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Unbelievably stupid mistake -- I hate that I am asking this question.
I accidentally poured about 1.5 oz of brake fluid into my engine (obviously thinking it was my oil container). It makes me feel sick to even type that out. Wow.
Anyway, most likely I'll need to drain the oil, correct? Anything else I can or should do?
OMG. I am so stupid. I'm going away tomorrow and trying to rush a bunch of stuff and was not paying attention or thinking. Christ.
Don't sweat it, that is such a low amount you won't harm anything. Chase the fluid with 1-2 quarts of cheaper oil then drain it all and refill with quality oil. You will be fine. If you didn't start the engine you don't have to touch the oil filter.
Drain the oil fill with fresh run till warm then empty and fill again with fresh oil. Hopefully you didn’t run it with the brake fluid in there. Don’t let it sit without at least draining the current oil out that had the brake fluid.
^ crap happens , don't sweat it. 1.5 oz among a sump of several quarts is such a small amount of dilution, the viscosity thinning wouldn't even register on an analysis. Chasing the fluid down the top end with 1-2 quarts will push it all down to the sump in the same way you put the brake fluid into the top end. Brake fluid is a great cleaner FWIW, lol
Agree with all the above. Good drain as you are doing. Maybe an extra quart when done to help and then refill and go. If you think you can smell the brake fluid, try this oil:
Seems to be a non issue. Hydraulic oil is very similar to engine oil -- it's petroleum.
The engine holds 5.9 US Quarts or 188.8 ounces giving you a 0.8% (less than 1%) adulteration of the engine oil with another petroleum product similar to light engine oil. Recall about 29 ounces of oil, nearly a quart, remains in the engine during an oil and filter change meaning that even with an oil change there's still gonna be 1/4 ounce of hydraulic oil in there.
You will, of course, feel better changing the oil but I don't think you need to flush the system -- do what makes you feel best. Easy to make recommendations when "it ain't my car" but I'd leave it alone.
Thanks so much everyone for the replies. I am so grateful for the knowledge that is shared here.
After panic subsided, I also had the thought that "this is just a petroleum product so maybe it's not so bad". And maybe that is true when dealing with the volumes of each in this situation.
However, as Chuck suspects, I DID feel much better after a drain/fill X 2.
I'm on the road today, with a VERY clean engine and a lesson learned under my belt.
06-11-2021, 01:39 PM
Unbelievably stupid mistake -- I hate that I am asking this question.
