Jacob Ireland is a mobile mechanic in New Jersey with a growing social media following. He often posts clips of his jobs around town: Diagnosing a “no-start” condition, servicing a local commercial fleet, drivetrain repair, etc. It’s hard work in South Jersey – especially since he and his apprentice work outside fixing cars, even in winter. Ireland just shared a helpful tip for any motorists suddenly needing to top off their oil in a pinch, and don’t have a funnel on hand.
If you ever need to pour oil into your engine and you don’t have a funnel, this is what you can do:
Just use the dipstick. Here’s how: Pull the dipstick out from its tube. Take the oil cap off. Position the end of the dipstick in the oil fill opening. Make sure the dipstick is vertical, with the tip end in the engine block.
Then, take your new quart of oil and tip the bottle so its contents hug the dipstick all the way down into the block.
“It’ll go right into your engine,” Ireland explains, “No funnel needed.”
How cool is that? Makes me wonder how I can top off coolant without a funnel, which was terribly messy the last time I had to do it. Which car, you wonder? The Land Rover product, of course.
Keep in mind your engine’s total oil capacity when topping off. If you’re a bit low, start with half a quart, although most times, a low reading means at least a quart. You can always recheck the level and add more. Better to be slow and safe than overfill.
