Cleaning gear oil/ATF from funnels and vinyl tubing etc

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:12 am

I have a variety of vinyl tubing, funnels, manual pumps etc that I use for ATF, rear diff, MT trans etc fluid changes.

I always soak things in simple green and rinse with super hot water and very concentrated dish soap, but they discolor still and I wonder if they truly are clean enough.

Anyone have a tried and true method for cleaning stuff like this?

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:34 am

JamesShort wrote:

I have a variety of vinyl tubing, funnels, manual pumps etc that I use for ATF, rear diff, MT trans etc fluid changes.

I always soak things in simple green and rinse with super hot water and very concentrated dish soap, but they discolor still and I wonder if they truly are clean enough.

Anyone have a tried and true method for cleaning stuff like this?

I use brake cleaner on everything, but I have dedicated funnels for each fluid type. That said, I bet higher end funnels probably don't stain, but realistically, I can't imagine after cleaning funnels like you do that there would be any contamination. - AB

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:37 am

Aaron Buckley wrote:

I use brake cleaner on everything...

Ditto for me.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Seems like I'm always a contrarian these days ...

I got sick of cleaning this kind of stuff and have just designated an "oily" bin for pumps and funnels, and I just do a quick wipe and throw them in there, pop on the lid and put it back in the cabinet. A bit messy but a huge timesaver. I don't care if 0.5 oz of 75w-90 gets in my MTL fills, etc.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:46 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

A bit messy but a huge timesaver. I don't care if 0.5 oz of 75w-90 gets in my MTL fills, etc.

Ah, Mr Whitney...but that kind of thing keeps James up at night and he gets that tic like Chief Inspector Dreyfus.....

steve remchak · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:43 pm

oh yeah, way over the top on the OCD meter right there now.

Mr. Short, may i be the first to strongly suggest you move up the food chain and start your downhill descent into racing?

i don't want to hear all that "i can't afford it" whining (i can't afford it anymore, but you still have a job apparently) or the "i'm not ready, not sure i want to do that with this car" etc, etc.

someone with your level of organizational skills ( psychosomatic disorder) will easily work thru any potential logistical issues and thrive in this environment.

trust me you are sufficiently prepared (nuts) for this progression. :lol:

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

MikeWhitney wrote:

Seems like I'm always a contrarian these days ...

I got sick of cleaning this kind of stuff and have just designated an "oily" bin for pumps and funnels, and I just do a quick wipe and throw them in there, pop on the lid and put it back in the cabinet. A bit messy but a huge timesaver. I don't care if 0.5 oz of 75w-90 gets in my MTL fills, etc.

Any chance of fire hazard due to fumes from all of those oily things in a closed space?

BretLuter · **Posted:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:09 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Seems like I'm always a contrarian these days ...

I got sick of cleaning this kind of stuff and have just designated an "oily" bin for pumps and funnels, and I just do a quick wipe and throw them in there, pop on the lid and put it back in the cabinet. A bit messy but a huge timesaver. I don't care if 0.5 oz of 75w-90 gets in my MTL fills, etc.

Any chance of fire hazard due to fumes from all of those oily things in a closed space?

Probably not any more risk than the lawn mower, motorcycle(s), car, etc sharing the same garage space.

:thumbsup:

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:45 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Seems like I'm always a contrarian these days ...

I got sick of cleaning this kind of stuff and have just designated an "oily" bin for pumps and funnels, and I just do a quick wipe and throw them in there, pop on the lid and put it back in the cabinet. A bit messy but a huge timesaver. I don't care if 0.5 oz of 75w-90 gets in my MTL fills, etc.

Ditto with the refinement that some stuff also goes in a plastic bag since the bin is big. Only "wash" if switching between anti freeze and oil.

FYI I still use the 5 gallon container I bought in about 1973 for used oil. Oil is certainly heavier these days than it was decades ago :oops:

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:46 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Seems like I'm always a contrarian these days ...

I got sick of cleaning this kind of stuff and have just designated an "oily" bin for pumps and funnels, and I just do a quick wipe and throw them in there, pop on the lid and put it back in the cabinet. A bit messy but a huge timesaver. I don't care if 0.5 oz of 75w-90 gets in my MTL fills, etc.

I do the same thing. I have a oil drain pan that is slightly too small for the GTO's oil that I use. Quick wipe of the funnel and it goes in there with a paper towel crumpled up on the bottom to catch whatever drains out. It's usually completely dry by the time I use it again.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:51 am

steve remchak wrote:

oh yeah, way over the top on the OCD meter right there now.

Mr. Short, may i be the first to strongly suggest you move up the food chain and start your downhill descent into racing?

i don't want to hear all that "i can't afford it" whining (i can't afford it anymore, but you still have a job apparently) or the "i'm not ready, not sure i want to do that with this car" etc, etc.

someone with your level of organizational skills ( psychosomatic disorder) will easily work thru any potential logistical issues and thrive in this environment.

trust me you are sufficiently prepared (nuts) for this progression. :lol:

So autocross is not racing??!?!?!!!

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Nah, its "a car control event".

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:23 am

Steven Carter wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

A bit messy but a huge timesaver. I don't care if 0.5 oz of 75w-90 gets in my MTL fills, etc.

Ah, Mr Whitney...but that kind of thing keeps James up at night and he gets that tic like Chief Inspector Dreyfus.....

Lol! How did I miss this smart ass comment

.

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Cleaning gear oil/ATF from funnels and vinyl tubing etc

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