ATF Injector cleaner questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

coachgeo · #1 06-23-2005, 10:59 AM

Interesting discussions here Use type "A" Use Type "F" Don't use Mercron etc etc?

What's ya'lls input?

300SDog · #2 06-23-2005, 11:24 AM

I wonder what's wrong with using actual cetane boosters and additives like DieselKleen in silver gallon container available at truck stops. Something like 4 oz. of DieselKleen treats 20 gallons.

Seems like y'all biodiesel nuts go out of your way to find esoteric ingredients for your crazy concoctions.

Has anybody suggested potato rinds for fuel filters? 21st Century bootleggers, that's what ye are!

coachgeo · #3 06-23-2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240DieselDog

....Seems like y'all biodiesel nuts go out of your way to find esoteric ingredients for your crazy concoctions. ...

The ATF as cleaner idea was NOT forumated by Veg fuel users. Idea of ATF has been around as an injector cleaner for some time and I suspect the idea came from Diesel mechanics.

Also using ATF as injector cleaner was and in some places still is more readily available than any of the diesel cetane additives. For example in the area I live the trucking routes are a bit of a ways from us so their really is no support for truckers.. Thus very little diesel products are sold, thus very little stocked. There is no Bosch service center here either. Closest one is around 100 plus miles away from what I hear.

samiam4 · #4 06-23-2005, 03:25 PM

ATF is suppose to create coking of the injectors...

Use injector cleaner if you are having problems.

Michael

FarmallCharlie · #5 06-23-2005, 04:11 PM

There is a good site for the older VW diesels where they recommend filling a new fuel filter with ATF before installing. I also ran Power Service injector cleaner about every 3-4th fillup and threw a quart of ATF in the tank every oil change. Had a 1.6 VW N.A. that went 200K with one set of injectors and glow plugs. Doing the same on my 300D

Hatterasguy · #6 06-23-2005, 04:15 PM

Some diesel mechanics I know swear that putting a quart of atf in your tank will clean the system out and improve things. I tried it once and didn't notice anything. What I did notice was a slight lack of power, from using atf insted of Power Service.

Cetane boosters do seem to work.

samiam4 · #7 06-23-2005, 09:52 PM

Mercedes I believe specifically says- it causes coking of the injectors!

If your injectors need cleaning- run diesel purge, chevron techron, BK-44 or a similar product through the car. Modern ATF is different composition when that practice was common.
Marshall Booth is famous for saying add a quart of engine oil to the tank and drive it hard. Never seen any difference.
I hear truckers whom say to add a quart to your engine oil in the winter too!

Michael

#8 06-24-2005, 10:13 AM

Old wives tales die hard. Somewhere along the line ATF gained a reputation for being a miracle drug. Go figure.

Have a great day,

d.delano · #9 06-24-2005, 12:32 PM

Purge it and use Power Service every other tank. 100 miles to a Bosch service center? What's so non-doable about that? I got my injectors rebuilt in COLORADO which is about 1691 miles away from me. You see there is this service called THE POST OFFICE and what you do is you pull the injectors and put them into a box and then you take the box to THE POST OFFICE and tell them where you want this box to go and via magic they make it go there. Then it comes back. Do you want to hold hands with the guy taking them apart or what? Don't use ATF that's not what it's for.

coachgeo · #10 06-24-2005, 03:10 PM

Guys.... get off your stumps. The question asked is technical in nature and related to the thread linked. nuff said.

#11 06-24-2005, 05:06 PM

Don't get all wrapped around the axle!

I read the thread that you linked and although anecdotal, there is plenty of indication that ATF is not an injector cleaner. Even if it were, which it clearly is not, I would be quite curious how it reacted with biodiesel, and want to satisfy that curiosity before subjecting my fuel system.

If you need injector cleaner to run with biodiesel I think you need to keep doing your research. Surely there is a common, inexpensive substance that will get the job done without risk to your expensive injection pump. Since there's french fry fuel, maybe there's french fry solvent as well. What do they use to clean those deep friers?

Good luck,

Habanero · #12 06-24-2005, 05:23 PM

There aren't many solvents better than biodiesel itself.

Another caveat to the ATF thing is don't ever get your fuel tank dipped while running it. You better have dang good proof you bought taxed fuel or you are going to be in trouble. Obviously I don't think many diesel cars are dipped, but happens to pickups all the time.

coachgeo · #13 06-24-2005, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryBible

Don't get all wrapped around the axle!.... I would be quite curious how it reacted with biodiesel

Larry that is a GREAT one. "wrapped around the axle" I haven't heard about any biodiesel reactions with other substances like ATF but that does not mean it has not happened so good point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habanero

....Another caveat to the ATF thing is don't ever get your fuel tank dipped while running it. You better have dang good proof you bought taxed fuel or you are going to be in trouble. Obviously I don't think many diesel cars are dipped, but happens to pickups all the time.

Officer I swear its ATF

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