Freedom Worx ... video about pre-filling filters

[Patman]

You didn’t answer my question! Just put a filter on dry, I dare you.

I have been in the habit of pre filling my oil filters for the past 39 years of changing oil but when I changed the oil in my Civic this week I put it on dry! It was very freeing and a bit less messy too (plus it was -10C and I was in a hurry) I will say that the oil pressure light stayed on for a few seconds and it has never done that before. But I really wasn’t worried because the engine didn’t make any strange sounds or anything. I know the residual oil coating everything was doing it’s job.

 

[ZeeOSix]

But I really wasn’t worried because the engine didn’t make any strange sounds or anything.

Engines wearing out slowly don't make any noticeable noises.

 

[Sayjac]

Recently did an oil change on a family member's 2.5L Rogue and was in a bit time crunch hurry. I prefill as SOP but this time just added some oil in one shot only. Normally I'll wait till it soaks in the media and then keep filling until well filled looking down outlet. As filter orientation horizontal this one, filled enough oil to see but not spill in that position. Anyway, when I started the vehicle, the noise/rattle and duration definitely got my attention. Startled, no pun intended, would be a good term. Done many Honda oil changes, never experienced similar. I'm thinking the 2.5L Nissan, very sensitive to dry start conditions.

 

[ATex7239]

The video was entertaining. The “I’m your friend…” comment made me belly laugh.

Anyways, I’ve been doing cold drains and no pre fill forever and never had any noticeable issues. There was an Oil Geek video last year that showed some anomalies from not pre filling which made me try it once. Figured why not. Welp, only did it once and then I’m right back to my old no pre fill ways. Glad this particular video reinforced my old habits. Now I can use this video as the excuse instead of just pure laziness

 

[sdowney717]

I always prefill oil filters. On the Cummins site, they say Cummins says you must prefill engine oil filters. Or you risk bearing damage. Maybe diesel with their much higher cylinder pressures are an issue.

 

[FlyingVan]

I always prefill oil filters. On the Cummins site, they say Cummins says you must prefill engine oil filters. Or you risk bearing damage. Maybe diesel with their much higher cylinder pressures are an issue.

Don't think it has anything to do with diesel. More likely it has something to do with Cummins.. The DD13 in my Freoghtliner truck (13 liter Detroit Diesel engine) has a huge, and I mean huge, cartridge oil filter that you can't prefill. And no problem with them whatsoever. The only warning they have is to not change both oil filter and fuel filter at the same time. Doing so can cause engine damage because you have to turn over the engine quite a bit to start it after a fuel filter change. So the procedure is to change the oil and start the engine, allowing it to build oil pressure, then shut down and proceed with fuel filter change.

 

[fueldelusion]

I always prefill oil filters. On the Cummins site, they say Cummins says you must prefill engine oil filters. Or you risk bearing damage. Maybe diesel with their much higher cylinder pressures are an issue.

And Caterpillar says not to

 

[sdowney717]

And Caterpillar says not to

I got the info from here which could be wrong. Post #13, #27, #28, #120
https://www.cumminsforum.com/threads/do-you-prefill-your-oil-filter.612300/

I still prefill all my filters except diesel fuel filters, On the cummin I key on several times and it fills and starts

The Cummins filter is very large.

Also don't some large diesel engines (cummins too) have a preoiler, change filter dry and run the electric oiler pump to fill it and pre-oil everything then start up/

 

[sdowney717]

Fill with clean oil, means new oil from the jug.

Course does not say HOW to prefill, maybe they mean pour oil into the outer ring of holes!
I have never had a problem in 50 years of prefilling oil filters on any engine, but the truth is, if they all said pre oil, people might just put old dirty oil in an oil filter, people are that dumb, which is why we have rules.

 

[TimeFlies]

Many filters cannot be prefilled, because they don't mount vertically, but at an angle.

 

[sdowney717]

studied and proved less wear when prefilled filters
Result is bearing damage when not prefilling filter



AND, New oil from jug is cleaner than oil in the engine

 

[nomas]

Many filters cannot be prefilled, because they don't mount vertically, but at an angle.

