Do you prime your oil filter?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 10
From: Palm Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '12
Always have, I usually set it on the garage counter and fill it 3/4 full and then rub my finger around the o-ring gasket to lube it. I do this before taking the old oil out. By the time I'm ready to install the filter, it's usually dry again and I add more oil. The paper filter takes time to absorb the oil, thats why I do it first. Just the way I do my oil changes.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Never have. Part of the reason is that most of the cars that I've owned had horizontal ( or nearly so) filters. They spew when you unscrew them so I don't imagine they'd be much better going on.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
I always fill the oil filter, but I never bother with oiling the o-ring, at least not as part of an oil change.
When the old filter comes off, the sealing surface of the engine block always gets coated with oil.
When the old filter comes off, the sealing surface of the engine block always gets coated with oil.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
I don't. But I see no reason not to. On one hand, it takes 20 seconds to fill the filter. However, I don't think it matters either way.
We could start another thread called "Do you use hand sanitizer after you touch the pump at a gas station?" The dispenser is right there most times.
Its the same deal, it only takes 20 seconds and is a wise precautionary measure, I am sure there is a germ to be killed on that handle. However, somehow humans lived without alcohol gel for thousands of years, so fill yer filter if you have the time.
We could start another thread called "Do you use hand sanitizer after you touch the pump at a gas station?" The dispenser is right there most times.
Its the same deal, it only takes 20 seconds and is a wise precautionary measure, I am sure there is a germ to be killed on that handle. However, somehow humans lived without alcohol gel for thousands of years, so fill yer filter if you have the time.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 5
From: N.Richland Hills Texas
Maybe wayyy off base ...but we give aircraft engines 30 seconds to indicate oil pressure .... There is still oil in /on the walls of a engine after draining .... But it does not hurt to "prime" the oil filter...
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
I believe in it. I always fill the oil filter before installing it.
My daily driver ('96 Crown Vic) now has 243,000 miles, my wife's car ('96 Volvo 850) 177,000 miles, and my Corvette ('74 smallblock convertible)has 171,000 miles. I use the Chevy medium truck filter on my Corvette. The NAPA/Wix 1794.
My daily driver ('96 Crown Vic) now has 243,000 miles, my wife's car ('96 Volvo 850) 177,000 miles, and my Corvette ('74 smallblock convertible)has 171,000 miles. I use the Chevy medium truck filter on my Corvette. The NAPA/Wix 1794.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
It makes no difference. The (abstract) oil train is pan->pump->engine->filter->pressure sender->pan. Yes, I'm leaving out a chit-ton of important details, but the gist of it is the journals are pressurized before oil reaches the filter & sending unit.
You are not increasing the length of time for your engine to have adequate oil pressure. You are simple increasing the length of time it takes for oil pressure to register on the sender.
You are not increasing the length of time for your engine to have adequate oil pressure. You are simple increasing the length of time it takes for oil pressure to register on the sender.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
It makes no difference. The (abstract) oil train is pan->pump->engine->filter->pressure sender->pan. Yes, I'm leaving out a chit-ton of important details, but the gist of it is the journals are pressurized before oil reaches the filter & sending unit.
You are not increasing the length of time for your engine to have adequate oil pressure. You are simple increasing the length of time it takes for oil pressure to register on the sender.
You are not increasing the length of time for your engine to have adequate oil pressure. You are simple increasing the length of time it takes for oil pressure to register on the sender.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Not the exact topic but interesting conversation and I had forgotten about this. Many years ago we had a bet in shop class. We had an old English Ford. The shop teacher drained all the oil out of the car. We all wrote down our guesses on how long it would idle before the engine seized and quit. I can't recall my guess. The engine idled all through shop class and the next morning we found out how long it ran. Over 5 hours, with absolutely no oil and the drain plug removed. That still shocks me and I would never believe it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
It makes no difference. The (abstract) oil train is pan->pump->engine->filter->pressure sender->pan. Yes, I'm leaving out a chit-ton of important details, but the gist of it is the journals are pressurized before oil reaches the filter & sending unit.
You are not increasing the length of time for your engine to have adequate oil pressure. You are simple increasing the length of time it takes for oil pressure to register on the sender.
You are not increasing the length of time for your engine to have adequate oil pressure. You are simple increasing the length of time it takes for oil pressure to register on the sender.
Pan - pump - filter - galleys.
It will most definitely prime the system faster with the oil filter full...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
I stand corrected then... not sure what engine(s) I was thinking of.
Still, have never primed an oil filter in any gen 1/2/3, have driven hundreds of thousands of miles on several of them, and have never experienced any premature journal bearing wear/failure. *shrugs*
Still, have never primed an oil filter in any gen 1/2/3, have driven hundreds of thousands of miles on several of them, and have never experienced any premature journal bearing wear/failure. *shrugs*