How Clean Should a Funnel Be?

[honcho]

Just how much cleaning do you do on a funnel before putting it to use?

Background: I have a bucket of funnels, all plastic. The most common use is engine oil changes on our family fleet. Throw in various other fluid changes and fillings they see antifreeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid, water, gasoline, diesel, fuel additives and, once in a while, pesticide/herbicide. I try to at least wipe them out before putting them back in the storage bucket.

The question is how clean is clean enough the next time a funnel is put to use? For motor oil, I'll normally just wipe out with a clean rag. Sometimes I'll use some brake cleaner to clean off oily residue.

What does the crowd suggest?

 

[bonneyman]

I wouldn't intermix petroleum and water based products. keep those funnels separate.
Surgical cleanliness probably isn't required, but if you store your funnels upside down you should keep debris accumulation to a minimum. JMHO

 

[AA/FC]

I spray my funnels with brake clean and wipe them out with a paper towel.

 

[Wamsutta]

My funnels are so clean, I worry about the paper towel fuzz left behind.

 

[larry_g]

They are banging around in the back of the trap wagon. I usually rap them against the bumper to knock the rocks out before using one ....

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jagmandave]

I used to ask my boss when I was cleaning parts "is this clean enough?", his reply was always Well, is it clean?

 

[VocaTexas]

I always spray a shot of ether through the funnel before I use it to make sure it's clean. When I'm done I flush any residual oil out with ether.

 

[Indexmill]

Brakleen and air gun. Don't over-think it.

 

[tym]

I wouldn't intermix petroleum and water based products. keep those funnels separate.
Surgical cleanliness probably isn't required, but if you store your funnels upside down you should keep debris accumulation to a minimum. JMHO

Pretty much my approach. I dedicate a plastic funnel to coolant and a metal one for (clean) oil. I have a ratty older metal funnel for getting waste oil in the jug for recycling.

 

[frank001]

I always put them in a zip-lock bag after use. That way they are clean without having to clean them before each use. I keep separate ones for each type of fluid.

 

[Skin]

As good as you can get it within reason. I've found wiping them vigorously out after use tends to deposit more **** (fibers) then there was to begin with so I just give them a token wipe so they don't dribble everywhere. If you're worried about it flush them before use so any debris is carried away before the real fluid is used. The slightest trace of tap water this might introduce isn't going to do anything.

 

[928'er]

Depend on whether you're pouring in or emptying out...

 

[BigBoreFan]

I thought I was OCD, but there's some serous funnel freaks on here.

Different funnels for different fluids? Stored in a zip lock bag?

There's two business opportunities right there. Funnel labels and funnel storage bags.

 

[darkzero]

Clean enough so I can use it for as a beer bong after the job.

 

[doily_grunge]

You blokes clean yours?

 

[PelicanPines]

Funnels are segregated. I never have to clean them.

Also have a paper funnel dispenser for the odd task.

 

[sawbuck]

i buy a new one for every use ... i thought they were disposible ...you guys reuse em ?

 

[Bagherra]

I spray my funnels with brake clean and wipe them out with a paper towel.

This is what I do...keep it simple..

 

[Doug Arthurs]

Use it throw it in the back of the service truck. Whatever oil I was pouring dribbles out and prevents rust in the trucks box. Next time I need it make sure there are no big chunks in it and pour away.

 

[mrvm]

Mines are marked with sharpie for different fluids. Then wiped down before storage just like my hand tools.

 

[Bretny]

I just let mine drip off over the garbage can. I wipe if needed at time of use.

 

[CoogarXR]

I only have two funnels that I use regularly, a short-wide one for oil, and a long-skinny one for transmission fluid. I just wipe them out before I use them. No biggie.

 

[Parrothead]

I just wipe mine out with a paper towel and pull it through the end.

 

[johninct]

Safety Kleen tank after use, then brake cleaner and compressed air. Next I keep them in a plastic container.

 

[Bighead38]

Mine all best together and are stacked so they drain into an old glass bottle. Takes a long time to fill the bottle. I just grab whichever size I need and if it’s dirty from the last use I’ll wipe it out. Some of you guys are crazy.

 

[CJM8515]

I spray mine out with carb clean before I begin and let dry for a sec. If its got stuff in it Ill try and wipe it out too.

 

[mike93lx]

I leave on last oil change's oil so the plastic doesn't rust then rinse with the hose over my wife's flowers before starting the next oil change.


Or I just wipe it with a paper towel. Can't remember for sure...

 

[rlitman]

Mine all best together and are stacked so they drain into an old glass bottle. Takes a long time to fill the bottle. I just grab whichever size I need and if it’s dirty from the last use I’ll wipe it out. Some of you guys are crazy.

I have a laundry detergent bottle with the top cut off that houses my grease gun. My funnels are stacked and drain into the same container.

My funnels are so clean, I worry about the paper towel fuzz left behind.

I clean my funnels with a paper towel. Once the paper comes off clean, it's good enough. Any fuzz blows right off then.

 

[plinker]

I try to keep mine in some sort of sealed container to keep them clean, currently a square bucket from Menards with a layer of pig mat does ok. Some have threaded on caps and that works good as well.

Otherwise brakekleen and blow dry works 95% of the time.

 

[JRC3]

In my old garage I put a special port through the wall so I could rinse my funnel out with a proprietary cleaning solution.

 

[danielbuck]

I wipe my funnels off with a paper towel, that's usually about it. A tiny amount of oil mixture with some other oil isn't going to do anything negative, IMO.

 

[protegeV]

Just wipe em out. A little residue ain't gonna hurt anything.

 

[Bert_]

I store them upside down and wipe before use.

A Ziploc bag though? How big of bags can you get? I think only a couple of mine would fit in gallon bags.

 

[ZRX61]

I store them upside down and wipe before use.

A Ziploc bag though? How big of bags can you get? I think only a couple of mine would fit in gallon bags.

They make then up to at least 3ftx3ft

 

[danielbuck]

They make then up to at least 3ftx3ft

any time I get things packed in large zip bags from McMaster, I save them

 

[tym]

I thought I was OCD, but there's some serous funnel freaks on here.

Different funnels for different fluids? Stored in a zip lock bag?

There's two business opportunities right there. Funnel labels and funnel storage bags.

Don't forget bins for the bagged funnels...

 

[csargents1546]

I have mine stored in a funnel buddy, keeps all the dust and **** out of them, plus they drain all the extra into a bottle on the bottom.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[tym]

I have mine stored in a funnel buddy, keeps all the dust and **** out of them, plus they drain all the extra into a bottle on the bottom.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

What, pray tell, is a funnel buddy?

All this talk of playing with funnels sounds a bit *****...

 

[woody 73]

I thought I had a problem till I was reading this post... Thank you Lord above I am not crazy, give me strength oh wise and all knowing Lord; a fast paper wipe and good till the next time!

Help give some of these men your strength oh mighty Lord above heaven knows they need it...

 

[RedneckWelder]

We are mandated at work by our cleanliness guidelines to use ether funnels with caps on both ends or store them in a clean plastic bags and keep them clean

We also have to cap and plug all open lines (engine oil, hydraulic, transmission, coolant, or engine air) upon removal, filter fresh oil to ISO cleanliness standards, and do a whole bunch of other stuff.