Question for the all-knowing masses out there (intro first):

I was at a local '10-min or less / oem certified' oil changers place the other day. They had some 16y old kid doing triage (asking what you want etc). When it came time to put in my usual mobil 1 synth, the douche accidentally filled up my engine with ATF. Yes, Automatic Transmission Fluid. No kidding. They flushed it with an extra 2 liters of mobil 1 afterwards, and the dipstick didn't seem to have any noticeable red in it, but does anyone think this could cause a problem?

Gonna have to start finally doing my own changes =p

TIA.

 

this must be a joke, I don't see how anyone would put atf in the engine. Our cap have 5w-30 print on it.

 

Despite the fact that it's April 1st (past noon though, so no more pranks officially), I'm serious. They had a gun for it that apparently is right next to the synthetic. =/

(how they figure they change enough ATF to warrant a gun for it I don't know)

 

Rather than giving you my uninformed opinion, I did a quick search and found this, directly from Mobil's site. They say it shouldn't be an issue since you flushed it afterwards. Larger ammounts staying in would change the viscosity and might have been an issue. Did they change the filter out again too?

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...Added_Oil.aspx

 

great find vettereddie,

 

shouldn't hurt anything, probably just lubed everything really well. ATF is a little stronger than regular engine oil. Granted if you where to run it in the motor for a long period of time it, would not lubricate in the tight clearances of our motors. Just run some of the usual stuff in there and make an earlier oil change to make sure it is all gone, but I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

::sigh of relief:: thanks vettereddie! lol, I can't believe that mobil actually has that! heh, I work in IT so (as we say) Google is my friend, but I didn't think there was any info that specific!

Either way, some good motivation to start doing it myself, especially now that the snow is gone =)

 

Well, if Mobil took the time to post it, chances are you're not the only one this has happened to. I gotta wonder how often this sort of thing occurs. It can't be good for the lube place either, ATF costs more than oil.

I get nervous even using the same funnel to fill trans and the engine oil.

 

Pretty bonehead mistake. Nothing critical.
Start doing it yourself though. It's easy enough and I trust myself way more than some kid working at a shop.

 

yeah, i really dislike those oil change people. last time i found all my tires pumped up to 46 psi! the max was 44 i believe...

 

hey it happends. it shouldnt but as long as it was caught before you drove off. when i worked at the quick lube, we had 3 different stores and once i et use to one store i get to another, and the guns are different. one place would have 5w30 one place and the other place would be 15w40 or something like that. mistakes happen.

i use a dash of tranny fluid in some cars to find an exhaust leak if i cant find it. it makes a mess though :p

 

what is a retord?

 

I used to put 1 Litre of ATF in old car engines 1000K B4 oil changes to flush out the engine and it quiets GM lifters well
- wont do any harm because it was flushed out -
DO NOT put gear oil in engine - it will attack you big end bearing !!! I have seen the results on a CAT C15

 

yea a little atf wont hurt. i know how those places work, but it would have been nice if they had comp'd you a free flush or something.

 

I still do the same thing richmond2000 mentioned, I dump a litre of ATF in my Chev truck just before I do an oil change on it for the last 12-13 years on the same engine and no harm yet. Most ATF have a detergent in them and it works great at flushing the engine. I wouldn't be worried too much if they just filled it and drained it out. Stupid mistakes happen all the time but personally I have never and will never go to a drive through oil change place.

 

crap you beet me to it.
ATF is such high detergent that it also has a softener to keep if frum foaming.

oh and big word of advice "STAY AWAY FROM THE 10 MIN OIL CHANGE PLACES"

wile i was working at a local shop a customer came in draging the back tires.
the breaks were locked up.
we search most everything and didn't understand what was wrong. the lady said she had just had her oil changed at Jiffy Lub the day befor.
i checked the break fluid res. and it had windshild washer fluid in it........... looked like a lava lamp.
we had to replace just about every thing. $800

 

ok
sorry to hear of your disaster at the oil change..since your car will never run right again

will you accept $100.00 for it


naw...you should be fine

 

You'll be ok...no worries!

 

what's a retord?