Makenzie71

Well, I'm doing it anyway just because it can't hurt anything...but i'm curious.

I searched for several varients of "atf trick success" and didn't get anything that really said "hey, it worked for me"...lol.

So far 4 people have suggested that I give the ATF trick and have seen it stated several times in reference to other people having problems with Hayes rebuilds, but everyone I ask says they either haven't tried it or it hasn't worked for them.

So has anyone here tried and got good results?

Funkspectrum

iTrader: (5)

didn't work for me....

NISRCelica

Wadd'ya mean you havent heard any sucess stories?

Archives Yay!

Makenzie71

Only one person in there posted comp numbers before and after. That's one success. Anyone else?

SonicRaT

iTrader: (6)

I've seen it personally revive 3 seized engines, things wouldn't turn at all, just kept filling the holes, finally it came free, turned it by hand a few times around, started it up, did the water trick after it started, and they ran/idled fine after that (and one HELL of a smoke show)

Makenzie71

lol...yeah, I've got about a full quart in the motor at the moment. I'll get home at about 4am, turn the motor a bit an pour in another quart and then I'll record the smoke in the a.m...lol

SonicRaT

iTrader: (6)

The neighbors will thank you for killing all the mosquitos and other pesks within a 5 mile radius, after they bitch about it killing them.

Makenzie71

I do it early...while the kiddies are in school and the daddies are at work cuz none of the mommies speak english, thus, they have no effect on me

Actually, when I was working on my 91 it was smoking a whole lot and they never complained...but ****, if my dog breaths in the general direction of my neighbors to the south all ******* hell breaks loose...

ramses666

iTrader: (1)

I have just done the ATF trick. I suddenly was experiencing chronic flooding problems & decidied that it was time to do something about it. I did a b4 compresision test & got 45 on the rotor turns!?! & 100 & 80 psi on the over all(100 front & 80 rear). I just now pumped the thing full of ATF & am waiting for a day for the results. Obviously my rear rotor is feeling low on compression & my front could have seen better days. My motor has been abused by lack of oil changes & lots of time not being driven. I am at about 105k in mileage & about 60k on this particular engine. No oil change for the last 4 years and about 20k miles. I picked up a case of castrol 20-50, 2 filters & a set of NGK plugs along with a quart of ATF. I put about half the quart into the the lower sparkplug holes & lightly bumped the motor over. I am waiting about 24 hours at least b4 trying to crank it up & have a new set of plugs for the aftermath as well as enough oil & filters for a complete change after the trick is done. I guess we'll see what happens. I'll do a compression check after I burn out the ATF & put in new plugs & change the oil & filter. '88 SE NA

Ramses666

ddub

My friend did the ATF trick to revive his TII engine, didn't care if it did any damage or not because he got the car for free.

I've heard some people claim that it eats away at the coolant seals, though, but I have yet to verify this myself. I have some used stock seals I've been meaning to soak in ATF to check, but haven't gotten around to it.

Is your engine carbon locked? Because from your other posts about it I thought it was running, just with low compression. The ATF trick is usually for seized/carbon locked engines, never heard of anyone doing it on a running engine to try and raise compression.

If you have a Hayes rebuilt engine in your car, THATS why you have low compression. It's a piece of ****, just like Hayes. In fact, Hayes was recently shut down by the government for tax evasion, shotty book keeping, and because they have pending law suits against them from screwing over customers (engines) and refusing warranty claims. I know this because they're local to me.

Makenzie71

I've heard a few stories about helping with low comp...and I have nothing to lose and lots to gain from it...so what the hell.


I wonder if i can get in on that? Get something...hell...anything out of it...I wasted a bunch of money on this pos. I've heard lots of bad about Hayes and I'm about 95% sure this is a hayes rebuild (hayes card found in car and irons are painted baby-blue).

ddub

Only way you can get in on it is if you can find some paper work on the build from the owner that got it. Once you do you can probably call the better business bureau (whatever section/dept deals with WA or NW) and I'm willing to bet they have an open file/case on them heh.

Makenzie71

soaked in atf overnight...lots of smoke...lol. My plugs were near-new so I used an old set I had lying around to burn the crap out. Stuck them in, fired up, went to driving. After she cleared up that was notibly more power and better throttle response, and boost built much quicker. I still don't think she's running up to par, though.

I didn't get to get a comp number...apparently if you forget your comp guage is screwed into a plug hole and try to drive around the block it ***** them up. They don't make good spark plugs.

a new problem has picked up, though...a very strong hesitation at any RPM. It's not particular to boost or throttle position or engine speed or anything. She's just got a hard stumble from time to time.

ramses666

iTrader: (1)

Well, I just finished my ATF trick & Got the same compression numbers as when I started. 100 on the front & 80 on the rear. The smoke was absolutely off the chart. I waited till the smoke receded & did some "spirited" driving up & down the interstate. I then removed the lower plugs & did a comp test. It was the same as when I started. Oh well, I guess I'll try the water trick next. At least I got some new plugs in it & maybe that will help with the flooding issue & I know how to start it when flooded...LOL

Any suggestions about what to do with a low compression engine? (100 front & 80 rear)
The engine runs just fine & idles great. I haven't cruised the interstate in 4th gear for a while...LOL got it up to about 130mph with about 200 pounds of tools in the back.

Ramses666

KompressorLOgic

iTrader: (6)

motor probably just has high milages... leaking injectors can cause flooding too!!, ive had motors with lower numbers then that and they dont flood ever....

deetz

i just cranked over 106 grand on my vert, and it seems very weak, should i try this? i know my 6 ports r clogged i doubt this would help free them up would it??

eriksseven

iTrader: (6)

Random thought:

Maybe the ATF trick would work if (let's say for example) a side-seal or corner-seal were stuck. Therefore if you've got low compression on a running motor, the ATF would free the seal/spring and you'd 'magically' have better compression...

In so far as actually attributing ATF to better compression, I was only aware of it giving *initial* compression. Like when you're attempting to start a fresh rebuild, or after hot-start flooding, it will help "seal" the compression area.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

I've used it plenty of times to start flooded cars and unstick engines. Works as advertised in those circumstances.

I do have issues with people using it as preventative maintance, or doing stupid things like completely filling their engine with ATF and letting it sit for days. A few years ago I did some experiments in which I submerged oil o-rings in ATF for several months. They turned to jelly.

RockLobster

iTrader: (7)

I 2nd this assesment. ATF is harsh stuff.

You'll get results more safely with the "water trick".

And you'll get even better results, safely, doing the water trick, with a can of seafoam. Seafoam is designed for the aplication of having a vac hose suck it directly into the engine to decarbonize the engine.

You are not going to magically regain compression from a gas additive, ATF, water trick, or an oil. Pre-mixing might help some but only marginally.