Clean your funnel before pouring new oil?

[tpattgeek]

I just changed my oil this past weekend, and I have to use one of the long skinny funnels because of fill hole location. It sits in my trunk 24/7 so it gets a little dirty/dusty just from everyday use. It has very little dirt/debris on it when I go to use it, but was wondering if I should hose it off first then let it air dry or will that do more harm than good so just go ahead and use it? After hearing of people leaving their drain plug off for hours, I guess small dust particles are nothing to worry about. Am I being too OCD?

Also, I see it's been a while since this topic came up, so will it really hurt anything if, doing 6 month/5k miles OCI's, I never fill the center of my oil filter before installing the new one? I plan on keeping my vehicles as long as possible, so just curious what any experienced people have heard in regards to modern engines/oils and if it actually creates a significant amount of wear by not filling the filter. I did read that syns (what I use) stick to the engine parts more and will provide better lubrication at times of low pressure, but, just throwing all the options out there...

 

[SLCraig]

I just hit my oil funnel with a shot of brake cleaner before I use it. I blow it out with compressed air after and it's dried in a few seconds.

As for the oil filter. Put oil in it first.

The oil filter needs to be full when you turn the engine over to get the oil pressure up quickly. If not, the pump has to impregnate the media first and then you get oil pressure later than you would if you added oil to it.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: tpattgeek
I just changed my oil this past weekend, and I have to use one of the long skinny funnels because of fill hole location. It sits in my trunk 24/7 so it gets a little dirty/dusty just from everyday use. It has very little dirt/debris on it when I go to use it, but was wondering if I should hose it off first then let it air dry or will that do more harm than good so just go ahead and use it? After hearing of people leaving their drain plug off for hours, I guess small dust particles are nothing to worry about. Am I being too OCD?

Not at all. No harm in cleaning it.

I spray mine with brake cleaner and wipe it. It usually dries pretty quickly.


Originally Posted By: tpattgeek
Also, I see it's been a while since this topic came up, so will it really hurt anything if, doing 6 month/5k miles OCI's, I never fill the center of my oil filter before installing the new one? I plan on keeping my vehicles as long as possible, so just curious what any experienced people have heard in regards to modern engines/oils and if it actually creates a significant amount of wear by not filling the filter. I did read that syns (what I use) stick to the engine parts more and will provide better lubrication at times of low pressure, but, just throwing all the options out there...

I don't think there's any proof that not filling your filter will cause problems. But people (including me) would do it just because there's no reason not to.

 

[flatlandtacoma]

Well, ultimately it's your engine, I'm not sure what is the best way. I can tell you what I do. I wipe down the funnel with a reasonably clean shop rag to remove any visible dust/dirt before I use it. And I pour enough oil in the filter to saturate the media before installation. If all of my filters weren't sideways or upside down I would fill them completely before I screwed them on.

 

[tinmanSC]

No need to fill the filter, IMO. It's nice, but optional. Manufacturers would not make an engine that requires you to fill the filter every time you put it on. This just isn't going to happen. This tends to fall under the "peace of mind" category. If you are using a very large filter (over sized) or by-pass filtration then ok, fill it before installing it, it can take a while to fill those. But a standard filter just isn't a big obstacle for an oil pump. I guess I could say something like "I've been putting oil filters on for 8,000 years before you were even born and never had a problem!" but those kinds of arguments never really hold much weight with me and are best avoided, IMHO.

As for the funnel, i use a different funnel for oil than everything else. I use a standard plastic funnel for new oil.

 

[Dave Hess]

I just cut the bottom of of 16 ounce water bottle and use that as a funnel, then toss inn the trash when I'm done.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
I just cut the bottom of of 16 ounce water bottle and use that as a funnel, then toss inn the trash when I'm done.

I do the same. Who need stinky funnel when you can make an improvised funnel from a plastic bottle for no cost ?

 

[dparm]

I use brake cleaner. Cheap insurance but probably not a big deal.

 

[Virtuoso]

I stuff a clean paper towl in the "bowls" of my funnels, and then wipe out as/if neccesary before use.

I also keep separate funnels for new oil, used oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and fuel additives. Overkill? Maybe. But gives me peace of mind.

