Urgent help - Water in power steering fluid reservoir

[XMT]

Hi All,

I made a real stupid mistake I think.
I basically wanted to top off my power steering fluid in a 2012 335i which has hydraulic steering
I stupidly used a jug that we use for water - As far as I know the jug was empty and looked dry, I poured around 150-200ml of the power steering fluid into the jug and it sat in there for around 5 minutes.

I then topped up the reservoir and there was around 100ml left in the jug. When I looked at it tho there was some small "drops" (of water) in there, and that is when it clicked that I should have made sure the jug was actually dry.

I have checked online and everyone is like oh st drain out asap etc etc etc

2 things I wanted to check is one, is it any different because its a hydraulic system and secondly can I get away with emptying the top black reservoir tank and refilling it with fluid from the actual can.

I think at the very very very most there might have been a tea spoon of water in the jug - maybe not even that - just panicking and dont want to cause damage to the car.

[XMT]

ok so I just checked - I think it was literally 3 drops of water. I just checked the same jug and poured some hydraulic fluid in it and whisked it a little and it looks worse than it is because of lots of tiny bubbles.

My thinking is the 5 minutes I left the jug for- the water would have settled at the bottom so even then hardly anything would have went into the reservoir.

I have not moved the car or switch it on or anything so just for safe meaure the pipe that is coming out of the reservoir I will take off, drain the reservoir flush a little fluid through it for good measure and connet pipe back on and refil.

[XMT]

The Spruce goose said:

in theory water will sink to the bottom. Is there a drain off at the lowest bit. But if it was me, take it out for a run, use the steering a bit come back, take cap off leave for a bit. put back on and forget about it.

I will have a look in the morning in the light if there is a lower point I can easily access without too much hassle.

Like you I thought that it would warm up and evaporateand if I take off the lid it would clear, it is only a few drops- might not even be that much!

Ill try find a lower access point and if not I will just empty the tank is I think the bulk of water if anything will be in here - the pipe comes out of the side so I doubt there has been much that has went down there. As I said it will literally only 100ml I topped up