Adding used motor oil to Diesel fuel.

[Kenfyoozed]

Over the past couple of weeks I have had several people tell me I could add used motor oil to my diesel fuel. That it actually helps in older tractors. I even had one person tell me to use dextron atf from walmart as a lubricant in my diesle fuel. These were older ones, so I agreed and nodded that I understood, but I don't. So i'll show my ignorance here. Is this a safe practice?

 

[Jimbrown]

You want to put oil that has metal particals, carbon soot and who knows what else suspended in it in your tractor and run it thru the fuel injector system? Might want to put a little comet cleaner also. The ATF if new and clean will not hurt anything, I would not use dextron though it has additatives that are designed to increase the friction of clutches. Not sure what that might do to pumps or injectors. It might provide some lubrication won't argue over that.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Over the past couple of weeks I have had several people tell me I could add used motor oil to my diesel fuel. That it actually helps in older tractors. I even had one person tell me to use dextron atf from walmart as a lubricant in my diesle fuel. These were older ones, so I agreed and nodded that I understood, but I don't. So i'll show my ignorance here. Is this a safe practice?

Used engine oil carries very fine particulate matter, mostly carbon, that has some light abrasive characteristic. These paricles are much smaller than engine clearances so are harmless in engines, but a diesel fuel system has very small clearances and will experience erosion wear due to the particles. This will ultimately mess up your pump and injectors. Clear, used hydraulic oil is much less particulate laden and I burn mine as a mix in fuel. New oil of course is darn safe as an additive.
larry

 

[RalphVa]

Most motor oil is about 10w and heavier. ATF, which is about 5w, often is diverted into the diesel pool leaving refineries. However, why use ATF in your diesel? It's FAR more expensive.

Can't see putting motor oil in diesel, both because it's so much higher boiling than diesel but also has the metals and other gook in it mentioned by others.

Many years ago, I'd put a some used oil in my heating oil to the house in the winter. Don't recommend it, as it'll soot up the works more than normal. I burned it instead in my wood stove, just sat a pan of it inside the stove. Main disadvantage of this second alternative was the terrible back smoke odor(what you get when the fire dies down).

Ralph

 

[coobie]

You want to put oil that has metal particals, carbon soot and who knows what else suspended in it in your tractor and run it thru the fuel injector system? Might want to put a little comet cleaner also. The ATF if new and clean will not hurt anything, I would not use dextron though it has additatives that are designed to increase the friction of clutches. Not sure what that might do to pumps or injectors. It might provide some lubrication won't argue over that.

I agree 100 percent with this comment.

 

[chh]

A mechanic told me recently about being advised to run a couple of gallons diesel mixed with 8 oz of new hydraulic fluid thru a new pump to lubricate a metering valve(?) that was sticking. It was supposed to lube the pump to see if it would correct the situation and wouldn't harm anything else. I don't think I would try used oil though for all of the above mentioned reasons, though I'm sure as long as it wasn't mixed too heavy it would mix and burn. Even without all the mentioned problems, you could offset any potential savings just by thinking about much more often you would need to change fuel filters after running that stuff thru them. I don't really believe it would take too much used motor oil to clog a fuel fitler.

 

[LBrown59]

Many years ago, I'd put a some used oil in my heating oil to the house in the winter.

Ralph

Do you use the Heating Oil in your tractor too ? ?

 

[AlanB]

In the FWIW department, and many here will get excited and talk about how terrible it is, the US Army TACOM ran several tests on that and approved 2 filtration units for use and further testing.

I think it was something like a 10% mix allowed and you had a drain pain, connected to a pump filtration unit with what looked like Oxy Acy hoses it would pump filter and blend the used oil you were draining back into the tanks.

We looked and demoed 2 of the systems here, a Baldwin and a Clarus I believe and they worked, but our belief was that every time there would be a problem with that vehicle, we would hear how that "black fuel" caused the problem.

I also know a guy running straight used oil in his older ford Diesel (pre-stroke) and has been for several years. Works for him, but too small a sample to really be a test, but does give good anecdotal evidence.

Have thought about it for my own stuff, and if I get an older cab forward will probably look at the alternative fuels, but in my 99 stroke, it just is not worth the risk too me yet.

 

[DieselPower]

Personally I never recommend adding something to the fuel that wasn't designed for it most of all old used oil. If you are concerned about the lubricity of the fuel then I would recommend using a diesel fuel additive. You not only get the added benefit of the increased lubricity but it also helps to clean the fuel system of deposits and depending on what brand you use helps to remove water from the fuel system.

 

[AlanB]

Here is one of the units.

http://www.clarustechnologies.com/pdf_files/brochures/Oil-CAT.pdf

I think the Baldwin (I think it was a Baldwin, would have to go look) anyway, it was the one that used the twin hose.

I would have to way the cost / benefit ratio out real carefully, the damage that could be done if it went wrong would offset the cost of a whole lot of fuel.

That said, as fuel costs go through the roof, it becomes more and more feasible.