# Mixing fluids

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/mixing-fluids/39162>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** corolla, toyota\
**Created:** [November 7, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mixing-fluids/39162 "2009-11-07T20:32:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Camcortoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Camcortoy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Camcortoy)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mixing-fluids/39162/1 "2009-11-07T20:32:03Z")

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While I was checking the car fluid levels, I had next to me two bottles: a Dexron-III Mercon Automatic transmission fluid and a bottle of Dextron Steering fluid. For some unexplained reason I accidentally took the wrong bottle and put a little bit of automatic transmission fluid in the steering fluid container.  
  
 Can somebody advise if this is going to cause a problem?  
  
 Do I need to now flush all the steering fluid and fill it again because of the mistake?  
  
 Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mixing-fluids/39162/2 "2009-11-07T21:01:33Z")

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Luckily, the two fluids are fairly similar. In fact, I believe that for your Toyota, ATF is an approved substitute for power steering fluid. I wouldn’t sweat it.