How many of you add oil to your oil filters before you install them? Are there pros and cons in doing this? Thanks.
Adding oil to filter before install
- Thread starter ARB1977
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I do it on cars that you can install the filter without spilling the oil you added to the filter.
It is beneficial because you don't have to wait as long for oil flow after an oil and filter change. It may not help much, but it doesn't hurt either.
It is beneficial because you don't have to wait as long for oil flow after an oil and filter change. It may not help much, but it doesn't hurt either.
Thanks.
I do it to my car on account that I've read a dry start is the number one wear factor in engines, followed by the cold start. So with running a snythetic to leave behind a film of lubrication, and filling up the oil filter prior to installation, I'm hoping it helps spread the oil around.
From another thread...
quote:
Originally posted by Filter guy:
For those that prefill....
Caterpillar had/has a TSB out that forbids mechanics from prefilling their oil filters.
Have you seen how big those filters are......talk about having the pump fill a filter.
Wanna know the reason..
Alright i'll tell..lol
The oil you put into the filter especially on the "clean" side has contaminant in it. Even from quarts, gallons, drums..whatever. Caterpillar wants no ingested contaminant from fresh oil down the center tube of the filter.
Now before anyone starts..ask Cat. They've done extensive testing..
Sounds like CAT doesn't have much confidence in their oil change people ie use dirty funnels, rags and or change in a dirty enviormen.
Even if new oil is a little dirty, I'll take dirty oil over no oil at all.
You don't have to fill the new filter to the brim, just let oil soak into the media some.
You don't have to fill the new filter to the brim, just let oil soak into the media some.
This is a question I have wanted explanation on for a long time. I bought the Noria book on choosing oil and a filter, and the book says the same thing.. some do not want the filter filled because oil from a bottle is "dirtier" than some obscure specification. What does that say about pouring the oil down the fill hole, and over the cam, valve train, etc.? Could this also lend validity to the oil becoming more efficient (smoother engine, better mileage- There are lots of posts here indicating something happens with time and mileage indicating the oil is "better" after a time) as it is "run in"? BTW, I fill the filter if I can get it on without making a mess, or wasting the fresh oil.quote:
Originally posted by Jonny Z:
From another thread...
quote:
Originally posted by Filter guy:
For those that prefill....
Caterpillar had/has a TSB out that forbids mechanics from prefilling their oil filters.
Have you seen how big those filters are......talk about having the pump fill a filter.
Wanna know the reason..
Alright i'll tell..lol
The oil you put into the filter especially on the "clean" side has contaminant in it. Even from quarts, gallons, drums..whatever. Caterpillar wants no ingested contaminant from fresh oil down the center tube of the filter.
Now before anyone starts..ask Cat. They've done extensive testing..
The oil that gets poured down the fill hole runs to the crankcase before it gets pumped through areas with tight clearances and delicate surfaces. The combination of soft materials and tight running clearances make journal bearings more subceptable to immediate damage from contamination than other parts of the engine.
my renault twingo oil filter is vertical mounted, so i add 3/4 parts of oil to it BEFORE mounting
cheers
Alvaro
cheers
Alvaro
People report lower metals in oil run for more than 2000 miles. I suspect that what we are seeing is not an oil phenomenon, but an oil filter phenomenon.
When a filter is brand new it does not filter as well or as fine as one that has been used for a while. During use, a cake of dirt forms on the surface of the filter media, forming an additional layer which captures even more particles. The filter efficiency goes up, and more wear metals are trapped in the filter.
Obviously after the surface gets really dirty, enough flow is cut off that the filter doesn't flow so well anymore. It's that intermediate "sweet spot" where a filter works best.
BigAl..what type of icing do you put on that cake?
I think what your are trying to explain is that the contaminant will be stopped by the pores of the media. As those pores become smaller due to contaminant loading, they trap smaller particles which improves the efficiency of the filter. So as time/usage goes along the element does better at trapping smaller particles. ( Contaminant loads inside the media not just on the surface).
This always continues until the element is finally plugged. Extremely rare that that ever happens.
The filter elements life shortens rapidly during the last 25-30% of it's life. On a chart the line would gradually raise until the last 25-30% and then it rises dramatically.
What a consumer never knows is how much is his/her element plugged or what usefull life is left.
I think what your are trying to explain is that the contaminant will be stopped by the pores of the media. As those pores become smaller due to contaminant loading, they trap smaller particles which improves the efficiency of the filter. So as time/usage goes along the element does better at trapping smaller particles. ( Contaminant loads inside the media not just on the surface).
This always continues until the element is finally plugged. Extremely rare that that ever happens.
The filter elements life shortens rapidly during the last 25-30% of it's life. On a chart the line would gradually raise until the last 25-30% and then it rises dramatically.
What a consumer never knows is how much is his/her element plugged or what usefull life is left.
When it comes time to change my own oil ill add enough to dampen the media only because my filter is at a 45 degree angle with the exit of the filter facing down. Thanks for all of your knowledgeable help.
My Chev V8 has a vertical filter. I always fill it up when I change the oil.
My wife's Escort has a horizontal filter. I add anough to wet the media, but not enough to run out and make a mess when I'm installing it.
My wife's Escort has a horizontal filter. I add anough to wet the media, but not enough to run out and make a mess when I'm installing it.
You have to read all the tsb's. The cat notices were directed at customers pumping oil out of 55 gal drums, and a following one required better and cleaner methods of handling oil in the drums, the pumps attached to the drums and the process of pumping oil into the engine. Some drums were found to be resused and filled from other drums and sludge was found on the bottoms of these drums. If you're pouring oil out of bottles in your driveway, instead of off the back of a service truck at a construction site, you might have a little less crud making it into your passenger car or truck. So, go ahead and fill the filter. You'll feel better for doing it.
So would you just put the same amount of oil into the engine after filling the filter? If your car takes 4 quarts and you put 1/4 of a quart in the filter would you put the remaining 3 3/4 quarts into the crank case or 4 full quarts?
Might sound like a dumb question but I'd be interested to hear what people say. Also the engine per say isn't really "dry". At the very least there should still be a film or coating still on the parts from the previous oil...correct?
Might sound like a dumb question but I'd be interested to hear what people say. Also the engine per say isn't really "dry". At the very least there should still be a film or coating still on the parts from the previous oil...correct?
What was the warranty on engines back in 1955-56-57--
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