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Brake fluid isn’t oil (generally speaking). EVs have electrical motor-driven power steering, not hydraulic. You scored correctly on the reduction box, which will need changing well after most people sell the car (>100K miles).

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I find it hard to believe that someone somewhere isn't making an EV with a electric pump to supply a traditional hydraulic steering system. If I had to guess it would be Europe because they love electric over hydraulic steering.

Now you have me wondering if our OG Leaf didn’t work that way, as I have this vague memory that maybe it did.

EDIT: nope, that is definitely an electric motor on the top of that 2011 Leaf steering rack:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254589825844

It’s hydraulic fluid, which is oil. It’s not formulated the same as engine oil, but it’s not far off gear oil.

It’s hydraulic fluid, which is oil.

Nope, glycol-based and synthetic. Not the best article, but best I could find at the moment:

https://engineerfix.com/what-is-brake-fluid-made-of/

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