Changed oil but not filter

[dan765]

Hello all, got a quick question. Went to change my oil on Saturday. I drained it and then went to change the filter. The cap on the (cartridge) filter was way too tight. I guess the idiots at the local shop I took it to last tightened it too much (I typically do OCs myself but I had just moved and my tools were packed).

So now I've got new oil but old filter (about 5,000 miles on the old filter currently).

I'm wondering 1) if it's safe to drive until Friday (not much driving; maybe 20 miles or so a day) and 2) if it's possible to change just the filter without losing all the 'new' oil.

Thanks.

 

[Starman2112]

1. Yes
2. Yes

 

[Shel_B]

So now I've got new oil but old filter (about 5,000 miles on the old filter currently).

I'm wondering 1) if it's safe to drive until Friday (not much driving; maybe 20 miles or so a day) and 2) if it's possible to change just the filter without losing all the 'new' oil.

You'll be fine. Many people change their filter every second oil change interval, so leaving the filter on for a few days longer will not be a problem. When changing the filter, you'll only lose the oil that was in the filter assembly, so you may want to top up after installing the fresh filter.

 

[PF52]

Is the filter cap on the top of the filter housing? If so, you'll only lost whatever oil is in the filter media. The rest will drain back into the engine when you "pop the cork" by pulling the filter out.

 

[gman2304]

1: yes…2: IDK…but if I were you I’d go the full OCI this time and then change the oil and filter at your next OCI. I’ve been running my filters for 2 OCI for years with no problems. My Chevy 5.3 is about to roll over 230,000 miles on this routine and still runs like new.

 

[dan765]

Is the filter cap on the top of the filter housing? If so, you'll only lost whatever oil is in the filter media. The rest will drain back into the engine when you "pop the cork" by pulling the filter out.

Bottom. It's facing downward.

 

[dan765]

1: yes…2: IDK…but if I were you I’d go the full OCI this time and then change the oil and filter at your next OCI. I’ve been running my filters for 2 OCI for years with no problems. My Chevy 5.3 is about to roll over 230,000 miles on this routine and still runs like new.

Hmm, not a bad idea. Maybe I'll let it ride a while. My car is due for a short OCI anyway.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I often will leave the filter on. 225,000 miles. My OCI is 5,000 miles so the filter stays on for 10,000 miles, still small change. The extra cup of old oil doesn’t bother me.

 

[BigCahuna]

I've used filters rated for 10k, and 20k miles in my wife's Chevy Equinox, and to tell you the truth I can't see any difference between them. When I do change them, they look the same as a nothing special filter. 72 k miles on the cars and nothing Hinky has happened to the engine yet.,,,

 

[Hall]

Change the filter next time. Leave the one that's one there alone.

 

[HankHill]

Filters fine. Get a new one and swap it out at your next change. Find a solution to the filter cap in your free time.

 

[NormanBuntz]

It's always so pleasant to find out that the last oil technician severely overtightened the filter housing and/or failed to oil up the O ring. I had this same thing happen last week when I was changing a friend's oil. She's taking it back to the lube shop to remove and torque the housing correctly.

 

[FordMan59]

Nothing wrong with changing the filter in few days if that's what you want to do but I wouldn't sweat it if it stayed in until the next OC. I don't usually do it but I've ran several standard oil filters 10K miles on various cars using old school conventional oil (not synthetic or synthetic blend). I used to run filters 10K miles pretty often on my old '88 Ford Escort work car. It had 518K miles and was still running when I retired it around 2011 or 2012.

 

[Schandyman]

Hello all, got a quick question. Went to change my oil on Saturday. I drained it and then went to change the filter. The cap on the (cartridge) filter was way too tight. I guess the idiots at the local shop I took it to last tightened it too much (I typically do OCs myself but I had just moved and my tools were packed).

So now I've got new oil but old filter (about 5,000 miles on the old filter currently).

I'm wondering 1) if it's safe to drive until Friday (not much driving; maybe 20 miles or so a day) and 2) if it's possible to change just the filter without losing all the 'new' oil.

Thanks.

“Most” filters these days can do 10k oci’s. So you’re most likely in good hands running another 5k miles. Hopefully the previous oil change “idiots” actually changed the filter.