Mr. Funnel?

1075 · Jul 18, 2004

(

Go buy a Mr Funnel, then buy some diesel from your local filling station. I will wager that you will get close to 1 cup of liquid that does not make it thru the Mr Funnel per 5 gallons.

You can read the Mr Funnel propaganda here:
Mr Funnel web site and
Here )

This is exactly what I am talking about. In my case this 1 cup remaining at the bottom of the F8NC (Large) Mr. Funnel was clean, uncontaminated diesel fuel . If you look at the filter, there is a plastic ring on the lower edge of the filter that will not allow the last 1/8" or more of fuel that remains at the bottom of the funnel to pass through. You can not shake the funnel to get it through because there is not enough "head pressure" to force the liquid through.

You may be throwing good fuel on the ground. Granted, 1-2 cups of fuel on the ground is not a lot, but it IS a waste and if thousands of people using Mr. Funnels are all doing it, it adds up. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

MadReferee · Jul 18, 2004

( was clean, uncontaminated diesel fuel )

Are you sure? Just because it looks like diesel does not mean it is pure uncontaminated diesel. How do you even know if its uncontaminated? You cannot tell by looking, even with dyed diesel.

ALL pump diesel, off-road diesel, kerosene, and home heating oil contains water. That is a fact. Mr Funnel does a much better job of straining the water than your fuel system's filter or water seperator. All diesel systems are designed to tolerate some amount of water in the fuel. The manufacturers documentaion will tell you how much. Less is always better.

I would throw away or dispose of appropriately any liquid that remains in the Mr Funnel because it contains a very high percentage of water. One cup of liquid in 5 gallons is not unusual.

If you are not satisfied with you Mr Funnel you can always return it for a full refund, within 30 days of purchase.

1075 · Jul 18, 2004

Just spoke with their customer service. They said that the F8NC funnell will hold 5/8 of a cup. He said that if there is water trapped in the funnel with the diesel fuel, that you would see it. He recommended looking at the fuel and if it was not contaminated to put it into the tank.

I elected to go with the F3NC funnel which only holds 3/8 of a cup.

GerardC · Jul 18, 2004

I dump mine in an empty w/washer jug. I may try when it is full to see how much will pour into another jug and if it is usable. G

DaveNay · Jul 19, 2004

( When I buy diesel now from the service station pump, my Mr Funnel traps anywhere from 1-2 cups of liquid per 5 gal can.)

Whoa!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I know this is going to sound cheap and petty, but at $1.60 per gallon diesel fuel, you are talking 20 cents worth of useless water in every 5 gallons of fuel! Or another way....2.5% of your purchase was water, and not the product you purchased. A hidden 2.5% price increase seems like a bad deal for the consumer. Don't bars and restaurants get into serious trouble for watering their booze? Seems like the same thing to me.

Dave

DaveNay · Jul 19, 2004

( However, Mr Funnel, according to their propaganda on the web site, will trap any molecule up to .005 inches in diameter.)

.005 Inches??? That has got to be the biggest darn molecule in the entire universe!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dave

MikePA · Jul 19, 2004

Don't bars and restaurants get into serious trouble for watering their booze? Seems like the same thing to me.
It's not. The service stations are not deliberately watering down their diesel fuel.

GerardC · Jul 19, 2004

I've thought the same thing. In time, it adds up to many $$'s of wasted money.
Also, you make a very good point about watered down. There should be a law, then again, we're talking about the government here. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif G

MadReferee · Jul 19, 2004

( .005 Inches??? That has got to be the biggest darn molecule in the entire universe!! )

That's their quote, not mine.

MadReferee · Jul 19, 2004

Diesel fuel, by the nature of its molecular structure, will absorb moisture that is present. That is why all diesel (hydrocarbon fuels) will contain some amounts of water. I am not a chemist and don't claim to be an expert but here is a propaganda blurb from the Mr Funnel website that sheds light on the subject.

