I am dumb. Need opinion.

[El_Schaf]

So today i was being very productive, and did an oil change/ATF drain and fill on my f-150.

Long story short, on my LAST quart of oil, all work done, I grabbed mercon V and poured roughly .5 quarts into the crankcase (on top of some mobil 5000 and PP) before I realized that I had not grabbed a PP quart (it was a - I have 6 misc quarts laying around, leftover oil change).

Can this truck be driven without risking damage? I obviously am going to re-change the oil, Its just such a waste....Im hoping someone will say -"don't worry, and here's why..."

 

[Steve S]

Really won't hurt.

 

[El_Schaf]

can you do the "here's why" part for me? :-D

 

[oilboy123]

I would be more worried if oil was put into the auto trans.

 

[hate2work]

You're not dumb, you just made a mistake.

I've heard of people running a full quart of ATF in their oil for cleaning purposes, but I've never done it myself.

You say you're going to re-change the oil, so what is your concern here?

 

[Loobed]

I would not leave it in for a full oil change interval (3000+ miles). I think I would not run it for more than 500 miles. There use to be a TSB that said to add 1/2 quart ATF to the oil to quiet noisy stuck lifters. The ATF thins the oil and does some cleaning, but it doesn't have the other additives like engine oil to combat the formation of acids from water and exhaust blow-by. People on this board add Marvel Mystery Oil to their engine oil without worrying. I would not tow or haul heavy loads with ATF in the oil.

 

[oilboy123]

I guess the question is do you tow? You could do a 1500 mile run if you don't?

Is the oil a 20wt?

 

[El_Schaf]

Originally Posted By: hate2work
You say you're going to re-change the oil, so what is your concern here?


Would like to get some use out of the oil, preferable not change the oil if someone could support not doing it. Dollars are dollars i guess. I figure If I can put it off a pay period that would help ya know?

 

[El_Schaf]

Its all 5w30. Oh, and I wont be towing at all. I suppose, if it will actually clean things, I am not at all worried to run it for a week. I was more worried about additives mixing and reacting poorly, sort of a mixing green and red antifreeze theory.

I would suppose if it is not going to react poorly, it would probably be a better lubricant than MMO or seafoam.

 

[CourierDriver]

I to have almost done that,,,I now prefer the 5 quart jugs to elimate that error, its easy to pour the wrong stuff. U can only imagine in a shop with all the interruptions what gets poured in a car and they didnt mean to do it either.

 

[JHZR2]

Doing a half quart or quart of ATF is an old wife's tale/trick from back in the day when ATF was potentially better and better additized than motor oil.

Anymore it does not have a place to do it, but it won't hurt.

I dont know the viscosity of mercon V, but I assume it is like many other ATFs, around a 20wt. If so, the viscosity is likely inline with what belongs in the crankcase.

If it were me, Id not leave it like that longer than 3000 miles. Bummer but best practice, IMHO.

 

[Texan4Life]

on a different forum a guy ran hydraulic fluid for 100 hours in his tractor engine. Only noticed it when he went to change the oil he still had a brand new bucket of motor oil. He was thinking that couldn't be because thats was the bucket he used last engine oil change. LOL

I dont think it would hurt to run it on a short oci. but nothing beats peace of mind if you just bite the bullet and changed it again.

 

[Scott_Tucker]

I would not worry about it and run it for the full OCI. Transmission fluid has extra detergent in it so it may help clean out the engine. Also, you put such a small amount in it's not going to cause any problems.

 

[occupant]

You're dumb. But don't worry, it's not terminal.

Hey, you asked for a second opinion!

 

[HTSS_TR]

Only 1/2 quarts ATF in a 5 quarts crankcase doesn't effect much, it may thin the oil a little like 5W30 down to 5W28. I would shorten the OCI by about 1/4, if your normal OCI is 5k miles then change this ATF+oil out at around 4k-4.5k miles.

 

[levi]

If it were MY truck - 1/2 qt out of 5 qts - I'd leave it in for my regular OCI. Ain't gonna hurt, IMO.

MMO is about the same viscosity. I know, I know, not the same stuff. But with this dilution ratio not a problem.

 

[mechtech2]

Some guys still use some ATF in their engines intentionally.
Most of us around here do not recommend it.
What you could do is let it go for 1,000 miles or whatever, then change the oil but not the filter.
Let's face it, you will not feel right until the ATF is out of there. 1,000 miles is a kind of flush, and not a huge waste.

 

[yeti]

el... -- with that small amount, there should be no problem.if you're losing sleep, drain out about 1 qt., and top it up. good to go.

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: yeti
el... -- with that small amount, there should be no problem.if you're losing sleep, drain out about 1 qt., and top it up. good to go.


that got me thinking... would the two oils separate if left sitting for a few days?

maybe the ATF will settle toward the bottom?

 

[yeti]

texan -- you're over thinking this. in the old days, people would use some atf as a cleaning agent, without any issues. with the small amount that you have in there -- don't worry about it.sit back, and have a cigar and a brandy, or fire one up. relax, and forget about it.IF it continues to bother you -- change the oil, and leave the filter. don't agonize over something as minor as this.have a good night.
SORRY, taxan -- thought for a minute that you were the OP. as stated above, the oldtimers used to use it -- so i don't think separation would be an issue. but, it is a good point.