Why would someone put automatic transmission fluid in the air box?

I was checking my air filter today and in the bottom of the air box I saw a liquid. It wasn't enough to hydro-lock my vehicle, and it mopped up with just two paper towels. I don't think it was done out of malice, but I can't imagine why it is in there. The fluid was red, I guess its dex ll used in the power steering because that is also red.

I know oil bath air cleaners were once a thing, but I don't think this would work like those. Is there any reason that someone would put transmission fluid in an air box?

I've never heard of someone doing this, and I can't imagine how ATF would find its way into the bottom of my air box and not touch my air filter in the process too. This had to be someone's doing.

 

Could be K&N filter oil it’s red? I put coal in my air box once to help dry the air..

 

Aliens......

 

Maybe I should check mine........I haven’t opened the air box in over five years....

 

Just going to ask a dumb question here... I have used K&N air filters in all of my vehicles for decades. The new filters always come saturated with so much oil that it always finds its way to the bottom of the airbox. We use K&N air filters on the inlets of some of our helicopters also, and the engine side is always wet with the red oil from the air filter. Is it possible that is what you are seeing?

 

Yeah, this sounds like the most likely scenario to me.

Extra K&N filter oil.

 

Didn't know K&N saturated their filters in red oil but that make the most sense to me

 

After having to replace a mass airflow sensor on a tacoma and mustang I will never use K&N again. And yes it’s red oil from that filter. Do yourself a favor and chuck that thing in the trash.

 

Yeah, these filters are a known problem. Cause all kinds of MAF issues and get clogged.

When you say you hydrolocked the motor...does it now need replacing?

 

It didn't hydrolock his motor.

 

my bad...read it too quickly

 

Yep swapped my old Lincoln with K&N, after cleaning and reoiling a year later it messed up my MAF sensor. I was really careful too and still over did it. Never again.

 

I always think about it and say, if that improved anything why wouldn't the car engineers do it?

 

The K&N doesn't do a good job blocking particles.

https://youtu.be/sJ3L-E-ufYo