( When properly used, the filter will separate FREE WATER from hydrocarbon fuels. Free Water is the collection of H2O molecules in the bottom of gas cans or drums formed when fuel is stored for even short periods of time. The free water formation is due to condensation in the air and/or the separation of water molecules from fuel. Water may be present in hydrocarbon fuels as Free Water or as an emulsion-- small globules of water suspended in the fuel. Water may be emulsified in fuel by vibration or by emulsifying agents such as HEET, alcohol, or detergents. The filter will not remove water emulsified in fuel. We recommend that you filter out Free Water first by using Mr. Funnel, then add such agents to your tank to emulsify any water that may have formed in the tank previously. If both water and hydrocarbon fuels are present in a container and the container is vibrated by shaking or by being transported in a vehicle (including an airplane), water may be temporarily emulsified into the fuel.

Water emulsified in this manner will usually combine and settle out as Free Water in about five minutes after all vibration has ceased. When properly used, the filter will separate this Free Water along with rust and dirt from your fuel.)

mhalla · Jul 19, 2004

( If both water and hydrocarbon fuels are present in a container and the container is vibrated by shaking or by being transported in a vehicle (including an airplane), water may be temporarily emulsified into the fuel.
)

So much for using Mr. Funnel to filter out the water when dispensing diesel fuel into your yellow container at the pump. I would bet some emulsification occurs as the fuel goes through the pump and out the nozzle.

Looks like you would need to pump the fuel, let the fuel can sit at home, them transfer the fuel through the funnel into either another container or the tank of your tractor.

Mike

KiotiJohn · Jul 19, 2004

I keep my diesel in 55 gal drums, pump it out into a yellow plastic diesel container than then funnel it into the tractor with Mr. Funnel. I always have just a little left at the bottom of the funnel, but I can shake the funnel back and forth and get most of it to go through. Anything left I just put back into the yellow container until the next time. I can usually see if there is water at the bottom of the funnel, and if it seems like a lot, I dump it, but most of the time it goes back in and the funnel will catch it next time. There is always some water, but I treat the tractor tank with Power Service AFTER filling, because if you put the PS in first, it emulsifies the water molecules and the Mr. Funnel won't filter it out. John

bandit67 · Oct 6, 2004

Question for you guys that bought your Mr. Funnel from Landandair.com. Looks like they only sell the Conductive funnel, which the mfr. recommends for aviation and marine applications. Wouldn't we want to use the Non-Conductive funnel for our tractors? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

sneaky_pete · Oct 6, 2004

Since there is little danger of diesel fuel exploding due to static electricity, you can save money by buying the regular non-conductive Mr. Funnel. Also, you can buy direct from Mr. Funnel (I did). Mr. Funnel

TheKid · Oct 6, 2004

( Mr Funnel does a much better job of straining the water than your fuel system's filter or water seperator. )

I have to disagree. The stock filter/water separator on my truck is 10 microns. 10 microns = 0.00039 inches. Mr Funnel filters down to .005 inches which is 127 microns. I'll take 10 over 127 any day.

bandit67 · Oct 6, 2004

( Since there is little danger of diesel fuel exploding due to static electricity, you can save money by buying the regular non-conductive Mr. Funnel. Also, you can buy direct from Mr. Funnel (I did). Mr. Funnel )

That's why I figured I'd get the non-conductive model, however it is $17.99 (medium) from Mr Funnel, and the conductive model is $16 from Landandair ($21.99 from Mr Funnel) - I was hoping to find the non-conductive for under $16. Guess I should make a couple of phone calls.

bandit67 · Oct 6, 2004

( Mr Funnel does a much better job of straining the water than your fuel system's filter or water seperator.

I have to disagree. The stock filter/water separator on my truck is 10 microns. 10 microns = 0.00039 inches. Mr Funnel filters down to .005 inches which is 127 microns. I'll take 10 over 127 any day. )

My truck's fuel filter separates down to 2 microns, plus I have an additional 10 micron water separator before the factory filter that is even easier to drain than the factory one.
However, my tractor's filter is not anywhere near as easy to drain (requires removal of the fuel sediment bowl), so anything more I can get out before refilling the tank means I get to service the factory tractor filter less frequently.

KiotiJohn · Oct 8, 2004

( Mr Funnel filters down to .005 inches which is 127 microns. )
Yes, and they incorrectly identify it as a 74 micron filter.
74 microns = 0.00291338583 inches
I sent them an e-mail to ask which it is. I'll post when I have a response. Note that I already own one, and it's pretty good in addition to my tractor's filter.
John