Clean your funnel before pouring new oil?

[flatlandtacoma]

Originally Posted By: tpattgeek
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.


A used oil analysis is not going to show a difference. Nobody said you had to do it

It is really a matter of personal preference. It's just like some guys will crank the starter after the oil has drained to get that last bit if "dirty" oil out of the oil pump. I personally am horrified by that practice and would never even consider doing it, but some guys do it all the time. To each his own.

I had to laugh at the argument about "unfiltered" oil on the clean side of the filter. We just poured 5 quarts of "unfiltered" oil all over the valve train! Oh no!!

 

[tinmanSC]

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.

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.


I've had exactly the opposite experience. I notice no difference in my Toyota made 2JZ engines from pre filling the oil filter. They start up, run smoothly, with nothing out of the ordinary to report in either case.

 

[tpattgeek]

Originally Posted By: flatlandtacoma
I had to laugh at the argument about "unfiltered" oil on the clean side of the filter. We just poured 5 quarts of "unfiltered" oil all over the valve train! Oh no!!


Yeah, I guess the only option we have is to buy 2 filters, rig one to filter the oil as we pump it straight out of the bottle until the desired amount has entered, then put the second one on the car... somehow... (seems a little more convenient than the "fill the filter, start the car, fill the filter, start the car" theory without ever opening the fill cap) this of course all being done in a completely sterile room.

Seriously though, I've never put oil in my filters when changing and have never noticed a difference in sound. All small 4 cylinders though if that makes a difference.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I wrap my ATF funnel in a plastic shopping bag and tie it.

If I need a crankcase funnel, I just open an empty clean, capped quart container. I save a few just for this.

 

[mikiee]

If one was worried about the oil filter thing, what would you suggest if your filter goes on sideways to the engine? Can't exactly fill it with oil.

 

[tpattgeek]

That's true. It must not be that big of a deal. Thanks for everyone's opinions.

 

[rslifkin]

It's probably not a big deal to prefill vs not, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

 

[Texan4Life]

I wipe out as best i can with a rag/paper towl and then use.

 

[JustinH]

I rarely use a funnel when pouring oil into a crankcase.

My friends father, who is also a 30+ year mechanic for ford showed me how to pour a bottle of oil properly.

If you hold the bottle right, and you go slow, you can pour it perfect. The only time I run into problems with this method is when there is a gust of wind.

I even started to pour 5 quart bottles directly into my crankcase.

The funnels are only good for filling transmissions through the dipstick tube, and stuff like that.

 

[Virtuoso]

I respectfully disagree - if you have even slightly wobbily hands.. pouring oil into the crankcase can be a chore. Especially if the fill hole is right above an exaust manifold (as in my old SHO's). Sometimes it helps to have a funnel. It puts the fill hole about a foot higher and much more accesable.

 

[mechtech2]

Since you don't know what is in it, clean it.
A shot of brake or carb cleaner is fast and easy.

Storing the funnel in a plastic bag is also a good idea.
There should then be no need to clean it.

 

[bigdawg74]

I wipe my funnel out with a paper towel prior to using it. Mainly because after I fill the cranckcase, I use it to pour the old oil from the drain pan into the 5qt jug for transport to the recycler.

To the OP....what car needs the long funnel to fill oil? I can see transmission fluid through the dipstick hole, but oil?

What a PITA!

As for the filter, I've never done it. Seems to be more hassle than what its worth. But to each his own.

 

[bullwinkle]

Just a word of caution-if you prefill the filter-be VERY CAREFUL that NOTHING besides oil gets in there! If even a little piece of seal foil gets in there, it will go straight into the oil galleries & could plug something (like a piston oil squirter on my Cummins or any high output diesel)-it does make a difference building up oil pressure, but just be careful! I personally wipe out the oil funnel if I have to use it, but I usually hold the bottle SIDEWAYS to get the flow started, then stand it up in the fill hole.

 

[rslifkin]

I use a radiator funnel when filling. Pouring with a gallon jug, going directly into the angled hole without it is suicide. Especially considering any drips land on the exhaust manifold, which makes for quite a smokeshow on startup.

 

[tpattgeek]

Originally Posted By: bigdawg74

To the OP....what car needs the long funnel to fill oil? I can see transmission fluid through the dipstick hole, but oil?

What a PITA!


It's my 07 Civic. The hole is really close to the back of the engine bay/firewall area. The main reason is the unnamed store I decided to buy the funnel from had the really wide bowl shape, or the really thin one. Wide one didn't make it down far enough without hitting the seal on the top of the frame/body. I hope that explains it well.

 

[bigmike]

I wrap my funnels with a shop towel (see: my wife's old kitchen towels). I store all the funnels together, wrapped individually, in a plastic box. I label them for each purpose (gas, oil, used oil, AT fluid, etc). Same thing with turkey basters (brake fluid, PSF).

I hardly ever clean them, just let the excess get soaked up with the towels. I wipe them with a clean rag right before use, but I'm not too concerned.

 

[Geonerd]

I don't need a filter to add oil, but DO make a point to clean it before using it to fill trans fluid, etc.

My filter is oriented horizontally, so pre-filling gets kinda messy! I disconnect the injector resistor box and crank the engine for 5 seconds or so after adding the oil.

 

[cjhepburn]

I use a 20 oz. soda bottle with the bottom cut off as a funnel. Rinse with water and dry before you use. It's flexible enough to jamb in there and stay put as you pour oil.
When your done, toss it in the trash.
Originally Posted By: tpattgeek

It's my 07 Civic. The hole is really close to the back of the engine bay/firewall area. The main reason is the unnamed store I decided to buy the funnel from had the really wide bowl shape, or the really thin one. Wide one didn't make it down far enough without hitting the seal on the top of the frame/body. I hope that explains it well.

 

[JustinH]

If you need to make a cheap funnel, then cut a quart bottle of oil in half, and use that to pour the next one into.

 

[2K2AcuraTL]

I am under the impression that the practice of having 2 funnels.. 1- a black one for used/dirty oil and a second 2- blue for clean oil..
Guess I'm just funny that way..
my 2c
J