ATF to protect after cleaning?

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Can I use automatic transmission fluid to protect the timing chain or other delicate parts like the rockers after cleaning in a parts washer?

 

[Don Frelier]

Regular oil works fine.
Small parts you can drop in a plastic bag with some oil.
How old is the chain?
I wouldn't normally re-use a chain. (And I'm quite cheap...)

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Regular oil works fine.
Small parts you can drop in a plastic bag with some oil.
How old is the chain?
I wouldn't normally re-use a chain. (And I'm quite cheap...)

Yeah but can I use atf? Chain is less than 25,000 miles

 

[Don Frelier]

Yes you can use it. It has a lot of detergent in it.

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Is that bad? Detergent?

 

[Cranky]

Over the years I've saved the large clear plastic peanut containers with the screw on tops from HEB and use ATF for storing small parts. Works well. I'll even use my used ATF+4 when doing changes because most of the time it's very clean and still smells like it just came out of the bottle. Guess I'm a peanut head.....

 

[Cranky]

Is that bad? Detergent?

Not at all....just dip the chain in fresh oil before installing it....but even with low miles, is it still tight?

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Not at all....just dip the chain in fresh oil before installing it....but even with low miles, is it still tight?

Yeah seemed to be

 

[69a100]

Is that bad? Detergent?

Only if you don't want to get cooties and catch the flu! Why are you so set in your ways on using ATF instead of some oil?

 

[Cranky]

Only if you don't want to get cooties and catch the flu! Why are you so set in your ways on using ATF instead of some oil?

For me, I have a lot of used ATF+4 on hand. After changing the fluid in 3 trucks, there's plenty to go around plus it's not a bad stuff to store stuff in. It also works well as a penetrating oil if you don't mind soaking something a couple of days in advance.

 

[Mr. Belvedere II]

Only if you don't want to get cooties and catch the flu! Why are you so set in your ways on using ATF instead of some oil?

Cuz it’s what I have Available

 

[69a100]

For me, I have a lot of used ATF+4 on hand. After changing the fluid in 3 trucks, there's plenty to go around plus it's not a bad stuff to store stuff in. It also works well as a penetrating oil if you don't mind soaking something a couple of days in advance.

When my van blew a head gasket, I was surprised by the amount of gunk in the motor. Afterwards I did 2 oil changes after replacing the gasket as I put a quart of ATF for a couple hundred miles, drain and do it again. You'd think that there wasn't a oil change in 20K miles with the amount of gunk that came out. The /6 runs like a top after that!

Cuz it’s what I have Available

As Walther Matthau would say in 1 of the grumpy movies, "you gotta use what works"! Was just curious is all. Good Luck

 

[Bad Sport]

Can I use automatic transmission fluid to protect the timing chain or other delicate parts like the rockers after cleaning in a parts washer?

Yes.