Using ATF as a fuel conditioner

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May 16, 2007 | 12:14 PM

Reidicus

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From: Alberta

Using ATF as a fuel conditioner

Has anybody tried putting a little ATF in their tanks at the pumps? I was talking to a couple of people yesturday and one drives a dodge. Said hes been putting ATF in for a few years now and no problems. What do you guys think.

May 16, 2007 | 12:20 PM

Snowbunny

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From: The Great North~West!

Been driving diesels since 1984 and have always burned ATF in my fuel. Keeps the injectors clean and o-rings lubricated without causing excess smoke. With the way fuel is now, super low sulfur, I can't imagine not putting something in... Fuel these days just seems to be too 'dry'.

My husband used to put it in our Freightliner's 3406 Cat engine, but it stains the fuel red which is a big no, no! Cops think he's burning off road diesel, so he switched to Howes and Power Servie. I don't really know that one is better than another, some guys are using 2-cycle oil as it's made to burn. I do think it's imortant to use something though!

May 16, 2007 | 12:26 PM

Dynojoe

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I put some in my fuel filter when I change it. Helps cleans the Injectors, but never put it in the tank at the pump.

What amount would you add to a fill up of lats say 30-40 Gallons?

May 16, 2007 | 12:29 PM

dc3655

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From: Fallon,NV

Reidicus, I would try doing a search on this topic as about a year ago I read something saying to absolutely avoid putting ATF through the fuel in the 6L. In the older diesels, it was very common to use ATF to prime the fuel pumps following a fuel filter change, I know I did it with my 7.3L. I do think it is good to use fuel additives, but I'm just not sure that ATF is right for the 6L. Do a search and update us please.

May 16, 2007 | 12:38 PM

Reidicus

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From: Alberta

wow, found over 50 pages of posts. This is going to take some time.

May 16, 2007 | 12:42 PM

Beerstalker

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From: Peoria, IL

This has been talked about on here before and it was widely reccommended not to use ATF in the fuel on the 6.0L. The way the injection system works now the ATF can cause issues, where on the older diesel trucks with different injector strategies it was not a problem.

Pick up some Power Service or Stanadyne (preferably the new ULSD certified if you are using ULSD) and use it instead, as that is specifically what it is made for. They also aren't much more expensive than ATF so why not use them instead.

May 19, 2007 | 05:33 PM

Reidicus

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From: Alberta

Can I use ATF (automatic transmission fluid) as a lubricant in my fuel?
Since October 1993, some diesel end-users have tried adding automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to diesel fuel to improve the fuel's lubricity. According to the U.S. Army's quarterly fuel and lubricant bulletin (March 1994), laboratory testing using the Ball-on-cylinder lubricity evaluation (BOCLE) had shown that the addition of ATF to a low sulfur fuel does not improve the fuel's lubricity rating. Moreover, the presence of ATF in fuel can adversely affect other performance properties of diesel fuel.