Anybody ever prime diesel filters with ATF?

[Cardenio327]

Originally Posted By: antonmnster
Why would anyone use ATF?


Cheap and not likely to contain microscopic particulate matter. This was about 15 years ago, to get any kind of special diesel sauce like Power Service you pretty much had to go to a truck stop and pay rip off truck stop prices. Before the internet became popular and auto parts stores didn't really carry much diesel stuff. Dexron or type F ATF was $ .89 at Napa if I remember right. Only sure way to use diesel to prime is to make sure it is filtered first. Using ATF or Power Service involves opening a sealed bottle and pouring. I sure wouldn't use ATF on any newer diesel though.

 

[Thermo1223]

Supton:

Why not just let the lift pump do it's work? Cycle the key 3-4 times. 50cc of fuel is shot into the filter so that has to be enough and the tandem pump has a check valve and can't run dry. It will only lose suction so the fuel is still in there but can't be pushed forward without fuel behind it.

ATF was ok on indirect injection systems but on new equipment it would be suicide to the fuel system. Use Powerservice of Diesel Purge both high quality filter diesel with cleaners and it Diesel Purge's case should be run once a year to clean on the injectors.

 

[supton]

I did that--once. IIRC I let it run until the fuel pump stopped, then it started right up, then died. I forget how many times I cycled the pump after that, or if I just keyed it. Seems far easier to just draw it out with the vacuum extractor since it's right there, left over from the oil change (plus it helps draw the oil out of the tube for less storage mess).

 

[Thermo1223]

Can't argue with that I guess lol

Did the new turbo make the car anymore responsive? I know you complained about lack of power before.

 

[morris]

a friend said to me that before diesels was self priming the shop he was in would put MMO in the filter, put it on and wing it hard. an he got a way with it most of the time.

 

[supton]

Not sure--as soon as the turbo went on I had the ECU sent out. The car was started to make sure nothing else broke, and off the ECU went for chipping. [Chipping was required: EGR delete, plus I think the larger turbo would have thrown codes. I think. I wanted the VW-fail designed EGR system gone, and I saved a few bucks since it would have required a different EGR pipe anyhow.]

I couldn't find but one dyno plot for a similarly modified car; a bit old so as good of a guess as any. I'm guessing about 140hp at 3800rpm and 240ft-lb at 1,900rpm. Give or take. Certainly woke the car up.