What would happen if I added transmission fluid to the engine oil?

50

Asked by myteemowse Jun 22, 2013 at 09:52 PM about the 1998 BMW 3 Series 318i Sedan RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My transmission was slipping so I
bought a transmission additive to
help. I then accidently added about
10oz of the fluid to the engine oil
reservoir instead of the transmission.
Will this damage my car?  What
should I do?

24 Answers

drain it out and consider it an engine flush...no damage was done unless you're takin' this motor into HARD service....no it's a flush...we're done, put the recommended on your door sticker oil in there...thanks~

9 people found this helpful.

if you could get to your drain plug and responsible way of draining it out of there ...really don't know from lucas other than "the prince of darkness electrical systems"...get rid of that...wish I could testify to it's excellence, but really know nothing about this oil, think I've seen the logo at racetracks~probably racing grade~

10 people found this helpful.
18,695

Do NOT run the engine. Get the oil drained and flushed immediately. I would have he transmission serviced properly at the same time. That ZF transmission is a sturdy unit if given proper maintenance, but a little neglect goes a LONG ways with it. Same with the engine. Looked after according to manufacturer's specifications and it will live a very long life indeed. Mess around with it and you are looking at a $15,000 repair bill.

8 people found this helpful.
5,315

Repair fluid only gives you a little more time but if the tranny has internal damage you will have to repair some day. They do work some times

7 people found this helpful.
5,315

A little bit of ATF won't damage your engine but you need to change the oil on it. Bmw tranny are not user serviceable you need to have technical expertise to do that. I recommend to measure the oil level and complete it if needed first. Bmw says this oil and filter are for the life of the tranny but I sometimes change it anyway

7 people found this helpful.
5,315

Ther is no way to get new oil in the tranny from the top, is from under the car and proper tools,

oook...just like Me MINI~ a world of hurt and annoyance will come to you if you try monkeyin' around with these pressurized transmissions...fluid will spray out one plug and be empty at the other plug...have heard horror stories with the CVT...like Hector says "leave this to the professionals"~ reminds me of what the experts were sayin' about the twin-cam Porshe...you've got to be a German Old-GUY and have been working with these since their inception or you haven't a chance with the timing belt job...in fact you're in a world of hurt finding the replacement belt to begin with~

1 people found this helpful.
6,835

You will have aclean engine Just run for a couple days let t work and your oil will be dirty just replace it some people clean in side engine with trans fluid it works couple dàYa Ok but not a long5time

6 people found this helpful.
157,475

1 qt. of ATF added to the engine oil and running the engine for 15 to 30 minutes won't hurt anything. It might even be a good engine flush, but running and engine that has only transmission fluid in it may cause serious damage in a short time. The lubrication properties of ATF are much different than engine oil. I would change your engine oil and get that Lucas stuff out of there as there is no telling what is in it.

9 people found this helpful.
180

I have a 2015 dodge charger i accidentally pulled the transmission oil out and i put it back threw the dipstick. My car wont go faster then 25mph and sometimes it wont go in to reverese? What do i do?

18 people found this helpful.
70

I've been using Lucas Transmission Fix for years to drain/clean my wife's VW after draining the engine oil, never mixed it in hers though. I've been mixing it on my VW for 30000 miles and never knew it wasn't for my engine oil until I had a mechanic do the Lube change for me. He stated that it wasn't for the engine oil and Im now going to use the Transmission Fix to drain/clean the engine and mix the synthetic oil with Lucas Oil Stabilizer. FYI-I never had more than 15% Transmission Fix to engine oil.

7 people found this helpful.
130

I have just put over a ltr of transmission fluid in my 1969 sovereign 420 engine what do I do

13 people found this helpful.
130

James you will not damage the engine in your '69 sovereign. a small amount of atf in the motor oil will do no harm and will actually "clean the valves and can reduce noisy valve rain and carbon/sludge deposits) that said do perform a regular oil change to bring your engine lubrication to the proper spec,.

