recycling ATF: Foolish or go for it ?

[freebullet]

You can also make a small inexpensive forge to burn it and your used oil.

[Blanco]

Every other oil change I run a small hose into the filler tube of my Tahoe's transmission and use a hand pump to get about 2 quarts or trans fluid. Kinda like your redneck version. Almost 250 K and no issues.

[WRideout]

For gosh sakes, if the price of three quarts of ATF makes a difference to you, you probably can't afford to cast and shoot. Take the used oil and poour it around the edge of your garden shed or garage to keep the weeds away.

I save enough money hunting, that casting and reloading is a net gain. (so I tell my wife.)
Wayne

[facetious]

For all the things that ATF is used for other than putting it in your trany I have all ways wondered just what it is made of that that makes it so good for every thing?

[freebullet]

My redneck understanding is that it's a hydraulic fluid.

So it Proly contains oil, corrosion/foam inhibitors, solvents, carriers, binders, and maybe detergents. That goes for all except dodge whom uses a special blend to make sure the tranny breaks every other day.

Or maybe I'm wrong.

What I can tell you with 100% accuracy, it sucks real bad when you drop a tranny pan and most misses your drain pan. Especially when your truck holds 14 quarts.

[fredj338]

You need so little atf for bullet lube, just don't see the point.

[Budzilla 19]

Can't see any reasons for reusing ATF when you change it. Isn't that the reason for changing the fluid in the first place? BTW freebullet, if you use Amsoil in your dodge tranny, no problems from the fluid!!! IMO, only, throw it away at the nearest oil change shop!!! They will probably take it as most shops,(mine included), have somebody who shows up monthly to get it for free!! I got paid to change it, so why do I want to keep it? As far as using for shop lube, no. Can't beat 50/50 Marvel Mystery Oil and good ole WD-40!!!!! My 2 cents.



Sorry, I got off track! To make the best boolit lube for the best boolits, use only the best ingredients!!!!!

[Cmm_3940]

Recycling ATF - reassign them to guard our southern border? Nah, That's probably a bad idea too.

[NavyVet1959]

The ATF should be neither recycled nor reused. They are a blatant violation of the 2nd Amendment and should be disposed of by any means necessary.







Ohhh.... The other acronym... Never mind...

[Black Powder Bill]

Go synthetic, change your filters annually, then top off the level. Use the ATF to burn in the shop stove or give to a recycling center.

I use to take my Royal Purple out of the truck after 12,000 miles and use it in my mower engines.

[DLCTEX]

I think some are confusing Ed's Red, a gun cleaning solvent, with Ben's Red, a good boolit lube. I make and use both. I would have no concern about using settled and skimmed then filtered transmission fluid in Ed's Red.

[6bg6ga]

If you want to filter it and use then go for it. ATF is a very good lubricant and can even be used in place of motor oil in an emergency if you don't have regular oil. A pint to a qt of it in your crankcase at every oil change will clean your engine and prolong engine life. Don't throw it away...use it.

[nanuk]

clean it using the old rope trick

do not heat it

collect it in a clean container, pour in some additives and put it back into the auto trannies of older trucks.

oil doesn't go bad, but the additives need to be refreshed.

[triggerhappy243]

I always wondered why there is not a threaded drain plug in the tranny pan.

[mold maker]

A drain plug would make the planned obsolescence factor go away. They have to get you back into the shop somehow. Most owners will change oil, but not tranny fluid, because of having to drop the pan.
In other words, Bean counters at work.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I always wondered why there is not a threaded drain plug in the tranny pan.

My Toyota Matrix has a threaded drain plug...hence the reason I started this thread.

[nanuk]

I have heard of cars with huge amounts of miles, having nearly perfect condition ATF, and perfectly clean filters/innerds.

the issue is how hard you drive them, and the heat build up.

a daily driver with an easy life will last a LONG time.

a small sporty car driven by a young girl, not so much.

full sized 1/2T being used as a 1T towing vehicle will burn out trannies in short order.

[Budzilla 19]

Nanuk,want to test your ATF? Bolt on about 200 plus horsepower on your diesel truck engine, leave the transmission in stock form, and find out REAL quick about ATF and transmission life!! Heat is the killer like you said. (Ask me how I know this info). $5057 for a bomb proof transmission behind Dodge Cummins hot rod! You know, boys and toys!! Sorry, back on subject now, I don't reuse ATF in transmissions,I guess OP can do whatever he sees fit to with his used ATF,which was the original question. Thanks for letting me express my opinions.

[NavyVet1959]

One thing I do know... If you power steering pump is squealing late at night and you decide to top it off in the dark parking lot of a Wal-Mart or wherever, be REALLY sure that you're putting it in the power steering reservoir and not the brake fluid reservoir. It can be an expensive mistake if you do that and don't discover it until the brakes lock up.

[GoodOlBoy]

When I was a kid there was a shelf in my great grandad's garage. On top was a coffee can full of "burnt" oil. A old hemp rope hung from inside it, down over the edge, and down just over a bucket on the floor. Any old burnt oil went in the top bucket and eventually "clean" oil made it's way down the rope to the bucket on the floor. This oil from the floor bucket was used for everything from chainsaw bar and chain oil, to door hinge oil, and in a pinch was even used as oil again. I don't see why ATF fluid couldn't be done in a similar faishion to "clean" it.

GoodOlBoy