I have a vehicle like that . I fill about half to two thirds and then allow the oil to saturate the media . Can't hurt .

 

[Glenda W.]

studied and proved less wear when prefilled filters
Result is bearing damage when not prefilling filter



AND, New oil from jug is cleaner than oil in the engine
View attachment 262351

Bummer. Guess I better sell my car with an upside down filter. Although I normally put over 200k miles on my Subaru’s.

 

[sdowney717]

Point is that it's better to fill the filter with new oil than not filling the filter, if you can.

 

[dnewton3]

studied and proved less wear when prefilled filters
Result is bearing damage when not prefilling filter

Never, ever trust a singular UOA or even a few UOAs to come to a rational conclusion about which of two things is "better".
That data proves he has no idea of the normal range of wear, nor the typical variation (stdev).
LSJr only proved that he has NO ABILITY to logically interpret statistical data. None whatsoever.

 

[Glenda W.]

LSJR is 0-3 on oil filter vids.

 

[lakestone]

Science says pre-filling doesn’t matter… but my gut (and Grandpa’s ‘72 Chevy) disagree

Let me start by saying Freedom Worx deserves a medal for doing what most of us wouldn’t—sacrificing 12 hours and 50 filters to science . The oil analysis showing no difference in wear metals between pre-filled and dry filters is fascinating. But here’s where my inner grease monkey raises an eyebrow: If it truly doesn’t matter, why do heavy-duty manufacturers like Cummins explicitly tell you to pre-fill filters in their manuals? Are we really saying fleet mechanics rebuilding million-mile engines are just… superstitious?

The SAE papers cited about cold starts vs. oil pressure are solid gold . But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: Oil viscosity matters more than we’re admitting. If cold starts are the real wear culprit (and they are), why are we pretending 0w-8 in a hybrid is the same game as 15w-40 in a ‘99 Powerstroke? Thinner oils flow faster, sure—but what about that first crank on a -10°F morning when your oil’s the consistency of maple syrup? I’ll bet my left lug nut that 5 seconds of “dry” flow with 0w-20 is less risky than 2 seconds with 10w-30.

Props to the SAE for noting that contaminants kill engines, not filter rituals. But let’s be real: If you’re dumping fresh oil straight into the filter’s outlet port (looking at you, YouTubers), you’re basically giving your bearings a glitter bomb . Maybe OEMs warn against pre-filling not because of “myths,” but because 90% of us can’t pour without spilling bacon bits into the galley.

Final thought: The video’s data is airtight… for this specific small block. But until I see the same test on a 6.7L diesel with 2 quarts of filter to prime, I’ll keep pre-filling my HD rigs and laugh when the 0w-16 crowd’s Camry starts rattling like a maraca at 150k.

 

[ZeeOSix]

But let’s be real: If you’re dumping fresh oil straight into the filter’s outlet port (looking at you, YouTubers), you’re basically giving your bearings a glitter bomb . Maybe OEMs warn against pre-filling not because of “myths,” but because 90% of us can’t pour without spilling bacon bits into the galley.

Bottled oil should be pretty clean, as some have previously pointed out. Bulk oil, depending on how it's stored could be contaminated to some degree depending on the situation. If someone can't pour oil into the center of an oil filter without contaminating it, they shouldn't be working on cars, lol.

 

[Lilliston]

LSJr only proved that he has NO ABILITY to logically interpret statistical data. None whatsoever.

No, but his 'interpretation' sells!
(-:

 

[kschachn]

Props to the SAE for noting that contaminants kill engines, not filter rituals. But let’s be real: If you’re dumping fresh oil straight into the filter’s outlet port (looking at you, YouTubers), you’re basically giving your bearings a glitter bomb . Maybe OEMs warn against pre-filling not because of “myths,” but because 90% of us can’t pour without spilling bacon bits into the galley.

Glitter bomb? Really. What are those particles in the oil, anyway? Silicon carbide?