ACCIDENT!! What happens to when you add power steering fluid to your gas tank??

[SanDiego70RTSE]

Guys,

I seriously screwed up last night. It was about 10 p.m. and I was tired. I mistook a bottle of power steering fluid for STP fuel injector cleaner. Before I added it, the gas tank on my Saturn was full (11 gallons).

What effect will adding a bottle of power steering fluid mixed with the gas have on my engine?

Recommendations?

I drove the car to work this morning and it seemed to run fine.

Thanks in advance,

Mat

[FLG]

Since the tank is full it will dilute it fine. You might get some smoke from the fluid and its possible it could foul out some plugs...but it will be fine.

[Joshua]

It may smoke a little.....but it really shouldn't hurt the motor any, the 11 gallons of fuel will dillute it fine.

[bull]

It'll burn. But don't do that too often.

[andy74]

i did that once with tranny fluid,no harm no foul,just some smoke and a funny smell for a little bit

[TUFCAT]

As others have said, you really don't need to worry at all.  As long as it was a petroleum product (and it is) , it will be A-ok.  Your oxygen sensor may sniff it out , and then possibly (but unlikely) turn the check engine light on, but it wiill not do any permanent damage since you had plenty of fuel.  But if it were me, I would also consider letting it run down 1/2 tank, then add-in a batch of fresh fuel to diilute that brew a bit more. 

[1969chargerrtse]

It'll do the valve guides good.  Nice to send some lube down there once an a while.  Remember 2 stroke motors run on gas mixed with oil 100% of the time ( I know different mechanics ).  At least you didn't drain your oil and add 5 quarts of oil to your trani like my dad did to his pinto in the 70's and go running down the road with the motor knocking and trani slipping.   Apple fell far from the tree in this family.

[sick dawg]

As others have said, you really don't need to worry at all.  As long as it was a petroleum product (and it is) , it will be A-ok.  Your oxygen sensor may sniff it out , and then possibly (but unlikely) turn the check engine light on, but it wiill not do any permanent damage since you had plenty of fuel.  But if it were me, I would also consider letting it run down 1/2 tank, then add-in a batch of fresh fuel to diilute that brew a bit more. 

Good idea, couldn't hurt. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! 

[daytonalo]

SURE SIGN OF OLD AGE !!!!!

[Mike DC]

   
I'm glad you mentioned that you mistook the PS fluid bottle for a fuel additive. 


When I first saw the title of this thread, I was thinking "How the hell did he mistake the gas tank filler hole for the power steering reservior?!?"

   

[BigBlackDodge]

Could have been worse! An old girlfriend of my brother decided to top off her coolant one day...............she just unscrewed the 'thingy' on the valve cover and filled it up!  Man, was it low on coolant!



BBD