as
possible since they keep the engine and the cats up to optimal operating
temps. Years ago, more than a few people used ATF (same or almost same
thing as power steering fluid depending on the car/system) as a top
cylinder lube. Your concentration's possibly a bit high for now, but
that won't last as you top up a time or two.

After you've run 10-15 gal thru the tank, you might want to follow up
with a bottle of Techron or fuel injector cleaner to remove any residue.

Then you can tell us how the "oops!" happened! (I'm sure most of us have
a "story from the dark side" in our automotive pasts!

Rick

 

[Joe]

Thanks a bunch guys. That was really helpful.

And Dmitriy's guess was spot on. Yeah, I had the fuel injector cleaner
and power steering fluid bottles mixed up.

-Joe