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Burning ATF

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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 11:01 PM
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Exclamation Burning ATF

About a month ago i put duel 5" stacks on my 85 ford. My IP is turned up so when i really mash down on it I get a nice steady black cloud. Today a buddy of mine told me that if i where to put a quart of ATF in with my fuel when i fill up i would get an even darker cloud. I dont no if this is true, but i got to thinking. Sence ATFs purpess is to lubricate the tranny then would it be a good way to keep the IP lubricated or should i stick to diesel treatments? Any ideas?
 
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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 11:07 PM
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From: Sweetwater Texas
I've been running ATF for 3 months now, it won't hurt a thing. I've actually seen a truck that run on 75% used ATF (he works for a tranny shop). Quite a few guys will fill the fuel filter full of ATF when replacing, I do this as well and she runs just like normal. I do believe if you want a darker shade of black, your gonna need more than just a quart to a tank.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 11:33 PM
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ATF is good for lubrication of IP and injectors, dunno if it makes any difference in the color tho. By the way, do you have a pyrometer? All that black smoke is just unburned fuel, which also cab bring the EGTs to dangerously high levels.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2009 | 11:44 PM
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DieselPower or DieselWorld magazine had an story on a guy that ran 90% ATF... no problems... only "a loss of power" when he ran 100%...
This was in a 2002 Power Smoke...
Im trying to find a few shops that will give me there used ATF...
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 12:23 AM
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I don't know about making more smoke, but it will actually be good for the engine and injection system to run small amounts of it. You can run more if you want, but there may be a problem with the color of the fuel if you get caught. Not sure if it is technically illegal though.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 11:41 AM
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At this time NO i do not have a pyrometer, but know I seriously need to get one. What is considerd to be a dangerously high egt temp for a 6.9. The pyrometers that i was looking at had 3 difforent temps, 1200 1500 2000. Witch one should i get?
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by muddin07
At this time NO i do not have a pyrometer, but know I seriously need to get one. What is considerd to be a dangerously high egt temp for a 6.9. The pyrometers that i was looking at had 3 difforent temps, 1200 1500 2000. Witch one should i get?
Get the one that has red starting at 1200-1300. 1200 is the highest you want to go.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 01:39 PM
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If you are talking max temp read, get the 1500 model.

1250 is where engine damage can start, 1200 is a good max temp.
If you are pulling a long hill, back the temp down to 1150 if you are going to be there for a while.

Those temps are only valid if the thermocouple is installed in the exhaust manifold.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 08:45 PM
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From: Sweetwater Texas
Originally Posted by David85
I don't know about making more smoke, but it will actually be good for the engine and injection system to run small amounts of it. You can run more if you want, but there may be a problem with the color of the fuel if you get caught. Not sure if it is technically illegal though.
If you keep your fuel reciepts you will stay in the clear. And especially if you keep an extra quart of ATF or two in the truck to help prove your point.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by S.P.
DieselPower or DieselWorld magazine had an story on a guy that ran 90% ATF... no problems... only "a loss of power" when he ran 100%...
This was in a 2002 Power Smoke...
Im trying to find a few shops that will give me there used ATF...
It was also harder to start.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 09:11 PM
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I thought about trying to get enough ATF to be able to run part of the time on it, but I was going to only fill one tank with it, and start on pure diesel. I do this currently when it gets below 20 degrees, I fill the front tank with about 5 gal of diesel then I put in a full bottle of seafoam, and then double treat it with Diesel Kleen. When I am about 2 miles from home, I switch from my back tank to the front, then the next morning she fires right up nice and easy, then I switch back to my rear tank to the plain jane diesel.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 10:01 PM
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From: Sweet Home, OR
Hey Dean,
Are you the one who did the post on seafoam a couple of months ago?
I put a can of it in my rear tank about 3-4 days ago and my truck is definitely idling better.
I haven't noticed any difference with ATF or Diesel Kleen, even filling my filter with it.
I definitely did with Seafoam.

I put some in my Cherokee and it's idling smoother too, I might buy stock in the stuff.

I'd never heard of it until that post, bought two cans at AutoZone.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Dodge/Cummins
It was also harder to start.
Hey DC send me a PM..
And - yes it did say it was harder to start... do you think that it might be cuz of the lower compression??? thats what I had thought...
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 11:32 PM
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From: Sweet Home, OR
I don't think it's COMPRESSION but PRESSURE in the fuel system.
I think the lower pressure fuel systems of the old mechanical motors would start on it easier.
I'll bet an '89-'98 12V Cummins would start just as well and so would IDIs.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2009 | 11:34 PM
  #15  
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From: Sweet Home, OR
Originally Posted by S.P.
Hey DC send me a PM..
And - yes it did say it was harder to start... do you think that it might be cuz of the lower compression??? thats what I had thought...
How about YOU send ME a PM because I have NO idea what YOU want.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, that's my smart @$$ nature showing up.
 
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