Pre-Filling Oil Filters?

[Jackm]

After the worst oil and filter change in history today, I had to call a mobile truck repair service to remove what was left of the oil filter. Anyways, when the service man put on the new oil filter, he first filled it with oil. It took a few minutes because he had to wait for the paper element to absorb the oil. He said that you should always pre-fill the filter to eliminate the friction that occurs when you first start the engine (I have an 8.1 liter GM).

Is this something that everyone does or is this guy simply more thorough than the rest? It does make sense but it seems odd that I've never run into this practice before. I've been doing oil and filter changes for more than 40 years and never once filled the filter before spinning it on. I'll probably start now just in case he's right.

Jack

[JWT]

Jack
He's right and it definitely doesn't hurt.I have always made a habit of filling the filters, all for the exception of the side mounted ones, those are alittle more tricky.....

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

I agree it doesn't hurt, but at the same time it' not necessary. If you ran your engine prior to changing the oil, which is normally the case so the oil is warmed up making it easier to drain. This means your engine still has plenty of oil still left on all the vital areas, so your metal bearings, etc. aren't dry.

[TXiceman]

I always prefill the filter on my diesl engine. I holds about 1.5 quarts. Better on the engine when restarting after an oil fill. Just sit there and see bow long it takes to build oil pressure with an empty filer.

Ken

[mike brez]

I always fill the filter.

[dave from mesa]

I always fill mine also. Don't know if it helps but it sure won't hurt.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackm I've never run into this practice before. I've been doing oil and filter changes for more than 40 years and never once filled the filter before spinning it on. I'll probably start now just in case he's right.

Jack, The only filter that I pre-charge is the Allison spin on filter because I don't want to have to add the fluid to the tranny to make up the difference.

I do not typically pre-charge my oil filter. I have worked in automotive service industry and I don't recall having pre-charged an oil filter in all that time for just cause there either. I have accomplished the service on my machine for the past many years and haven't pre-charged my filter at any time.

That said if you want to pre-charge your filter that's fine but there isn't an imperative or a compelling reason to do so.

[rvten]

I always pre-fill filter. This is how we were told to do when I worked for a Texaco Serrvice station many moons ago. Also rub some clean oil on the rubber seal.

[speed racer]

I made my living in auto & truck repair and I got in the habit of prefilling filters on large trucks because some have two large filters that hold over a gal. of oil. I agree that on smaller engines with smaller filters its not nessesary but it doesn't hurt anything. On another subject it is important to chose the right filter. If you look at the top of the filter the size and no. of holes makes a differance in how much oil can flow through it when the oil is cold. Cheap filters are cheap filters, stick with the name brands.

[wa8yxm]

It is the PROPER way to do the job on many engines (any engine where the screw on filter hangs straight down, if it goes on sideways it's impossible)

IS this the way Everyone does it: NO, most take the shortcut of adding an extra quart via the crankcase fill tube, but it is the PROPER way to do it, for exactly the reason the technician gave you. IT reduces wear on the engine during the first post-oil filter-change start up.

Give him a good tip

[oemtech]

I pre-fill when ever possible... it eliminates "dry starts".

[sknight]

Time permitting yes especially on my truck. The turbo is fed directly off the top of the filter housing. All that air has to go somewhere when it gets purged out.

However I've never seen a failure attributed to dry start after an oil change, and in a commission environment taking time to fill the filter doesn't make money, so on the job I didn't. A Duramax filter is sideways and drains a lot of the cooler and I've not seen one hurt, so it's not a problem for the most part.

[YngRvrs]

It's been a habit of mine to prefill filters whenever possible. It may be old school, but I agree it cant hurt.

[cj5 jeeper]

I know over the life of an engine filling the filter is not going to make any diffrence, BUT! There is something in the deep recesses of my mind that makes it impossable to not prefill the filter.