Using a same funnel

[Youdotinmymirror]

Hi, I just had my car serviced at a non-dealer for the first time and while I’m happy with the service (30K) and advice given I happened to see that he used a same funnel for engine oil and brake fluid. He did wipe it with a rag before using it in brake fluid reservoir but I was worried if this would cause any problem. I don’t know why he had to use a funnel for brake fluid reservoir because it’s got a big opening and it was a 1L bottle. It overflowed immediately with the funnel and later sprayed with water to clean the engine bay after service. Is it normal practice to use a same for different fluids?

Anyway the car drives and stops fine but I hear this noise on pressing brake pedal which might be normal as I also hear it in my other car. It’s not a hissing or squishing noise but just the physical noise of the pedal being pressed. I just can’t remember if it was that noticeable though prior to the service.

[brad]

Not best practice but I doubt it will be an issue going forward.

The mech sounds a bit slap dash. Was this a generalist or independant specialist?

[Hillbilly]

Not best practice but I doubt it will be an issue going forward.

The mech sounds a bit slap dash. Was this a generalist or independant specialist?

Sonds more like a cowboy

[Youdotinmymirror]

Not best practice but I doubt it will be an issue going forward.

The mech sounds a bit slap dash. Was this a generalist or independant specialist?

He was a generalist mechanic who does quite a lot of VW and BMW cars and was introduced by a family friend. That’s why I thought I give him a go. I had a chance to watch how the service was done up close which was very interesting and he also gave me a few tips on maintenance. He also mentioned that MK7 Golf’s transmission case (I think that’s what it’s called) is a bad design and can easily have problems with transmission oil leaks so I need to be aware of it.

By the way he also mentioned that spilled brake fluid oil can damage the car’s body or something. Is that true? I guess it will make things/dust stick easier?

[doc_777]

The funnel issue isn’t an issue. The level of cross-contamination we’re talking about is going to be virtually undetectable

re: brake fluid damage: google is your friend. Basically it’ll stuff the affected paint.

[Youdotinmymirror]

The funnel issue isn’t an issue. The level of cross-contamination we’re talking about is going to be virtually undetectable

re: brake fluid damage: google is your friend. Basically it’ll stuff the affected paint.

Wow, I’ve just read a bit about brake fluid spill on paint. It seems it doesn’t take long to affect the paint. The mechanic just left it the whole time and only hosed down with water after the service. So I guess the paintwork or even plastic parts get damaged in engine bay? Wow.. this is bad and depressing. I’d need to check the car again.

[brad]

By the way he also mentioned that spilled brake fluid oil can damage the car’s body or something. Is that true? I guess it will make things/dust stick easier?

Yes, brake fluid will burn the paint like paint stripper. It should be washed off with water fairly quickly to avoid any marks.

I am really crap at pouring so i used to syringe the brake fluid out of the container and squirt it in the MC. No spillage.

[Youdotinmymirror]

Yes, brake fluid will burn the paint like paint stripper. It should be washed off with water fairly quickly to avoid any marks.

I am really crap at pouring so i used to syringe the brake fluid out of the container and squirt it in the MC. No spillage.

He did wipe it down with the rag immediately after but he just carried on till later to hose it down with water. This sounds bad. Don’t know if it splashed a lot onto other parts or the paintwork but it was big sudden overflow. He poured down the funnel fairly quickly.

I just thought 30K service shouldn’t be too hard so even though the car had a year of warranty left I went ahead with genuine parts but now I’m starting to regret it.

[Hillbilly]

He was a generalist mechanic who does quite a lot of VW and BMW cars and was introduced by a family friend. That’s why I thought I give him a go. I had a chance to watch how the service was done up close which was very interesting and he also gave me a few tips on maintenance. He also mentioned that MK7 Golf’s transmission case (I think that’s what it’s called) is a bad design and can easily have problems with transmission oil leaks so I need to be aware of it.

By the way he also mentioned that spilled brake fluid oil can damage the car’s body or something. Is that true? I guess it will make things/dust stick easier?

It strips paint off faster than almost anything if not washed off immediately.

Sounds like someone to be avoided. In 7 years neither of my two Vdubs have ever put a drop of oil on my garage floors

If he knows about brake fluid doing that why is he so careless

Ask him what breed of horse he rides All cowboys ride horses

[Transporter]

Brake fluid is safe on the plastic used around in the engine bay. Though, any accidental spills should be immediately washed with the water.

The good mechanic would use (if he had to) different funnel for different fluids. But, the best is not to use funnels for the engine oils, since it’s very hard to keep them clean and you contaminate the engine oil.
For the past 20years I’m using these OilSafeSystem.com - Oil Safe Products and seperate containers for different fluids.