7 people found this helpful.
130

victoria, your transmission must be filled from the bottom. there should be a large fill plug that internally has a pipe riser that will fill the transmission to the correct fluid level. the unit is presumably in limp mode since it is not reading the correct fluid level. also the incorrect level will prevent enough fluid pressure from being built up to power your car in reverse. i would recoment doing a complete fluid flush. a machine is required. (and take it to a reputable small shop. the dealer will charge an arm and a leg and most of your first born for this service and the chain stores will only drain and fill the unit if they even change it at all. the correct machine will pump ATF fluid in as it is being removed thus changing the fluid in the torque converter as well as the valves and soforth. if possible ask to see the service being performed so you can verify it was done. it will also bring your unit to the exact right fill level.

3 people found this helpful.
130

to all i do not personally belive in the "hype" of the magical mystery formulas and fast fixes. while not always ideal there in no substitute for an actual diagnostic and (especially in the case of a transmission) mechanical repair. if your transmission is slipping burnt clutch packs is the most likely culprit. these can be changed and are very in expensive. (ex. i just completed a 2010 camaro clutch pack replacement (fluid and filters as well) and the parts totaled just around 100 dollars.) while there is labor to remove the transmission once done you will be good for another 100k+ miles without having to buy a new unit. the liquid fixes only add heavier weight oil and friction modifiers. the heavier weight will bring the ATF fluid pressure back up and return your correct shifting buy at the expense of over working the oil pump in the transmission. and the friction modifiers cling to all surfaces causing the clutches to grab again but at the cost of blocking the extremely small orifices in your valves and will in short order ruin a valve body (ie: $1,000++ dollars) same as lucas (for example) the engine restore is simply 50 or 75 weight motor oil that helps the build pressure to account for bearing wear but over works the engine oil pump which if it fails internally will destroy an engine will small bits of metal running through and ruining the bearing surfaces, oil galleys and valve seats etc.etc.

3 people found this helpful.
40

Back in the day prior to oil with detergents the sludge was only a problem if you then began using detergent oils, this loosened the sludge which in turn could and did block critical oil passages and resulted in a blown bearing, brunt valve train, etc then you had to rebuild. ATF in your oil could do the same and IMHO you are likely chancing it... i have no experience with it but it seems to me if it is mixed in and changed out in a very short time frame may be no harm... but today's engines oils are made with a lot of detergent and modern engines (if oil changes done routinely on time) should be pretty clean... Sludge is from the build up of blow-by carbon from the combustion chambers that's what turns the oil black and reduces the oils viscosity reducing the oils ability to lubricate, plus micro metals, this is hopefully caught by oil filter... BTW 3K miles was a safe normal driving conditions time to change out the oil, Manufactures recommend higher mileage ie. 5k, 8k, etc... but you should follow the manufacture suggestion and check it your self... if you drive hard, have dusty conditions, etc then frequent lower mileage changes are needed... we used to say pay me now or pay me later and pay me much much more.... so maintenance is cheap insurance... and the road to longevity... but everything wears out... also I would think that modern engines may have some kind of coating that the ATF may just remove.. Last 2cents: if you have an older car 60' 70's etc.. engine oil had zinc and lead and more not found in today's oil, so you need the additives to keep from burning up the older engines.. don't take my word for it do your own research and get the professionals facts.. Hot-rod Joe

4 people found this helpful.
100

My father was a heavy duty mechanic and from a very young age he taught me how to do the maintenance/oil changes on the vehicles as part of my chores (fall, winter, spring, and summer). He owned a 1987 Ford Ranger 2.9L that I was taught to add 1/2 liter of ATF to the oil at every oil change. He drove that vehicle until 2015 and put 459K km on the original engine before the rust eventually got it. I can say without a doubt, adding a bit of ATF does not hurt an engine. He swore that it cleans the engine as you drive and ensures that the valves, lifters, rockers, and other mechanical parts do not become gummed up with sludge.

10 people found this helpful.
90

It won't hurt your engine but it will help clean your engine : ) so let it run for a bit, drive to the closest beer store and back then change your engine oil and filter good job you just cleaned your engine and its good for your seals and hydraulic lifters

5 people found this helpful.
90

Normally you would put a pint of ATF any kind in your motor oil and drive around for a while, do some shopping and go to the beer store, etc : ) this high detergent hydraulic type fluid will clean the carbon and varnish out of your engine and great for hydraulic lifters and keep your oil seals from getting hard and leaking, great engine flush. Then change the oil and filter, enjoy your beer. Good job

4 people found this helpful.

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