Right or wrong???
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Right or wrong???
Maybe somebody here can answer this, Everytime I replace my oil filter I fill the new filter with with fresh clean oil before installing it. My father inlaw says I am wasting my time and oil. He claims it makes no difference and I say it shortens the time for the new oil to start flowing through the engine even if its only a second its still one less second of dry engine cranking. Any thoughts?
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 617
Likes: 0
From: Los Alamos
How are you "wasting your oil"? You still have to put it in until it's full..and it doesn't use any more or less if you fill the filter first or not..total capacity of the system does not magically change and need more if you fill the filter..and as far as time.. uhhhhh...sure..what..30 seconds per change? 45 maybe? I can live with that.
Your doing right by your motor by filling it. Think about it.. oil from the pan comes up the pickup to the pump, from the pump it goes through the filter then into the galleys..if the filter is full, the pump has to move that much less to get flow into the galleys. Why not fill it and save what life you can? (Unless you have an old Rover..they lose the prime on the pump if you don't fill the filter and swap them fast...really fast..they cook in about a minute if that happens. On those, it's a requirement)
Anyway, in short, your father in law doesn't seem to have a real good grasp on how the oil system works, and you are right in your thoughts. The huge debate is how much it REALLY helps. I ain't willing to find out considering how easy it is to fill it.
Your doing right by your motor by filling it. Think about it.. oil from the pan comes up the pickup to the pump, from the pump it goes through the filter then into the galleys..if the filter is full, the pump has to move that much less to get flow into the galleys. Why not fill it and save what life you can? (Unless you have an old Rover..they lose the prime on the pump if you don't fill the filter and swap them fast...really fast..they cook in about a minute if that happens. On those, it's a requirement)
Anyway, in short, your father in law doesn't seem to have a real good grasp on how the oil system works, and you are right in your thoughts. The huge debate is how much it REALLY helps. I ain't willing to find out considering how easy it is to fill it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 1
One day on a cable reroute job where I was an inspector they were using a backhoe and at lunchtime the company mechanic came out and changed the oil in it and as we ate lunch I watched him and he filled the oil filter before installing it and I asked him what for and he responded,"so the oil will be picked up faster". Never thought of it before then, so I usually do it now. They had a whole fleet of construction eqpt,trucks,etc so I guess it made sense.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
I always put oil into the filter when I changed filters even though that was not in the service manual. It just made sense to me to have the filter saturated so the engine did not run for long without oil pressure.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 6
From: Edmonton, Alberta Canada
if you have an oil pressure gauge and not an idiot light, next time you change oil experiment. fill the filter up and then start the engine. the gauge will probably take less than 5 sec to go to full pressure. next time don't fill the filter. i bet the gauge takes twice as long to reach pressure.
just have to do that experiment once to convince yourself to fill the filter up before you install it.
Rgds
Mike
just have to do that experiment once to convince yourself to fill the filter up before you install it.
Rgds
Mike
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 318
Likes: 1
From: Cantonment, Fl
In addition to filling the oil filter you can also (on the pre computer vehicles) disconnect the ignition wire to the distributor and crank the engine until you build oil pressure. This prevents firing without oil pressure. I tried it on a computerized car and got a check engine light. I don't remember where I read this tip
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Olathe, KS
For some vehicles, disabling the ignition is required as part of the oil change to prelube before it fires. Limits damage to the bearings. It is documented everywhere in every type of use that prelubing the motor for normal startup significantly reduces engine wear. Keep doing it 
