General Questions on ATF

What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?

Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
oil said they don't take used ATF.

"Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:t9CdnYRcMYx_JWHeRVn-uw@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?[/color]

More along the lines of Hydraulic fluid with lubricants.
[color=blue]
>
> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
> oil said they don't take used ATF.[/color]

Find someone with a waste oil burner. The stuff burns as well as oil, and
the burners have cat converters on them so it's not too tough on the
environment.

"Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:t9CdnYRcMYx_JWHeRVn-uw@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?[/color]

ATF is mineral-based hydraulic fluid. Motor oil is generally petroleum oil.[color=blue]
>
> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
> oil said they don't take used ATF.[/color]

It depends on local custom. In some places in New England, people pour the
used ATF in their doors and fenders to use as rust-proofing. You can make
friends with someone who works at a facility with the means to dispose of or
recycle ATF, or you can check with your local government to see if they have
made arrangements with a waste chemical disposal company.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:17:53 -0600, "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?
>
>Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
>oil said they don't take used ATF.
>[/color]

I usually just add it to my used motor oil, seal the container, and
give it to the recycler....

-LMB

The reason congressmen try so hard to get re-elected is that they
would hate to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea.

"Louis M. Brown" <phyphor@rocketmail.com> wrote in message
news:r4jpv1da0urdgorigo5v4b9jvaqrdsttd4@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:17:53 -0600, "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?
>>
>>Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
>>oil said they don't take used ATF.
>>[/color]
>
> I usually just add it to my used motor oil, seal the container, and
> give it to the recycler....
>
> -LMB[/color]

I thought about doing that, but was worried it would contaminate the oil and
cause problems for the recycler. I'm not interested in screwing anyone
over, but if I was sure it wouldn't hurt the recycler, I would probably do
just that.

"Hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.GTS> wrote in message
news:ZZ2Lf.13059$Em2.756@trndny05...[color=blue]
>
> "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:t9CdnYRcMYx_JWHeRVn-uw@giganews.com...[color=green]
>> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?[/color]
>
> More along the lines of Hydraulic fluid with lubricants.
>[/color]


Thank you. Now at the risk of being a pest, what is the difference between
oil and hydraulic fluid?

[color=blue][color=green]
>>
>> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
>> oil said they don't take used ATF.[/color]
>
> Find someone with a waste oil burner. The stuff burns as well as oil, and
> the burners have cat converters on them so it's not too tough on the
> environment.[/color]


Cool.

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
news:8a70d$43fcc594$44a4a10d$10593@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:t9CdnYRcMYx_JWHeRVn-uw@giganews.com...[color=green]
>> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?[/color]
>
> ATF is mineral-based hydraulic fluid. Motor oil is generally petroleum
> oil.[color=green]
>>
>> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
>> oil said they don't take used ATF.[/color]
>
> It depends on local custom. In some places in New England, people pour
> the used ATF in their doors and fenders to use as rust-proofing.[/color]


Does that actually work? Wouldn't any water getting in there just sink to
the bottom of the ATF and start rusting the metal, with the ATF preventing
the water from evaporating so it would end up doing more damage?
[color=blue]
>You can make friends with someone who works at a facility with the means to
>dispose of or recycle ATF, or you can check with your local government to
>see if they have made arrangements with a waste chemical disposal company.[/color]


Good ideas. When I choose the new dealer (one which doesn't have a parts
guy who tells me "T-IV ATF is just Dextron 3" I think I will ask them. If
I'm buying ATF from them, I don't see why they'd have a problem with
disposing of the old stuff for me, even if they charge me a few bucks it'd
still be better than paying them hundreds of dollars to do it themselves.

Our local Autozone's oil recycling tank has a sign on it that says "motor
oil, ATF, power steering, and brake fluid only!". Not sure why your place
won't take ATF since it's closer to regular motor oil (petroleum based) than
some of those fancy synthetic motor oils.

Call around, someone will take it.

--
Isn't Disney World just a people trap operated by a mouse?
"Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:t9CdnYRcMYx_JWHeRVn-uw@giganews.com...[color=blue]
> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?
>
> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
> oil said they don't take used ATF.
>
>[/color]

On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 16:05:38 -0600, "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Louis M. Brown" <phyphor@rocketmail.com> wrote in message
>news:r4jpv1da0urdgorigo5v4b9jvaqrdsttd4@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:17:53 -0600, "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?
>>>
>>>Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
>>>oil said they don't take used ATF.
>>>[/color]
>>
>> I usually just add it to my used motor oil, seal the container, and
>> give it to the recycler....
>>
>> -LMB[/color]
>
>I thought about doing that, but was worried it would contaminate the oil[/color]

I highly doubt you should be concerned with that, given all the crap
they get in the oil on a daily basis. Metal shavings, additives (from
consumers pouring in that crap that claims to "help prolong the life
of your engine" - you know, that crap they sell at Autozone/Kragen?)
um...what else... water (from blown head gaskets, whatnot) and
antifreeze.... a few quarts of ATF isn't going to make any trouble for
them, since it's not explosive or particularly hazardous, compared to
oil.

Not to mention, ATF *is* partially petroleum products anyway, so how
else are you going to dispose of it?

-LMB


and[color=blue]
>cause problems for the recycler. I'm not interested in screwing anyone
>over, but if I was sure it wouldn't hurt the recycler, I would probably do
>just that.
>[/color]

The reason congressmen try so hard to get re-elected is that they
would hate to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax
and get used to the idea.

