I was recently planning on doing the atf trick. What im wondering is how long am I supposed to keep the atf in the combustion chamber for? I read on www.nopistons.com that it was supposed to be something like 24hours. But then i thought that it was an oil seal killer and that having it in there that long would be harmful. I was planning on just letting it sit for an hour or so. But i wanted to know if anyone has done it, and for how long they have done it. Many of the results of my search's have varied and been inconclusive...so yea id appreciate some insight. THX!

 

It's not a oil seal killer its the opposite-supposed to rejuvinate seals. I did it a few times on my '79 GS can't say it ever helped or hurted but that car blew smoke over 4K RPM's. Have not done it on my '88 vert becaus e I see no problems. If you are not having issues I would say skip it and just use premix.

 

Please do not give uninformed opinions. What does premix have to do with the ATF trick? And yes, it is harmful. It is a detergent, and a very corrosive one at that. If you don't believe me, try soaking your hand in it for a minute. Furthermore, it can destroy oil seals, and quite possibly why your 79GS is blowing smoke over 4k

Read this: http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/atftrick.htm

 

Agree with above. I wouldn't use, or do, the ATF treatment unless you are encountering a problem starting the car e.g. flooded, lack of compression.

 

Uninformed? Are you telling me no one here has here of the ATF suggestion or that it's no longer a possible fix? If so who's the new informed source?

Please read the question and answer. I did not recommend nor say I would use it on a second gen. My '79 blew smoke before ATF treatment and the ATF trick is commonly attempted for the problem it had. The ATF treatment had been recommended for years by most rotarys shops, that's the information I'm conveying. Depending on what the problem is it could be prolong the life of an engine on its way out.

The premix is very related if the problem is lubricating seals.

 

NO doubt, you wouldn't take medicine unless you were sick right? with the exception of crack heads.

 

Well, to answer your question. Badly flooded mine about 1 month ago and still don't know why it did cuz I always let it get to operating temp before shutting down. Lost compression and rotors were free spinning. Wanted to kill 2 birds with one stone, 1. restore compression lost during flooding and, 2. figured I would let it sit and attack carbon built up over 112,000 miles.

I used MMO and let it sit 48 hours. Had to do the unflood trick several times including the removal of the plugs to help blow out MMO/gas. A bit difficult to restart but it did and now seems to be more responsive after the MMO treatment.

Thus, in my case only there was no adverse effect on the seals at all, no problem with clogging the converters, and once I clean up the new plugs which had fouled they work perfectly when re-installed.

Yup, I'd do it again if I thought it would help.

 

Read the link that I posted. It indicates that the ATF trick should only be used on engines that are on their last leg anyway. Why would you want to put a corrosive substance on 100k + mile seals?

The ATF trick has been suggested for years for a DIFFERENT reason. NOT to be used as a "monthly maintenance" item. Only for engines that are about to die anyway.

If you want an alternative, use MMO, it's not nearly as corrosive, and dissolves carbon better, but even still, you're killing plugs and the catalytic converter. Not to mention carboning up all your exhaust ports like a madman as soon as you crank her over.

Your opinion is uninformed. If you can provide evidence that ATF is completely harmless on 100k+ mile oil seals and side seals, I'll accept your argument. In the meantime, search for horror stories from people who have used ATF and have started to burn oil/coolant/even lost compression.

The risk is far greater than the benefit. If you have a compression issue, time to start saving anyway.

 

Where I did ever recommend this at all or monthly? Why are you so bent on proving you are "informed" and I am "uniformed"? Why so offensive?

I did read the link, if that's the source of your "information" its up to reader to validate. No offense to the writer but many a rotary shop and people used that trick for the smoke problem on a marginal engine sucessfully for the past 20 years.

These are the kinds of posts that drive people away from this forum. Have fun with this post, I've had it with this, where's a moderator when you need one?

 

The reason is because you are giving advice to someone who may potentially damage their engine and will come back to hold you responsible. You are advising him that it is an absolutely safe procedure that will cause no harm. That is not so. I'm not trying to be offensive, just trying to save someone an engine rebuild.

 

Again, no where am I advising anybody on anything, just stating what has been done just as you are. Anybody looking for suggestions should consider all the information before acting. I definitely would not make a decision based on one link. I'm not going to count posts, there are plenty of real world cases out there. For one "informed" opinion of ATF trick call Racing Beat in CA.

 

Well if they suggest using the ATF trick as a "maintenance" item, then I'm sad to say that the last product I will ever buy of theirs will be their downpipe that I have sitting at home.

 

Oh for the record, it is NOT a seal rejuvinator, it only cleans carbon. The only thing it does to seals (the rubber ones) is damages them by eating right through them. THAT statement is what got me going

Once again, no offense intended

 

Sounds like those two are heading for a cage match, no DQ, falls count anywhere.

 

LOL

 

The ATF debate is as old as the premix debate. I err on the side of caution, knowing that the oil seals in the rotary were NEVER designed to be exposed to ATF, and vice versa. Rubber can be particular of the fluids it can tolerate, and ATF is a rather strong and corrosive substance.

ATF is certainly good for unflooding, though oil works just as well.

ATF can help bring some life back to a MARGINAL or WORN OUT engine. Notice those keywords.

ATF is NOT a maintenance item and should not be used as such. I PERSONALLY know several people who have smoking engines due to excessive ATF tricking.

 

i used oil to restore compression in my newer 89 motor, when i installed it. i cant see why someone would use atf when oil works just as well. and oil is more or less supposed to be in the combustion chamber. just my .02

 

haha jeez guys. Thanks for all the help tho. If i do perform this in abit, i will go with the mmo, instead of the auto tranny fluid. But thank you again, this has helped me out alot. And now im going to reconsider the situation.

 

BTw my cars a new/used jspec 35k 13bt. Its floods like a ************ and doesnt seam to have much power on load. But it will idle, rev, boost when not on load and doesnt smoke. I will do a compression test and take things from there. Also i will check for vaccum leaks since i had removed all of my emissions stuff. Thanks again for all of your help!.