Can Automatic Trans Fluid Be Used as Diesel Fuel?

Modern diesel autos are often indistinguishable from gas-powered models.

Diesel engines are well known for being able to run on a very wide variety of fuels. This has led some people to speculate on the possibility of running a diesel engine on oils, such as automatic transmission fluid, that were never meant to be fuels but are often readily available for free.

Fuel Additive

Most people that use automatic transmission fluid (ATF) in a diesel engine use it as a fuel additive rather than as a standalone fuel. The intended purpose of the addition is to use the ATF's lubricating and cleaning properties to clean out the engine and improve overall performance. Tests have indicated, however, that adding ATF does not provide any discernible benefit.

Alternative Fuel

Many diesel engines, particularly older ones with looser fuel tolerances, are capable of burning and running on pure ATF in place of diesel fuel, and a small number of people collect and filter used ATF for this purpose.

Potential Problems

Newer, computer-controlled engines may have difficulty with any fuel that has significantly different physical properties from standard diesel fuel. ATF does not burn as readily as diesel, and it is much more viscous. While the engine may run on ATF for a time, doing so over the long term may cause significant damage to the fuel system. And because ATF is not a government-approved fuel, it could lead to legal consequences for the user.

References

• "Troubleshooting and Repair of Diesel Engines;" Paul Dempsey; 2007