What do you use for measuring oil or other fluid?

[champ]

This is my first time purchasing oil by the 5 quart jug. I usually purchase them by the quart, but jugs are so much cheaper. Both of my cars' fill is either 4.5 quarts or 4.25 quarts and the quart bottles were somewhat easy to measure.

After I bought my jugs at Walmart, I went to the kitchen section and purchased a plastic measuring cup. It might work well as it has a handle and small spout. I plan on using this with the funnels I already have.

I'm curious to read what others are using to measure their fluid. I'm sure there are some very interesting and innovative ideas out there that I'd like to learn from. Thanks again.

 

[jorton]

Pour out a half a quart into an empty qt bottle.

 

[bustednutz]

On the sides of the Jugs the # of quarts is marked off. You can see the decrease in usage on the side of it.

 

[Colt45ws]

I the vehicle that takes 4.5 quarts, I simply dump in 4 quarts from the jug, then start it. Once its verified no leaks, shut it off and top it up.
Ive bought 4 or 5 of those measuring cups. They get covered with dirt, sawdust, bugs. So they end up being one use items.

 

[Silk]

I use a 2 litre kitchen jug with good graduations - I wash it after use.I have smaller jugs and containers for smaller amounts.

 

[crinkles]

whatever works on the day. sometimes i just eyeball it. the marks on the jogs are usualoly good enough

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee

Ive bought 4 or 5 of those measuring cups. They get covered with dirt, sawdust, bugs. So they end up being one use items.


It can add some expense, but all of my funnels get a dose of brake clean before and after using them. The before cleaning is for any dust that may have settled on them.

I'm pondering getting measuring cans (to enhance my BITOG geek persona

) in various sizes. My debate is over how I'm going to store them (cover them, get big plastic bags, etc) for the longer times when not in use.

This is since I'm frequently pouring oil from 5 gallon pails. It's work pouring oil from a 5 gallon pail when it's full

 

[hpichris]

Keep an empty quart bottle around. Use the markings. That's what I do. Simple and no cost.

 

[Johnny]

I use these.

http://www.oilsafesystem.com/

 

[Gary Allan]

Nice find, Johnny. It doesn't have the classic look ..but appears to be the hot setup.

 

[Johnny]

They work great and have measurements marked on the sides. Not cheap, but it keeps the dirt out.

 

[Aquaticentipede]

Quote:
On the sides of the Jugs the # of quarts is marked off. You can see the decrease in usage on the side of it.

Yep, the five qt. containers have clear plastic windows with graduated measurements on the side.

 

[postjeeprcr]

I like to use an old Q Advanced Engine oil bottle.

 

[mechanicx]

You can easily meter out 4.5 qts out of a 5 gallon jug. It'd probably be tough to measure out 4.25 qts, but as mentioned if you fill up a qt bottle you can easily measure out tenths of a qts and ballpark it close enough at .25 qts.. Unless that qt bottle is a Castrol bottle..what is up with Castrol not having a clear window to measure the amount lol?

If you wipe down your funnel with a paper towel or shop towel after use and hang it horizontally on a hook or nail, it will not get dirty even in a dusty shop. They also sell inexpensive funnels that have screw on caps.

 

[1993_VG30E_GXE]

Gary those look high quality, i'm going to bite your style and buy one too. Get the galvanized, i'm using a Behrens huge drain pan I bought from Fastenal, it's great. The galvanized is so easy to clean, it's not even funny. I won't fiddle with those plastic things again.

Also, I bought a Behrens funnel I'll try to take a photo - it has a filter screen in it that's great. I was filling my tranny for storage and a bloody leaf quickly went in. Luckily i'm doing teardown in the summer so i'll get it out - but now I won't take any chances. Who knows, when you filling your oil it is possible a bug or something COULD fall in to a regular funnel.

http://behrensmfg.com/

Check the funnel out:

http://behrensmfg.com/aut2_21.htm

 

[1993_VG30E_GXE]

They have those oil fillers you want on page 2. Check them out, and the nice drain pan I bought. The cheaper of the 2 but it holds enough coolant for my whole maxima V6 engine.

 

[disturban]

Think with your dip stick Jimmy....that's what it is for is to show you how much oil you have in your pan! You can eyeball a 1/2 a qt and just check the dip stick...I do it all the time and get it right on the full mark. Truth be told my truck takes 4.5qts also but I really don't think it would matter if you over filled it 1/2 a qt it would probably barely show up on the dipstick, maybe a tick over the full mark.

 

[fdcg27]

Agreed!
I always put five quarts in my 4.5 qt Accord and Aerostar.
I have little use for a half a quart of oil (lawnmower, maybe?) and either engine will have burned off a half a quart or so by the next oil change.

 

[Spector]

A quart bottle with the see through markings on side and an 8 ounce plastic measuring cup for those exact top offs

 

[Craig in Canada]

Most things I fill have a level check system. I don't rely on pouring in the exact amount - who knows what's hanging around in the system:

- pour in oil rounded down to the nearest liter, start it, let it drain back, then use the dipstick to set final level

- fill brake fluid to the "full" line after bleeding through

- fill the transmission/diff until it runs out the fill plug

- fill PS fluid until its dipstick reads what I want

- etc...

I'm not sure why people would add a pre-measured 4.5L and call it a day instead of add 4L then go to the dipstick until it's at the FULL mark.

For things like AutoRX maint dose I use a Pyrex measuring cup because unlike plastic it won't absorb or be otherwise affected by what I'm measuring. For a full clean dose I measure by the bottle (7L sumps).

For two-stroke pre-mix I make small batches (ie. a trimmer tank at a time) and use a metal measuring spoon (teaspoon/5mL) to add oil to 250mL of gas in a glass measuring cup.