"Steve" <steve@theelmores.com> wrote in message
news:11vpq11osv0ug4a@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
> Our local Autozone's oil recycling tank has a sign on it that says "motor
> oil, ATF, power steering, and brake fluid only!". Not sure why your place
> won't take ATF since it's closer to regular motor oil (petroleum based)
> than
> some of those fancy synthetic motor oils.
>
> Call around, someone will take it.
>
> --
> Isn't Disney World just a people trap operated by a mouse?
> "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:t9CdnYRcMYx_JWHeRVn-uw@giganews.com...[color=green]
>> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?
>>
>> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my used
>> oil said they don't take used ATF.
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

"Steve" <steve@theelmores.com> wrote in message
news:11vpq11osv0ug4a@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
> Our local Autozone's oil recycling tank has a sign on it that says "motor
> oil, ATF, power steering, and brake fluid only!". Not sure why your place
> won't take ATF since it's closer to regular motor oil (petroleum based)
> than
> some of those fancy synthetic motor oils.
>
> Call around, someone will take it.
>[/color]


ATF and brake fluid are not petroleum based.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:camdnYyKId3lfGHeRVn-gg@giganews.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
> news:8a70d$43fcc594$44a4a10d$10593@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=green]
>>
>> "Ernie Sty" <fake_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:t9CdnYRcMYx_JWHeRVn-uw@giganews.com...[color=darkred]
>>> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?[/color]
>>
>> ATF is mineral-based hydraulic fluid. Motor oil is generally petroleum
>> oil.[color=darkred]
>>>
>>> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my
>>> used oil said they don't take used ATF.[/color]
>>
>> It depends on local custom. In some places in New England, people pour
>> the used ATF in their doors and fenders to use as rust-proofing.[/color]
>
>
> Does that actually work? Wouldn't any water getting in there just sink to
> the bottom of the ATF and start rusting the metal, with the ATF preventing
> the water from evaporating so it would end up doing more damage?
>[/color]

Yes, it works, although it is pretty messy, and you will have ATF all over
your door sills. Even though the doors are hollow, they have drain holes at
the bottom so when you pour ATF down the window slot, besides getting it all
over the window, it eventually drains out the holes. The film of ATF on the
metal keeps the metal from rusting.

[color=blue][color=green]
>>You can make friends with someone who works at a facility with the means
>>to dispose of or recycle ATF, or you can check with your local government
>>to see if they have made arrangements with a waste chemical disposal
>>company.[/color]
>
>
> Good ideas. When I choose the new dealer (one which doesn't have a parts
> guy who tells me "T-IV ATF is just Dextron 3" I think I will ask them. If
> I'm buying ATF from them, I don't see why they'd have a problem with
> disposing of the old stuff for me, even if they charge me a few bucks it'd
> still be better than paying them hundreds of dollars to do it themselves.[/color]
There was a state in New England that required any place that sells
hazardous material to take back the quantity they sold for recycling, so in
theory, if the convenience section of a grocery store sold motor oil, ATF,
brake fluid, etc., then in theory, they had to take back any old stuff a
consumer brought back.

The best place to take your motor oil, ATF, and brake fluid is a place that
uses waste oil heaters. They will thank you.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ernie Sty wrote:[color=blue]
> What exactly *is* ATF? Is it just motor oil with additives?[/color]

It is thin viscosity oil with high detergent but with a high degree of
friction modifiers which are there to ensure efficient wet clutch plate
slippage for smooth changes and with anti-squawk additives to ensure low
noise as changes take place.


[color=blue]
>
> Also, how do you get rid of the used stuff? The place that takes my
> used oil said they don't take used ATF.[/color]

There is no problem disposing of it where I am. Local authority refuse
points have facilities but commercial operations have to pay a small amount
which is commonly passed back to their customers.

Huw

Ernie Sty wrote:[color=blue]
>
>
> Thank you. Now at the risk of being a pest, what is the difference
> between oil and hydraulic fluid?
>
>[/color]

Hydraulic fluid is a simpler and cheaper oil which is optimised for pumping
around circuits. Not suitable for heavy loads such as transmissions and
axles and certainly not for wet clutches and brakes or engines.
Of course there are specialist fluids that can cater for all of these in
one. They were originally developed for agricultural tractors and are known
generically as STOU or SUTO oils. Amazing properties but not new. They were
developed in the 1970's although the latest and best thin STOU's have a
viscosity of 10w/30 while being suitable for high pressure closed-centre
hydraulics, synchromesh and CVT transmissions, axles, wet brakes and
clutches and epicyclic reductions in the heaviest applications as well as
meeting API CG4 [and maybe CH4] long drain engine oil specification for
sustained heavy duty use in engines. It can replace ATF in automatic
transmissions and MTF in manual transmissions.

Huw

Ray O wrote:[color=blue]
> "Steve" <steve@theelmores.com> wrote in message
> news:11vpq11osv0ug4a@corp.supernews.com...[color=green]
>> Our local Autozone's oil recycling tank has a sign on it that says
>> "motor oil, ATF, power steering, and brake fluid only!". Not sure
>> why your place won't take ATF since it's closer to regular motor oil
>> (petroleum based) than
>> some of those fancy synthetic motor oils.
>>
>> Call around, someone will take it.
>>[/color]
>
>
> ATF and brake fluid are not petroleum based.[/color]

All oil is petroleum based. ATF is mineral oil although you may now find
synthetic ATF if you look hard. Still petroleum based though.

Huw