More and more I hear of people adding a small amount of Cheapo trans fluid to their diesel fuel to combat the low sulphur levels the gov't is mandating. The other day at the fuel pump at one of the major truck stops locally an old timer was asking me all about my pickup and had noticed me adding my Stanadyne while filling up. He told me he uses Howes religiously and had never heard of Stanadyne fuel additive. He said most of the other guys in his company just add 1 qt. to each large tank on their truck to give the fuel some more lubricity but he was wary of doing so because "anything not meant to be in fuel shouldnt be in fuel." Guess I kind of feel the same way, but this was intriguing. I had heard of this practice before but didn't realize how widespread it was. I have been looking for an older PSD or even a late IDI truck to run around with and use for a farm truck. One I am really interested in, the guy goes and tells me he adds 1 qt to each fuel tank every 5000 miles to lube the injectors and pump up some. Truck is a 93, has 265,000 miles on the clock, and has original injectors, injection pump, nothing with fuel system has ever been touched except filters. Maybe there is something to this? Guess it makes me a little nervous doing that with my 10,000 dollar PSD, wonder what it does to mileage?

 

From what I've heard, adding ATF was done years ago to older engine designs. I'm also a little leary of putting something into my tank that wasn't designed to go in there.

 

I agree with Quadzilla. Never been a fan of putting something in that wasn't meant to be there. I'd go with a fuel additive that lubricates.

 

Been doing it for years in my big rigs and occasionally when I change my fuel filter in my PSD I'll fill the fuel bowl halfway with ATF. Doesnt hurt anything I've ever heard of, just adds a little lubricity. My .02 worth.

 

Just dont add too much. If it changes the color to red it will look like un taxxed fuel if you were to get checked. Fines are very stiff compared to cost of stanadyne.

 

ATF is very good at cleaning the injectors, I use it on my
Mercedes 300D whenever I service it. I normally fill the
new fuel filters with ATF.

 

atf will not change the color of fuel to resemble nontaxed fuel. Nontaxed fuel is a dye that illuminates when UV light is introduced to it.

and the fine is a universal federal criminal charge; up to $10000 and/or five years

Hint: if you have a fuel leak that you cannot find, run dyed fuel through it and you can find it with a UV light.

 

and yes aft is very good at cleaning a diesel fuel systme, have you ever taken an auto transmission apart? it is spotless

 

Second FarmerPhil. ATF is like giving your PU fuel system a good laxitive. Cleans it out wonderfully! Great solvent and lubes good too. BioDiesel does the same thing; have some extra fuel filters handy for burning high concebtartions of BD though. Cleans your tank out too. Ever suspicion a rattling lifter in your gasser? Burn some ATF in it and listen to it quit! Yep, I use it in my Mustang too. Clean out my carb every now and then. Don't know about the gas injections? Just don't go crazy with a gallon or something. Gas and diesel engines will burn a variety of products in select concentrations. Diesels are better at it though.

 

hey oklahoma, need to be careful about running biodiesel. What year is your engine? if it is not a recently new model I believe that the make-up of bio diesel is not compatible with the injector o-rings

 

Oklahoma, so you add it every now and then to your gas engine also?

 

Folks have been adding it to gasers for years. My dad was a mechanic for many years and he was a firm believer in it.

 

I have been told to use 1/2 a quart in my tank or 1/4 in each tank.and the person that give me this information is a diesel mechanic.I recently bought a 94 psd that seemed sluggish on power,he told me to change the fuel filter and try transmission fluid in the tanks.I have changed the fuel filter but have yet to try the ATF,but i will let you know how it works.

P.S. Great web site.

 

Jadel,

Let us know if the ATF alone helps the sluggishness before you add any thing else, such as DFA's to your system. Then say, after running through a tank of fuel with ATF added, and you don't notice any difference, go get a quart of Diesel Kleen at Wal Mart, and do the same, and compare.

 

A lot of old practices like adding ATF can damage a modern diesel engine. Same thing with adding gas to diesel, not a good idea. It's not a good idea. Why would you want to do that anyway when you can buy products like Standyne for $5 or less? BTW, Standyne is a recognized name so I'm surprised he hadn't heard of it.