transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

[Rod M.]

I was talking to a solid axle guy yesterday at a car show and he told me about a technical session his club had where he was told how today's gas can mess up your fuel line and carburetor and even damage aluminum. He said that they recommended adding transmissiom fuild to the gas to protect the system. He has been doing it for sometime now without any problems. He always adds a half pint of fuild when he fills his tanks. Has anyone heard of this? If so is it true?

Thanks for any responses

[Domenic T.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

Rod,

I'm sure you are talking about ATF.

I have heard of it back before ethonol was in our fuel.

I have never heard of any damage it caused.

I do know that auto trans fluid (straight) over a period of time will ruin regular O-rings. I know because I put regular O- rings on dip stick tubes and had to replace them after 6 mos.

ATF was used in auto oil as early as the 50's to remove the sludge and swell the seals in the engines.

I can say that when using 2 qts ATF and 3 qts oil did the job so good that we had to remove the valve covers and remove the sludge that built up in the old front to back breathing the engines had in the 50's.

It also slowed the oil use down because it softened the seals and swelled them.

I saw this with my own eyes and the oil had to be changed at 1,000 miles
and was thick & black.

The guy that told me about it said (his words) that it was a high detergent oil with excellent lube qualities.

I still use it in the oil of neglected fork lifts & tugs and it still works.

There are those that will give a chemical reason why it doesn't work who never tested or seen it's results. Some will say that it's the clean oil that it never had but my 2nd car was a old cab that was supposed to be maintained on a regular bassis BUT sat, idled, and sludged up. Almost never over 40 MPH, worked like a charm.

I don't have the need to use it in the oil other than the ancient equipment I inherited here in the shop.

As far as in the gas in our cars, can't hurt in small quantities other than maybe making the plugs get dirty sooner.

DOM

[Clem Z.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

a lot of penetrating oil contains ATF

[Rod M.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

Thanks for quick response. I do not think that I will put ATF in my gas.

[Dick W.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

I was talking to a solid axle guy yesterday at a car show and he told me about a technical session his club had where he was told how today's gas can mess up your fuel line and carburetor and even damage aluminum. He said that they recommended adding transmissiom fuild to the gas to protect the system. He has been doing it for sometime now without any problems. He always adds a half pint of fuild when he fills his tanks. Has anyone heard of this? If so is it true?

Thanks for any responses

It pretty much serves the same purpose as the top cylinder lube that you can buy

[Stuart F.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

Had heard about the same, as well as it being good for the injectors. I used to add it to my driver Impala, but forgot about it a few years ago when I ran out.

Stu Fox

[Bruce B.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

I add 1 pint of cheap ATF to every 4 gallon tank of gas on my John Deere 400. If I don't the valves carbon up very badly and the heads have to be removed and cleaned.
I assume it would do the same in a car engine.

[Domenic T.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

I posted a test we did with oils (gum up test), a simple test on a hot tin roof at the airport in the hot desert sun.

I have a large collection of antique model airplane, boat, & car engines, over 400 in a display cabinet.

After restoration of each engine I lube them and found ALL the oils gummed up and the engines didn't turn over by hand after about 6 mos.

Yes, even marvel mystery oil and 3&1 oil gummed up, the only one out of all tested that didn't gum up was ATF, it didn't change color either and has been in the engines for 30+ years.

I use it on the rings when I build engines and also use it to store engines.

DOM

[Clem Z.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

when i built engines i wiped the cylinder bores down with ATF and i was supprised how dark the rags got from what was left on the walls after honing and other types of block cleaning.

[Nick K.]

Re: transmission fluid as a gas additive ????

Another idea that I heard someone recommend lately was to add a small amount of synthetic oil (maybe an ounce) to the tank when filling and for cars that are stored. It was claimed that it could be a rust retardant in the tank and fuel delivery system. Any input on this idea.