Dexron as an injector cleaner...ugh

[Scott P]

In another car forum, someone asked about fuel injector cleaners. This is one response:

if you want a simple, effective, CHEAP injector cleaner, use dextron 3 tranny fluid. yes the same #@$%! you put in your tranny can be pourded in your gas tank, and clean you injectors...

use about 1 capful per gallon of gas. you can do more or less to taste... i typically pour in about a third of a quart when i fill up on occasion, works for me.

its a somewhat older trick used by mencanics, i came across it from a few of my auto tech school teachers. sincve tranny fluid is mainly made of detergents.

other than that, good ole techron is good. only other one i would use would be the valvoline synpower stuff..


Earlier, I posted recommending Techron and FP60 for the fuel and Auto-Rx and LC20 for the oil. Boy, was I wrong. Tranny fluid can do everything!

 

[Mokanic]

Quote:

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In another car forum, someone asked about fuel injector cleaners. This is one response:

if you want a simple, effective, CHEAP injector cleaner, use dextron 3 tranny fluid. yes the same #@$%! you put in your tranny can be pourded in your gas tank, and clean you injectors...

use about 1 capful per gallon of gas. you can do more or less to taste... i typically pour in about a third of a quart when i fill up on occasion, works for me.

its a somewhat older trick used by mencanics, i came across it from a few of my auto tech school teachers. sincve tranny fluid is mainly made of detergents.

other than that, good ole techron is good. only other one i would use would be the valvoline synpower stuff..


Earlier, I posted recommending Techron and FP60 for the fuel and Auto-Rx and LC20 for the oil. Boy, was I wrong. Tranny fluid can do everything!

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Urban myth. Just becouse Dexron creates alot of smoke when it burns does not mean it is cleaning anything. It is also an excellent way to damage some very pricey air/fuel ratio sensors. I think I will stick with products that were designed to work in your fuel system.

 

[Fordiesel69]

The only time I have seen it work is in OLD diesels with no pollution control devices. It was a cheap way to lubricate and clean the pump & injectors.

Todays fluids have way to may friction modifiers, I would be hesitant to use it with any fuel.

 

[dwendt44]

Trans fluid may work as an upper cylinder lubricant, but I'm skeptical of it doing any real fuel system cleaning.

Possible basis for urban myth is that MMO was believed to use ATF as a base fluid with a couple of solvents added. Some el-cheap-os thought that using plain ATF would work to.

NOT TRUE.
While MMO is a mild fuel cleaner, it doesn't use ATF in it's mixture.

 

[Scott P]

The interweb is full of scary advice. I just wanted to pass that one along to those with knowledge.

 

[Shannow]

An injector cleaner it's not.

I used it as a top end cleaner, pouring through the carb, or sucking through a vacuum port. Much like a water decoke.

It's prolly the thermal shock that does it, rather than the MSDS.

 

[Quest]

Dexron (ATF trannie fluid) as a form of fuel injector cleaner?

You gotta be kidding me?

That's about the most foolish, dumbist thing I've ever heard of in my automotive career so far...LOL!

and BTW: fuel related injector deposits on the orifice part is a different ballgame and it's not something that any oil-based cleaner can "soak" it out. This is what/why there are some "so-so" detergented gasoline out there and then there are Chevron "techron" gasoline which works out the be one of the best in N.A. by far...