A funnel is used to change the engine oil. However, you should always clean the funnel after the oil change. Because if you keep the funnel as it is and reuse it, there will be a chance of contamination, which will damage the engine.
Those vehicle owners who change the engine oil at their homes often think about how to clean funnel after oil change. This funnel cleaning guide is for you if you also have the same question.
How to Clean Funnel After Oil Change?
The process of cleaning the funnel is easy, and for this, you will require the following items.
Things You Need to Clean the Funnel
At first, you will need a paper towel. Here, you can also use old or worn clothes if you have them. You don’t have to use a microfiber cloth or towel here. Then, you will need a cleaning solvent that can remove the grease from the funnel. We suggest you use a Cleaner Degreaser. With this degreaser, you can rinse any oil residue from any surface. If you want, you can use WD-40 as well to clean the funnel. Here, other cleaning solutions such as vinegar, alcohol, or water soap mixture won’t work.
Cleaning Car Fluid Funnel
First, spray or drop the cleaning solvent on the funnel. Then allow the cleaning solvent to mix with the oil inside the funnel. After a few minutes, wash the funnel with fresh water and wipe it with a paper towel or worn cloth. And voila, your funnel is ready to reuse.
Expert Recommendation for Using Funnel
When using a funnel for an oil change, ensure that you use different funnels for different fluid or oil types. For example, you should never use the same funnel for an engine oil change and coolant replacement. Instead, it would help if you kept a separate funnel for each task. By doing this, there will be zero risk of oil contamination.
Also, if you fear engine oil contamination, you can use a new funnel each time during an oil change.
DIY Engine Cleaning After Oil Drain
You can clean the engine from the outside and inside. But after the oil drain, you should focus more on cleaning the inside of the engine.
To clean the inner parts of the engine, you will need –
- Fuel additive that has detergent properties Engine flush agent
- Water-soluble degreaser or regular degreaser
- Brush
If you notice sludge in the engine, use a fuel additive that comes with detergent properties. With this type of fuel additive, you can easily remove sludge from the engine. Again, if there is an excessive amount of sludge on the inside, you can use an engine flush agent. This will help you clean the engine thoroughly.
When you complete the oil drain, mix the water-soluble degreaser with water and apply it to the surface of the engine. Before applying this solution, ensure that you cover all the electrical wires, including the car sensors inside the engine.
Again, due to heavy usage or driving on the rough terrain, you can notice extreme dust on the engine surface. Here, you will have to put the grease and water mixture on the engine surface. Then rinse the engine surface with a brush. However, while cleaning the engine, ensure that you don’t damage the engine’s internal parts.
If you don’t have experience cleaning the engine’s internals, you can take your car to a nearby car mechanic shop and clean it professionally.
How to Avoid Sludge Formation on the Engine?
The best way to prevent sludge formation is by replacing the engine or motor oil regularly. However, while replacing the engine oil, ensure that you use high-quality motor oil because good quality motor oils can prevent sludge formation and protect the engine from dust.
We suggest you replace the engine oil every 5K miles, and there are several engine oil brands available to choose from. For example, you can use Valvoline, Castrol, Amazon Basics, Motor craft, etc. While adding engine oil, ensure that you check the viscosity grade and oil type.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cleaning the Funnel After Oil Change
Using different funnels for an engine oil change and coolant replacement is advised. Because when you use the same funnel for coolant and engine oil, there is a high chance of contamination. However, if you still want to use the same funnel for oil and coolant, you will have to clean the funnel before each use and then use it.
You can make your own funnel. For this, you will require a plastic cup or a milk carton. At first, you will have to slit the bottom of the cup. Then make it into a funnel shape, and your DIY funnel is ready to use.
No, it is not necessary to use a lint-free cloth for cleaning the funnel. We recommend using lint-free cloth only for cleaning the windshield of your vehicle. Otherwise, you can use a paper towel, regular towels, or even worn cloth for cleaning the oil funnel.
As stated above, we recommend you use a different funnel for different oil types. For example, you should keep at least one separate funnel for an engine oil change, coolant replacement, brake fluid change, and power steering fluid change. If you want to be on the safe side, you should keep eight to ten funnels in your garage.
Conclusion
Always use a water-soluble degreaser to clean the funnel after the oil change. And don’t use a regular cleaning agent, detergent or soap to clean the funnel because regular soaps or cleaning agents cannot remove the grease from the funnel.
