Do you pre-fill the filter with oil during OC?

[demarpaint]

I was always able to prefill. What happens to those engines with cartridge filters mounted at the top of an engine? I'm guessing they can't be prefilled, and if that is in fact the case those cars seem to survive just fine. My son's former BMW comes to mind.

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: glum
I wonder how many highway miles a few seconds running dry is equivalent to...


Not prefilling the filter does not make the engine run dry, not even close.

 

[Jakegday]

Originally Posted By: glum
I prefill all filters. If it's a horizontal filter, I pull the engine and turn it on its side, then reinstall.

HA!

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I was always able to prefill. What happens to those engines with cartridge filters mounted at the top of an engine? I'm guessing they can't be prefilled, and if that is in fact the case those cars seem to survive just fine. My son's former BMW comes to mind.


My Tacoma has a base down filter on top of the engine. It gets installed bone dry. When I start the engine, the oil pressure light goes off in 2~3 seconds, so I doubt there is any problems caused. The filter must fill-up in this time in order for engine oil pressure to be seen.

 

[Sayjac]

Always prefill where practicable. Likely minimal benefit but seems a good practice. Can't hurt.

 

[Kuato]

Yes to prefill.

 

[Colt45ws]

Noop.

 

[ltslimjim]

I too have noticed differences with how fast the oil light goes off after the 1st re-start from an oil change, not sure how much was dependent on the filter being pre-filled or the type of filter etc etc. It's typically easy, just use a funnel and pour a couple of ounces into the filter and give it time to soak.

It gives you a good feeling.

OTOH, part of me is saying to myself:

You just poured a gallon of fresh oil into the engine so how is there "nothing" to protect the engine for the 1-2 seconds before even a new 'dry' filter gets going for the next OCI?

More important to lube the gasket before installation of a new filter than to pre-fill it with oil, but if your application seems to respond better to pre-filling by all means do it!

I do.

 

[goodtimes]

Yes, of course, if I learn a better way I do it.

 

[NismoMax80]

My Nissan filter horizontally spins and I still fill it.

It absorbs at least a cup before it spills into the middle. I fill a little more and just use centrifugal force spinning it as I install it.

My oil light doesn't even come on and starts up flawlessly after changes.

Even a from above vertical filter I would add as much as I could without spilling.

 

[TallPaul]

I'll bet the oil change shops never prefill.

 

[JGR]

Nope!
Just put a little oil on the gasket amd spin her on! No problems yet.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: JGR
Nope!
Just put a little oil on the gasket amd spin her on! No problems yet.

I bet a lot of the oil shop guys forget to do this--or to check that the old filter didn't leave it's gasket on the engine, which is more likely if the last time they forgot to oil the gasket.

 

[odie]

Or tighen it properly and not put oil in the engine after installing the new filter . Been down that road in the past .

 

[Colt45ws]

We have a quart bottle of oil that has been cut open on the side. It lays on its side with a sponge inside that is soaked in oil. Grab a new filter and put it on the sponge. Oils the gasket without wasting time.
At home I dont bother. I just spin them on dry. Have not had one leave its gasket behind yet.. There is plenty of oil on the filter head.

 

[SteveTheisen]

It depends, if the car is a horizontal or vertical install. Vertical installs I do and horizontal I don't bother. Why waste perfectly good oil unless you know it's not going to spill out? Wouldn't it make more sense to install it dry, unplug the ignition module or whatever, and crank it a few times to get oil circulated and not deal with spinning the engine at 1000+ rpms with the little oil you managed to get in the filter. The starter usually only goes to 300-400 rpms IIRC. So that is the way to go in my opinion. Then again I'm not THAT anal about my cars in the first place. Ideally, I replace every 10 years from manufacturing date. Otherwise too many potential issues. Lot's of plastics and rubber that can act up once they are too old. Not worth the hassle or reliability issues since I take a 2000-3000 mile road trip about once a year and put about 25,000 miles on each year.

 

[Astro14]

If the filter orientation allows, I always fill it up...I hate looking at zero oil pressure when the engine is running...that's not good no matter how low the idle RPM...

In the cartridge style of the Volvo, I get almost 1/2 QT in the filter before putting it back on.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
If the filter orientation allows, I always fill it up...I hate looking at zero oil pressure when the engine is running...that's not good no matter how low the idle RPM...


There should be enough oil film on all the internal parts to give protection for 2~3 sec without full oil pressure. That's why I don't worry about starting the engine with a dry filter after an oil change.

 

[Colt45ws]

Yeah, I watched someone change the oil on their own S10 Blazer 4.3L. They drained it, changed the filter and started it. (oops)
He didnt realize what he had done for about 15-20 seconds so it idled with no oil. Never made a peep. Sounded completely normal.
After he shut it off, and filled it, is when it started making some noise. It took 3-4 seconds for pressure to come up and the last two seconds it finally started knocking.

 

[kasedian]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
We have a quart bottle of oil that has been cut open on the side. It lays on its side with a sponge inside that is soaked in oil. Grab a new filter and put it on the sponge. Oils the gasket without wasting time.
At home I dont bother. I just spin them on dry. Have not had one leave its gasket behind yet.. There is plenty of oil on the filter head.


Haha! That's hillarious!!!