How do you store your fluid tools?

[altaylar]

How do you clean and store tools used with fluids—like oil funnels, transfer pumps, or brake bleeders?

I’ve been treating my oil pump and funnel as disposable to avoid cross-contamination (old oil or different viscosities). Same concern with brake fluid gear—don’t want moisture or residue hanging around. Thats why I always do "dry method" when flushing my break fluid, and use water bottles to drain the old fluid.

Do you clean them thoroughly, dedicate tools per fluid type, or just let them drain?

Would love to hear what works for you.

 

[eljefino]

I have a long thin funnel that I sometimes use for oil. I have an old cat litter box that holds my chain saw (which oozes fluids itself) so it lives there so its oiliness doesn't spread. But I also use it for gasoline, and don't mind rinsing a little old oil into my gas tank then letting it air dry, now clean.

I cut a Castrol quart bottle in half cross-wize and its threads are perfect for my Toyota valve cover oil fillers. I kept the cap and store this "funnel" upside down on a paper towel with the cap on to keep dust out.

Brake fluid I do treat properly without cross contaminating. Also endeavor to keep oil out of my antifreeze-- but I generally don't need a funnel for AF related stuff.

 

[spasm3]

Plastic bin, i clean the funnel with carb spray, let it dry, goes into the clean bin with a lid.

 

[Zee09]

I put motor oil funnels in Ziploc bags as it keeps them clean and avoids the cleaning hassle next time I use them

 

[altaylar]

Sounds like once cleaned, putting in ziplock to keep the dust away is a good choice. And perhaps then keep them in a platistic pail bucket would be a good way to keep things organized.

When I clean my funnels, I usually spray 91% isopropyl alcohol and then wipe them. But perhaps I should give carb cleaner a try

 

[slacktide_bitog]

in a cardboard box

 

[repairman54]

Brake clean rinse on funnels. Brake fluid tools are dedicated to brake fluid use only. Fluid removal tools, it doesn't matter except on brake use tools, its waste oil. And when funnels come out the cardboard box they get a quick shot of brake clean and a wipe before use.
We're not talking blood borne pathogens here.

 

[Astro14]

For funnels - brake clean, store inside a plastic bag so dust doesn’t accumulate.

For brake fluid flush pumps, transmission fluid pumps, suspension fluid pumps - I have a dedicated one for each type, so no cross-contamination occurs. I drain the fluid, store them in a plastic box.

I don’t use solvents in tubing and containers because I cannot be certain that I got all the solvent out, and I don’t want contamination.

For the fluid extractor - I keep the extraction hoses clean and closed in a loop, but I don’t do anything else. I dump it out when the job is done or it is full. No solvent. It’s designed to handle fluids, not solvents. It’s an extractor, it doesn’t need to be clean to handle used fluids.

 

[RyanY]

I wipe them out with a towel and then store them in a bucket with lid.

 

[dubber09]

Rinsing with either brake cleaner or Simple Green solution and wiping with shop or paper towel. Oil funnels, pump and measuring containers are separate from say coolant and windshield fluid ones.

 

[IndyIan]

I've got nothing to exotic or sensitive, except brakes which I'm careful not to contaminate. So usually I just let funnels/pumps drain then a quick shot of brake cleaner and then they go into a plastic box with lid, to keep dust off.
For the pump, if I am using it for a small amount of gear or transmission oil, I might flush it out with gear oil into the mixed oil can, that gets used for whatever needs a few drops of oil, and some spot rust proofing, or bar oil if I run out....
Most of my old stuff ends up with left over tractor fluid in it for hydraulic/gear lube, and Rotella T4 or T5 15W40 for the engines.

I did find discovering STOU fascinating, coming from the BITOG perspective, and maybe some evidence that a tiny amount of engine oil/gear lube/hydraulic fluid, into each other isn't generally going to be a problem.

 

[burbguy82]

I put motor oil funnels in Ziploc bags as it keeps them clean and avoids the cleaning hassle next time I use them

I do something very similar. I have one for ATF, and one for hydraulic fluid. The motor oil funnel just lives in the same box, but too big for a ziploc.

I have never understood those who clean off the funnels. It is going to get nasty, might as well reduce contamination by leaving it alone as possible. Of course one must use a container.

 

[D60]

I do something very similar. I have one for ATF, and one for hydraulic fluid. The motor oil funnel just lives in the same box, but too big for a ziploc.

I have never understood those who clean off the funnels. It is going to get nasty, might as well reduce contamination by leaving it alone as possible. Of course one must use a container.

For whatever reason I typically use the same funnel to catch the waste oil (into a jug) and refill. But in the shop it's a simple affair to spritz it out w brake clean, blow with air, and then drop it in the valve cover to refill.

 

[Zee09]

I do something very similar. I have one for ATF, and one for hydraulic fluid. The motor oil funnel just lives in the same box, but too big for a ziploc.

I have never understood those who clean off the funnels. It is going to get nasty, might as well reduce contamination by leaving it alone as possible. Of course one must use a container.

My local dollar store has the 2 gallon ziplocs if it helps

 

[Oliveoil2]

In the garage, next to the ladder and in a box.

 

[burbguy82]

My local dollar store has the 2 gallon ziploithbag to reduce contaninationcs if it helps

sure where you live?

i use big funnel....I have tried the big ziplocs and they dont fit. I put all my funnels in a box and separate the others

 

[burbguy82]

For whatever reason I typically use the same funnel to catch the waste oil (into a jug) and refill. But in the shop it's a simple affair to spritz it out w brake clean, blow with air, and then drop it in the valve cover to refill.

I bought two flo tool big funnels, I use one for waste filling into 5qt containers, and one "clean"

 

[Zee09]

sure where you live?

i use big funnel....I have tried the big ziplocs and they dont fit. I put all my funnels in a box and separate the others

Eastern MD
For those big funnels the $1 for 10 13 gallon garbage bags are great.
Tie a knot and reuse