A customer called today and asked if we would sell him some used ATF. He says that he adds ten gallons of atf to every tank of deisel. It is an 06 chevy 3500. No one at work has heard of this before. He says that he filters it twice thru a really fine filter. Just wondering if anyone has heard of this?

 

It is not a good practice and likely will cause far more problems than it could solve. Using ATF in this way is something of an "old truckers tale" and has been used on everything from Volkswagens to Class 8 trucks. Another erroneous strategy is to add old or new engine oil for lubricity. The problem with these "additives" is they are specifically designed to resist high temperatures and burning. As a result, if they are added to diesel fuel they leave behind ash, heavy metals, and other deposits that can easily cause costly damage to fuel injectors and other sensitive engine components. The best practice is to use quality diesel fuel additives like Stanadyne’s Performance Formula. They are designed to clean and lubricate engine components without leaving behind residues that can be hazardous to your engine’s health. The bottom line is, don’t add anything that is not specifically designed to be combusted in the engine.just me 2 cents!

 

using tcw-3 two stroke ashless oil is very popular with the dodge guys. ashless two stroke oil is made to burn and leaves behind no deposits. adds lubricity. about 8 ounces per 36 gallons of fuel

 

Had a friend with a peterbilt,and he would put atf in the tank when he drove to cold climates.

 

This guy is not doing this as an additive, he's doing it because he save about $30 on a tank of fuel. I guess if you can't afford the fuel you shouldn't own the truck.

 

You know in all honesty I'm not really all that sure about additives at all, the benefits seem to be anecdotal at best, I have seen just as many negative reports as positives for their use. I have had trucks that have gone for 300k(I've only owned diesels my entire driving life) and I have not once used any additives period and I haven't had any issues that would lead me to think "if only I had used additives in the fuel". Too soon with the new ULSD though, but so far no problems. I believe additives really just make people feel better that they are doing something to help their engine, it just one of those things, it doesn't really do all that much good, but it makes you feel better. So if it does that then go for it. As to the use of ATF in the fuel, that just doesn't seem like a logical thing to do in the first place.

 

Long threads on this on FTEs diesel forums.Com and Info-Pop.com.

Many say it will be the death of the engine, but those actually doing it report good results.

 

Here's the link http://forums.ford-trucks.com.com/fo...gonew=1#UNREAD

 

there was a thread somewhere here in FTE that showed test results done by consumer reports. report said 2 cycle was the best additive you could use for lubricity. One of the best diesel shops here in alaska (the diesel Dr.) told me to use the Motorcraft winter treatment in my truck. He sells Stanadyne, Howes, Power Service and Lucas. But he tells folks with Fords to go to the dealer and get the Motorcraft stuff.

I know my truck has never quit on me and it gets pretty cold here.

 

This is a copy of what I posted on Diesel Forum.

Well, I don't fuel my truck with the stuff, but I do add 1 gallon to a full tank every 20,000 miles, or so. Supposedly, it cleans the injectors, or at least that's what a Ford Mechanic told me.

At this point, I have 130,000 miles on a 01 F250 C/C 4x4. Runs like a top.

Do I know for sure it really works?

Not really!

Richard

I can say, using the ATF as I do, has certainly not caused me any problems.

 

i use additive that lubricates, but more importantly, keeps o-rings and seals from shrinking....or so they say...

 

A gallon in 20k mi. is not going to cause a problem, but ten gallons every tank sounds like trouble. Atf has an unbelievable amount of detergent in it. I have used atf in engine oil and in gas, but that was only a half quart.

 

Well I am of the opinion that the benefits probably ARE anecdotal!

I could use the same argument about Stanadyne Performance formula.

I bought a 1994 GMC Suburban 6.5l Diesel new. I used Stanadayne Performance formula RELIGIOUSLY for 60,000 miles. The pump failed. I bought a rebuilt pump from Diesel Injection Service in Lubbock TX and replaced the failed pump.

I now have 110,000 on the rebuilt pump. (170,000 total)

I have not used Additives at all this time.

Should I conclude that the Stanadyne Performance formula caused my failure?

If you look closely at the claims many people are making about using additives they say the same things.

"I used XYZ additive and it seemed to run better"
"I used ABC additive and it didn't hurt anything so it must be working"
"My uncle didn't change his oil for 15 years and the car kept running"
"My brother used Slick 50 and his engine 'ran' better"

Does anyone see a common theme here?

Another one......My brother sold me the boat he bought new in 1987. It had a Ford 460 V-8 in it. It had probably 350 hrs on it since he had it completely rebuilt. He changed the oil every year. He also used Slick 50 in it.

When I got it the camshaft was FLAT!! So did the Slick 50 do that?

In all honesty I don't think so but it sure didn't help anything except the manufacturers bottom line.


I think I'll let others buy those additives and I'll just put regular fuel in my diesel and drive.

Oh....ATF. To anyone thinking about using ATF in diesel. Yes it'll burn. Any light oil will burn in a diesel. But as someone else said it perfectly. Hydraulic fluid has far more harmful additives than any other light oil. It was NEVER meant to burn in an internal combustion engine. It will damage cat converters and cause harmful deposits to collect on your injectors, glow plugs, combustion chambers and exhaust turbine blades etc.

If you have a warranty, you won't when the dealer figures out you've been running it.


Use your own best judgment here.



Cheers,

Rick

 

My friend called me one day saying ohhhS#!t I did it again!! He said he filled up about
50 miles ago and now the truck(isuzu box truck) would barely do 45 and wouldn't idle
but had to keep it revved up at stop lights. I asked about how much gasoline he had
put in he said it was a bit under half tank and he filled it up on a 50 some gallon tank!!
I told him to get to the dollar store and buy the cheapest straight weight oil he found
and dump it in as much as he could afford since he only had $20.00. Well this is where
you are probably saying he got fired from his job or something and what a friend!!
About 6 miles in it started running better able to idle and accelerate, But I told him to
keep it below 45 mph and to not accelerate like a maniac!! It's been a few months and
he says the truck actually runs better now with it's gasoline/diesel/motor oil mixture
had been run through it probabaly because the carbon and crap that was in the motor
got burn't out or dissolved by the gasoline. It was his second time doing it and he
would have been fired if they found out. The problem with using ATF is the red dye if
dot pulls you(which I have seen them do here to pick up owners trailing TOO much
black smoke) And check your fuel to see if it is off road fuel and some guys have got
caught for running off road and not paying taxes will get a fine for sure!!

 

He is probably not buring it in his trans.

He must be leaking it, or he uses the ATF in a heater of some kind.
www.accperformance.com
we build converters and I have not heard of that