Form-a-funnel....not as much hype as you'd think

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:25 am

I'll admit, the form-a-funnel looked like a hyped up, well marketed, as seen on tv type thing at first. Well after getting the Civic, I heard the stories about the terrible oil filter location so I bought one from Griots while they have free shipping to give it a try.

When I got under the car, I was skeptical about how I would even get my strap wrench on the filter. Taking the passenger wheel off made it easier and I got it at least cracked loose so that I can rotated it with my hand.

So I get the form-a-funnel and try to route it to drain outward next to the LCA but it seemed as though it wouldn't work. Then I managed to fold it just right to have it go straight back and drain over the subframe and it worked like a charm. I literally did not spill a drop of oil. Without it, oil would have dripped all over the half shaft and cv boot, the back of the block, the oil cooler, the subframe etc.

It obviously is not for all cars because lots of them are going towards vertical filters (even my wife's k24 Accord has a vertical filter) but it worked well for me.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:40 am

Wow...me likey. The oil filter location on my wife's TSX looks similar, and I usually spill quite a bit of oil on all the parts you mention when removing the filter. I might have to grab one of those.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:50 am

Yes, I think the 08 is the last year for the 1st gen TSX and that particularly K24 has the same oil filter setup as the K20.

The next gen TSX (ie the lame ones

), went to a different K24 (same as in EX Accord) but it had the vertical oil filter relocation.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:15 am

That does look cool and very handy.

What I want to know is why they don't have the &%$#! engineer who designed that to change the oil before deciding that is an acceptable design? IMO, routine maintenance items should be designed to be as easy as possible. The oil filter location on the NA/NB Miata is damn near the worst I've ever seen.

FWIW, I'm not a fan of the vertical filter design as it makes a mess too. The horizontal ones NOT located over things like the axle or exhaust are best IMO. The cartridge-style on my Fusion sucks too. As soon as my warranty is gone I'm changing it to the regular filter style.

BTW, on my wife's old car I would wrap a plastic bag or tin-foil over the exhaust flex pipe so the oil will run over it and into the pan w/o getting on the unwanted components. Otherwise I'd have to smell burning oil for a couple of days and have it drip thinking there was a leak.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:19 am

Yep, I'd say this would be a good thing for NA/NB miata owners to have if they don't like the 'diaper' method

.

Why don't you like the vertical filters? My WRX and Accord had them and literally no oil got anywhere other than on my hand or in the oil pan.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:27 am

JamesShort wrote:

Why don't you like the vertical filters? My WRX and Accord had them and literally no oil got anywhere other than on my hand or in the oil pan.

I don't like getting the oil on my hands (even when I wear gloves) or my tools. My Fusion filter is vertical, and since all the oil never seems to drain out that damn plug in the cartridge it makes much more of a mess.

Maybe I'm jaded because the vertical ones I have personally worked with were not any better. I had one on my S-10 4.3L V6 and 180 degrees of the circumference was next to the pan. I couldn't even get my fingers in there to turn the filter. Once I had even the slightest amount of oil on my hand it was a bear to work with.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:37 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

That does look cool and very handy.

What I want to know is why they don't have the &%$#! engineer who designed that to change the oil before deciding that is an acceptable design? IMO, routine maintenance items should be designed to be as easy as possible. The oil filter location on the NA/NB Miata is damn near the worst I've ever seen.

The same engineer then designs a special service tool that reroutes the oil flow so it doesn't get everywhere. Since the tool is such low volume production, nobody outside of a dealer would buy one. If the SST was priced well, I'd buy it...but it isn't.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:42 am

TomFreeman wrote:

The same engineer then designs a special service tool that reroutes the oil flow so it doesn't get everywhere.

Show me this SST for oil changes. I think you just made that up. :brow:

This is a Honda were are talking about, not BMW.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:01 pm

Bazinga
Actually not that expensive...I might have to break down and buy it.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:32 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Why don't you like the vertical filters? My WRX and Accord had them and literally no oil got anywhere other than on my hand or in the oil pan.

I don't like getting the oil on my hands (even when I wear gloves) or my tools. My Fusion filter is vertical, and since all the oil never seems to drain out that damn plug in the cartridge it makes much more of a mess.

Maybe I'm jaded because the vertical ones I have personally worked with were not any better. I had one on my S-10 4.3L V6 and 180 degrees of the circumference was next to the pan. I couldn't even get my fingers in there to turn the filter. Once I had even the slightest amount of oil on my hand it was a bear to work with.

I was talking more vertical down, style filters. You can twist till just the point it starts leaking out and then use your finger to rotate it a bit and the oil will come down the side into the pan. BMW style vertical upward cartridge fillers are a bit different.

Tom, the issue with that tool is that you still get oil down the side of the block and on the half shaft/cv boot.

I literally got no oil anywhere but on the form-a-funnel and in the oil pan

.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:54 pm

Our Mazda 6 wagon has two issue.

1. Oil filter is horizontal over hte exhaust manifold so not only do you get burned, oil drips all over the front of the engine.
2. They designed the s[ace between the front cross member and the block to be the same size as the crimp lip on the oil filter so you have to drag the old one out and the new one in :evil:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:58 pm

RobLupella wrote:

Our Mazda 6 wagon has two issue.

1. Oil filter is horizontal over hte exhaust manifold so not only do you get burned, oil drips all over the front of the engine.
2. They designed the s[ace between the front cross member and the block to be the same size as the crimp lip on the oil filter so you have to drag the old one out and the new one in :evil:

I take it you must have the V6 Rob...otherwise your 6 should have the same engine as my Fusion.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:01 pm

JamesShort wrote:

Tom, the issue with that tool is that you still get oil down the side of the block and on the half shaft/cv boot.

So a 'tool' designed the tool?

Seriously Tom, I thought you made that up. I can't believe someone designed an engine that needed a SST for an oil change! I stand corrected. :oops:

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:34 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Tom, the issue with that tool is that you still get oil down the side of the block and on the half shaft/cv boot.

So a 'tool' designed the tool?

Basically

. It works great on the D/B series motors though. Just not the K series.

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:52 pm

JamesShort wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Why don't you like the vertical filters? My WRX and Accord had them and literally no oil got anywhere other than on my hand or in the oil pan.

I don't like getting the oil on my hands (even when I wear gloves) or my tools. My Fusion filter is vertical, and since all the oil never seems to drain out that damn plug in the cartridge it makes much more of a mess.

Maybe I'm jaded because the vertical ones I have personally worked with were not any better. I had one on my S-10 4.3L V6 and 180 degrees of the circumference was next to the pan. I couldn't even get my fingers in there to turn the filter. Once I had even the slightest amount of oil on my hand it was a bear to work with.

I was talking more vertical down, style filters. You can twist till just the point it starts leaking out and then use your finger to rotate it a bit and the oil will come down the side into the pan. BMW style vertical upward cartridge fillers are a bit different.

So Vincent officially owns a car with a "BMW style vertical upward cartidge filter". Guess he's going to have to sell the car now.

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Form-a-funnel....not as much hype as you'd think

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