How many people here prefill their filter?

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The oil filter on my Sonata's V6 motor is incredibly easy to reach and conveniently located right up at the front of the car. I've never bothered pre-filling the oil filter on any of my vehicles, nor have I ever had anything approaching a lubrication starvation-related engine problem, and I've been changing my own oil and oil filters every 3,000 miles since 1962. But, hey, y'all enjoy y'selves, hea-uh?
cheers.gif
 
I drain the oil hot, so more comes out.
Then plug it and run 1/2 qt or cheapo oil thru.
Repeat if that still comes out black, dark brown is okay for me.

I've found a trick to filling most filters halfway.
Even on a Cherokee where the filter mounts pointed up.

Pour a little oil in.
Hold the filter horizontal and spin it.
If you look down the hole you can watch the level drop.
I can get about 1/2qt into a FLHA (? big motorcraft filter) this way.
And it doesn't come out when you hold it upside-down.
 
never bothered in 35 yrs
the only engine failures I've had weren't caused by oil (i.e. broken con rods, pistons, and rocker arms on race cars)
 
gtx510:

You run the engine with only a 1/2 quart of oil in it?

To each their own, but I won't even start my engine if its only 1 quart low, much less 3 1/2 quarts low
nono.gif



Just my thoughts, not an attack
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Darryl
 
I prefill.

Anyone who leaves it drain overnight should be aware they might lose oil pump prime. Happened to me and I didn't leave it drain very long. The fix is to squirt some oil into the hole in the filter mount next to the mounting stud (if you can reach it). Backfilling this hole also will force the used oil out of that passage and the pump, into the pan and out the drain (if still uncorked).

As for running the engine with only a quart in it. Seems risky. Not sure it is really needed, but if you want to, maybe get some cheap oil and filter and run a full load through, but save it for next time. After 3 or 4 flushes, throw it (or run it in a beater car).
 
Count me in. One of the thing I like about our Volvo 850 is that the oil filter is at the bottom of the engine, threads up, and very near to the oil drain plug. Some engineers were really thinking about oil filter placement when they put it there. On other vehicles the placement often makes a full prefill impossible, in which case I fill the filter as much as I can and still put it on the engine without getting oil all over the place.

Several of my car buddies who have watched me do an oil change were amazed to see me go through a pre-fill procedure.

It stands to reason that dry starting should be avoided!

John
 
I prefill mine, waiting for it to soak into the element a couple of times before installing it. It's easy on my vehicles since they all have mounts that are vertical or almost so...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Blokey:
I always do it, it always seemed to be a good practice, however I understand there is some debate about whether it really helps build up oil pressure quicker on the first start up; I can't imagine it taking longer if the oil filter is pre-filled.
Click to expand...
Where's the debate? On every car I've done it on oil pressure is up quicker then without filling. It's usually almost instantly.

-T
 
I don't think there is any debate that prefilling helps build OP faster.

Also I think gtx510 is talking about pouring a half Qt through the engine to wash out some old oil. Not running the engine like that.

Tallpaul
I never thought about the pump losing prime or had a problem. Something to consider though. What engine did you have the problem with?

T-Keith
What is an in-pan? What type of engine? I'm an ignorant old V8 guy, so fill me in.
 
quote:
Originally posted by OffOrWFO:

T-Keith
What is an in-pan? What type of engine? I'm an ignorant old V8 guy, so fill me in.
Click to expand...
Imagine an oil filter without an outer case. It fit's into the pump assembly in the oil pan. Then there is a large plug covering the opening.

-T
 
I always prefill the oil filter right before installation for my 2003 Toyota Echo. Next time I will prefill it and let it sit overnight as some of you suggested.

For my wife's 1997 Toyota Previa I do not prefill the oil filter since it is installed horizontally. I will try to prefill it partially next time.
 
This is something new - re-usable oil filter. Is this a good practice or you have financial difficulty in buying new oil filters? Does soap water really clean out all the contaminants? How effective is the washed oil filter?
 
I don't think it takes over night to prefill a filter. Several additions over a half hour should do it. If you work quickly, you can deal with horizontal or worse filters by pouring the oil out of the center hole once it is full and installing it before the oil has much chance to flow back out.

I thought about putting the filled filter in the freezer over night. Besides maybe creating problems from condensation, my wife keeps a heavy cast iron skillet near the freezer.

I also discovered I can pre fill the element on my Ecotec. That little O-ring on the bottom seals the anti drain bypass. Instead of clipping the element to the cap, you can put it down in the engine and seal the hole, allowing you to fill the element housing with oil before putting the cap on. However, you could misalign the cap and element. I would rather not chance that large problem to solve a small problem the engine may be designed to cope with. I think some anal procedures can be counter productive.

There was a thread here a few months ago on washing and reusing filters. Many backed my idea that a new ST is only $2. I see reports here on other decent filters for even less.
 
quote:
Originally posted by OffOrWFO:
Tallpaul
I never thought about the pump losing prime or had a problem. Something to consider though. What engine did you have the problem with?
Click to expand...
1995 Ford 300 straight six. Well I assume it was prime, but who knows since the truck had some sludge issues (running 1st AutoRx treatment now). The filter catalogs at the store have a page in the back discussing the loss of prime thing. Also may be on the websites. It's rare, but if pressure doesn't come up within 20 or so seconds, you would want to try the back fill procedure (actually they say a few drops, but I figured a few ounces would be better).


Interesting thing: When I prefilled a Fleetguard I did not have to roll the filter to get the oil through the media (10w40 here, not thin stuff), it just went through like water. Kinda nice.
 
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