I have a bunch of fairly clean used atf,the local hippies told me they use atf when they can get it as fuel? is this nuts?

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W123 1985 300TD naturally aspirated

You'd be better off with straight oil vs burning something containing dyes and friction modifiers.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Its bad for your engine, worse for your injection system and really bad for the environment.

Just because a diesel can burn crap, doesn't mean you should. Waste or veggie oil is almost carbon neutral. An excellent reason to put it into your tank. And many times it's free. I was told by a buddy to add Naptha to raise the cetane. Who want's to be breathing that crap? Think folks, before you start polluting your neighborhood. We all have to live here together.

Except that is not in either case.

And wrongfully so, its an old mechanics tale. It only hurts your vehicle because it cokes the injectors.

Used ATF is even worse because it contains microscopic metal particles that can do some nasty work to your injection system. ATF was made to be a lubricant/hydraulic oil, not a fuel. Burning it in an on-road IC is not only illegal but harmful to the environment.

One major problem with that idea, those were designed to run that kid of fuel. The MB engine were made to run #2 diesel only. ATF does not burn the same in these engines as it does in power plants and bunker fuel engines.

True, us truckers burn it in our vehicles, but only a little at a time! Mix it with diesel fuel and it should be filtered really well! It's a pure detergent and it burns with a lot less pollutants than fossil fuel, but your engine won't take this continously! It won't hurt your engine once in awhile mixed with fuel, but you better be sure there are no metal particls in it! Let it sit for a day or two and pour the tranny fluid off the top. A pure detergent hydraulic oil will help separate the solids from the liquids. That's why it works so well as tranny fluid! It will not coke up injectors if you don't burn it continously!

Another point:
When used as power plant & heating fuel it is not in a high compression environment where the little bits of metal are going to hurt something...

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'83 300D Turbo
Current: ???K mi - 19.2mpg -> 17.4mpg -> 22.9mpg ---> ODO Died
bought at: 233.8K mi - 10MPG For $1.00
3.5 cylinders work: 320 320 100 340 280
Got insurance? FarmersReallySucks.Com

Not to mention that little bits of metal could clog in yopur fuel injectors and I would hate to pass those through the injector pump!

If the tranny fluid glitters, FORGET IT!!

Isn't Naptha an octane booster? an wouldn't that lower cetane?

I would use ATF for fuel if I had any. I'd filter it first and mix it max 10% with Diesel Fuel.

I burn my used engine oil but filter if first. Anything that gets thru the secondary filter won't hurt anything in the engine.

P E H

I'll say it again, ATF is not even an addative. It cokes the injectors and even MB says not to use it.

Ha yeah there a lot of things MB tells u not to do, like dont take ur Mb to anybody but a certified tech. So sounds like were all screwed haha..

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82' 300SD

benzforlife,

And don't forget " ALways use MB original equipment parts from your MB dealer" (at 4 times the cost).

P E H

Just depends on what the car's worth to you. Many people have had fine success using all kinds of trash in their MB's. It is just a car after all. These old smelly things get more glory than they deserve. There are Ford designs that are better than MB's for example, I'd put any 90's Ford heating/cooling system against MB's, or any other aux component system for that matter. Engines... that's another story. But I'd probably put a Ford 3.0 against the MB gas engines even made today. There are better Diesel engines made in the USA. Transmissions. The list goes on. But yes the MB diesel engines are some of the best Car Diesels ever made. And they're nice to work on.

But back to trans fluid as fuel... this is just a car. You won't die if you kill it. But in most cases, It'll work fine. I've used it and my engine ran smooth as a top. I've used Veg. I've used other products. It usually all works just fine. Diesel works fine too! Imagine that.

But realistically people have gotten away with all kinds of stuff, mostly Veg Oil, and have had pretty good luck with it (hundred+ thousand miles). The Bosch pumps on these cars are far superior to pumps other MFG's were using in the same era (VW. Ford Diesel, GM Diesel, etc.).

I don't think you'll kill your car if you filter the stuff. At the rate Diesel's selling for, you can buy a decent replacement engine (installed) for the price of a couple years worth of fuel.

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-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.

You can be damn sure my used atf, and my power steering fluid once I *****can the power steering system in favor of a manual box will go into my dirty tank, then through my centrifuge, then into my heated clean tank. The car won't know the difference.

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99 E300 Turbodiesel 100k