Coolant funnel

[joshuawes1984]

I've never been so excited about.. A funnel.

My wife's car, a 2008 Nissan Sentra is notoriously hard to bleed the cooling system. Obviously, I wasn't looking forward to this debacle a few months ago when it came time to do a coolant flush and replace the thermostat.

I'd see the "burping" - "no spill" funnels at different places, Harbor Freight, O-Reilly's, but always thought to myself, man, that's expensive for just a funnel. That is - until I bought one.

If you do not have one of these special funnels, listen to me. Go buy one. Now. You'll never have to beat your head against the wall when you're servicing your cooling system again. With this special funnel, the cooling system burped itself and allowed me to not only complete the job faster and easier, but it was NO MESS. Coolant splashed everywhere? Nope. Not a single drop was spilled or wasted.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The Lisle coolant is awesome! It pays for itself the first time you use it

 

[Cruisin'n5thgear]

I've used it on my Jeep, before that on my Miata with a notoriously difficult coolant system to burp properly. It's a great tool.

 

[Leo99]

I bought one a month or two ago for my RAV4. First time using one. They work well.

 

[E150GT]

I have the lisle funnel and like it. It didn't work for me real well with the 3800 series gm motor though.

 

[TnT_M]

Knock off versions are easily found on Amazon. They are a game changer.

 

[mcrn]

Nice! Thanks for that advice.

 

[wtd]

I have the Lisle version and it's pretty nice.

 

[fozzdesy2001]

I bought one a month or two ago for my RAV4. First time using one. They work well.

I do not think there is a better funnel for my 2011 Rav4 because of the tiny filler opening. I sure was glad I had the OEM version one of the best tool purchases ever

 

[Urshurak776]

I bought this one, but haven't used it yet. Looks cool though.

https://a.co/d/08vGmlGv

 

[RooflessVW]

If you guys like these, wait until you use a vacuum filler

 

[tcp71]

If you guys like these, wait until you use a vacuum filler

I have one of these. no need to burp or wait or anything.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwabe...m1QpnrMDkIj0mZaxhhRDtNDn-iwI7aehoChgkQAvD_BwE

 

[stenerson]

I also bought a vacuum filler / air purger. A lot of modern engines have become harder to burp out all the stubborn airlocks from the system.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

If you guys like these, wait until you use a vacuum filler

Can't use a vacuum filler without a garage and an air compressor

 

[RooflessVW]

Can't use a vacuum filler without a garage and an air compressor

Not with that attitude

 

[D60]

Meh, I have a Maddox and Ares vacuum filler and found them underwhelming. And they still don't completely fill all systems where the heater core is crazy high (hello 2nd Gen Rams).

It's a lot of setup for.....not much. I'm glad to have it as there are some systems which notoriously need to be vacuum filled, but if not I'll just use the funnel any day of the week.

HOWEVER the next level game changer is a master set of caps with QC fittings and the Astro regulated pressure tool. Then leaks are easily found with no frantic pumping of a tiny plunger -- but you still need a compressor.

 

[Trav]

The worst I can remember to fill were the old MB 4cyl diesels some VW/Audi and Subaru and a few others, vacuum filling sure does the trick.

 

[stenerson]

HOWEVER the next level game changer is a master set of caps with QC fittings and the Astro regulated pressure tool. Then leaks are easily found with no frantic pumping of a tiny plunger -- but you still need a compressor.

I bought the UView 550000 Airlift Cooling System Leak Checker and Airlock Purge Tool Kit a couple of years ago. Finally got around to using it last month. Made quick easy work of purging/filling. There are much less expensive alternatives. It was about 25 bucks less when I bought it than it is now.
Amazon line to Airlift tool

 

[RaymondP]

How does everyone dispose of the used coolant? Pending task on a couple of vehicles....and no I am not going to pour it down the sink, even if running the tap. Local retailers will accept used motor oil but NOT brake fluid or coolant. Maybe a local city disposal site?

 

[stenerson]

How does everyone dispose of the used coolant? Pending task on a couple of vehicles....and no I am not going to pour it down the sink, even if running the tap. Local retailers will accept used motor oil but NOT brake fluid or coolant. Maybe a local city disposal site?

I varies with towns/cities. For example our town has designated days where the recycling center will accept hazardous waste like coolant/antifreeze for free disposal. But usually they charge a fee. Our dump is happy to receive used motor oil and transmission fluid since they have a furnace that burns it to heat their facility.