 

[UncleS2]

I either clean the funnel, or more often will cut apart a 2L coke jug & use that. Leave the top part tll enough & you can even stand your oil bottle in it to drain- and toss it after you're done.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I clean mine really good with soap and water after every oil change.

 

[Artem]

I have to disagree. I worked at a high volume oil change shop and i had plenty of opportunity to experiment. I noticed that if you "prime" the oil filter the oil light goes off faster then if the filter is completely dry.

I've experimented with this on my personal cars and the results were the same.

My 98 Toyota Camry V6 sounds terrible for the first 5 seconds after startup if the oil filter is dry. When primed the oil light goes off sooner and the valvetrain quiets down much quicker since oil starts flowing sooner.

I highly suggest you Prime the oil filter before putting it on.


Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
No need to fill the filter, IMO. It's nice, but optional. Manufacturers would not make an engine that requires you to fill the filter every time you put it on. This just isn't going to happen. This tends to fall under the "peace of mind" category. If you are using a very large filter (over sized) or by-pass filtration then ok, fill it before installing it, it can take a while to fill those. But a standard filter just isn't a big obstacle for an oil pump. I guess I could say something like "I've been putting oil filters on for 8,000 years before you were even born and never had a problem!" but those kinds of arguments never really hold much weight with me and are best avoided, IMHO.

As for the funnel, i use a different funnel for oil than everything else. I use a standard plastic funnel for new oil.

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: tpattgeek
I just changed my oil this past weekend, and I have to use one of the long skinny funnels because of fill hole location. It sits in my trunk 24/7 so it gets a little dirty/dusty just from everyday use. It has very little dirt/debris on it when I go to use it,


Why not put it in a zip-lock bag when you're done and it will stay shiny clean...

I put mine into a jar, and let the oil drain. When I get enough I then use the oil for general lubricating or rustproofing on the truck. Funnel drains as dry as if it had been washed.

 

[rslifkin]

I just wipe the funnel out both before and after use, and consider it good.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Artem
I have to disagree. I worked at a high volume oil change shop and i had plenty of opportunity to experiment. I noticed that if you "prime" the oil filter the oil light goes off faster then if the filter is completely dry.

Of course. The question is whether that difference actually has a significant effect on how long the engine lasts. It's certainly possible, but... Who knows?

 

[CATERHAM]

While I personally like to fill the filter with oil before installing, another school of thought against the practice is that you're adding unfilter oil (although new) into the pressurized system.

 

[Hallmark]

I had a Pre-Luber on a 1997 F-150 and got very spoiled over the years by being able to circulate clean oil through the engine and filter at every change before firing off the ignition. But with the current 2004 F-150 and 2010 Fusion, I pre-fill the new filters before installing them. All it took was one instance of experiencing that horrible clatter when I once forgot to pre-fill to train me to never overlook that task again.

I don't wish to engage in any debates about whether wear is an issue in such cases...just the mental image of mechanical damage (real or imagined)is enough for me. And that sound; akin to fingernails on a blackboard to me!

 

[fdcg27]

I just buy really cheap funnels, fill the car, use the funnel to fill the empty jug with my drain oil, and then discard it.
If I'm going to spend $15-30.00 on oil and filter, why would I worry about preserving a ~$1.00 funnel for further use?

 

[tpattgeek]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I just buy really cheap funnels, fill the car, use the funnel to fill the empty jug with my drain oil, and then discard it.
If I'm going to spend $15-30.00 on oil and filter, why would I worry about preserving a ~$1.00 funnel for further use?


That's a great idea. What's one more dollar....

As far as wear is concerned with pre-filling the filter, I guess the best we could do is a used oil analysis of both and compare. My guess is there's enough oil still left on the critical parts to make no significant difference for those 5 "dry" seconds. I would also think car makers would state it in the manual or it would be widely known that "you must do this to preserve the engine". Just my extra thoughts on it...

 

[shadow7]

Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
While I personally like to fill the filter with oil before installing, another school of thought against the practice is that you're adding unfilter oil (although new) into the pressurized system.

I always think about that lol.

I just hose it with water, than i use paper towels to wipe it until it's dry.
If i remmember it next time, i will fill the oil filter up.