How does ATF in the crankcase or gas tank help??

[Ross-N-Chicago]

Just curious as to what it does and what symptoms you would need to do it. Also, is it safe to put in the gas tank?? That seems like playing with fire.

Also, has anybody used Marvel's Mystery Oil or BG Products? Are they worth it?

 

[mahieber]

ATF in the oil used to be an old trick which was supposed to help free up sticking hydraulic lifters and get them to unclgged and able to "pump" up with oil pressure to keep from clicking. In Carbeurated engines, ATF was said to help lubricate the upper engine, especially at start up. I wouldn't recommend it with today's engines. In the gas tank and you may clog an injector. In the crankcase, especially on an older engine, and you may spin a bearing.

Go with what works...change your oil and filter every 3000 miles.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Well Michael there's two things I disagree with you.
1. You don't need to change oil every 3000 miles.
We have proven that here on this board that motor doesn't start going bad for at least 10,000 mles, by doing an analysis on the oil in Gerald truck at regular intervals. The information we gathered was that the oil did not start to degrade until we came close to the 10k mark.
2. ATF in the gas tank will help clean the fuel injectors

 

[KodeBlu]

Interesting point Ray. I had never heard of ATF cleaning the fuel injectors. Tell me something...would there be any advantage or reason why a person would still do that today, with so many carb and injector cleaners on the market?

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hi Kodeblu,
The only differance would be cost. ATF is cheaper than injector cleaners. I have used ATF in my Explorers gas tank before, but don't do this all the time. This is not one of those things that you do often, just like you don't use injector cleaners all the time either.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by Ray Lobato
We have proven that here on this board that motor doesn't start going bad for at least 10,000 mles, by doing an analysis on the oil in Gerald truck at regular intervals.

Can you post a link to that thread; I am unable to locate it.

Thanks.....

 

[james t]

just out of curiosity... how much would you put in a tank of gas? also, how much in the crank? and would you leave it in until next oil change or run it until the lifters free up? a few days?

 

[Ray Lobato]

Half a bottle of ATF in the tank is what I have used per tank full of gas. I have never used it in the crankcase.

Al, It's around here somewhere, keep looking, I don't have the time to do it myself.

 

[mahieber]

I change my oil when it starts looking dirty. Every engine is different. I don't bet on my oil to hold up for 10,000 miles in the heat when 3/4 of the time I am towing a trailer. Mine sits for a long time in between trips too. I've got about 150k on my engine and it still runs good and no tapping or smoke. If I cahnged my oil too frequently, then I guess I may have used up a lil' too much decomposed dinosaur.

I can't see what in the chemical makeup of ATF would "clean" an electronic fuel injector. It is a lubricant, not a solvent. If you think it works, I say go for it. I just wouldn't recommend it.

 

[akcrogers]

This summer on the way to Colorado, the car started overheating (long story, but we eventually discovered that the radiator was practically not cycling coolent). The first sign was when the heat started baking the oil onto the lifters, causing them to get real sticky. Middle of the night, some random guy tells us to add some atf to the oil. 5 minutes later, it was running like new. It definitely works, but change your oil out as soon as you can afterwords.

 

[aldive]

Growing up in rural Georgia, I have been exposed to some of the would's greatest shade tree mechanics and automotive experts...

Never heard of putting ATF in the gas.

Here is a quote I came across...

"Automatic Cleaner
I have a 1989 Ford F-250. Someone told me I should dump a quart of automatic transmission fluid (ATF) into my gas tank with my next fill-up. He said ATF is a great engine cleaner and will remove the varnish residue that gasoline leaves in my engine. Is this true or false?
LINDA
VIA INTERNET

False, false, a thousand times false. ATF belongs in your transmission, or maybe on a squeaky door hinge. Putting it in your engine might damage your fuel injectors, deposit carbon on the back of the valves, and eventually poison your catalytic converter. It also will make your engine knock like an encyclopedia salesman at your front door. If you absolutely must put something in your gas tank to clean your engine, use a product specifically intended for this purpose:

This is from Dead Link Removed

 

[wpurple]

ATF in GAS

There is an article in Popular Mechanics about putting ATF in your gas tank, I will sum it up in 1 word
"DON'T"

I think the article came out late last year....

 

[akcrogers]

I was only talking about adding it to your oil, not the gas tank to clear up lifter noise. Like I said in my post, it was the middle of the night and there werent any parts stores open. You can get atf at pretty much any convenience store, and it did fix my the lifter noise. It didn't fix the problem (overheating), but it was a good temporary solution to get me to a place where I could fix the problem.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Suposidly the ATF fluid in the gas tank will help remove carbon deposits. I have seen peaple mix it with water and poor straight down the carb while reving the engine to keep it form dying.

 

[Ross-N-Chicago]

OK, I now believe that designing a fluid for an extremely complex piece of machinery like an auto tranny should be left for that purpose only. However, n one commented on the Marvel or BG products. Anyone out there care to comment? I searched well but can't find my answers.