Hello. I replaced my 2005 CRV brake fluid this morning. Topped up the reservoir, bled out the two rear brakes, then noticed I had grabbed the wrong grey bottle and put power steering fluid in the resivor instead of brake fluid. Crap. At that point I’d already bled out the rear brakes, so it’s in the whole system.

I immediately had it towed to the dealer (where I’m sitting now). They gave me a choice - have the oil change kid flush it out with about 6 bottles of brake fluid now (basically 3x flush) or let it sit in the lot for 5 days until a more experienced tech can do it. I chose flush it now rather than let it sit.

all told, power steering fluid was in the lines 5-6 hours.

here’s my questions. Since the dealer is just having a kid flush it:

1. Is the damage from this going to be immediatly apparent? As in, if a few days go by with no problems am I in the clear?

2. if the answer to #1 is no, is there anything I can visually inspect to see if there’s damage?

 

This is very bad news. I once did this in a Saturn with power brakes and the whole braking system needed replacement or, at a minimum, a thorough cleaning. Also, leaving it with the kid is also a BIG problem. Bleed it and do the 3X flush yourself. Use the correct fluid. Hope for the best. The worst that happens is your are back where you started. Take it to a mechanic for him to check it out, if you wish.

1. REMEMBER: Auto mechanics (and dentists), even well-meaning auto mechanics who generally know what they are doing, seem to have brains that run to the most expensive or expansive repair possible. Here's what I do:
2. I make my best guess after spending however long it takes in weekend hours to research the problem on line. This may save you a great deal of money @$150/hour that mechanics charge.
3. See 2 and fix it yourself if you can.
4. Take it to a mechanic for him to check it out, if you wish.

Just my two cents. And, yes, I do think that how dentists and auto mechanics make diagnoses are very similar. The only difference is if auto mechanic says he can fix the problem and is only told to only fix the immediate problem, that you may junk the car if that is not going to fix it, that you leave a note on the dash saying that and describing the problem, that you do not approve other work when they call you and they will call, AND when you go to pick up the car the original problem is not fixed and they present you will a bill for hundreds of dollars, YOU DO NOT LEGALLY HAVE TO PAY IT. (I bring a spare key just in case.) I think dentists you still have to pay even if the filling falls out that day.