Filling new oil fiter before installing

Mosey · Apr 21, 2003

The instructions on the oil filter for my Kohler engine say to fill the oil filter before installing. The problem is, it screws on with the threads down, so a lot of the oil would spill out before I could get it tightened down! I didn't do what they said, I just put it on dry (except I put a thin layer of oil on the gasket). Has anybody run into this before?

s1120 · Apr 21, 2003

I always fill them up. If you fill up the filter, then let it sit for awile, most of it will soak into the paper, and the mess will not be THAT bad. Just think, till that filters full, you have NO oil psi to the motor.

MikePA · Apr 21, 2003

I do the same as Paul. When I start the process for changing the oil filter, I fill the new filter with oil then go about draining the old oil, putting the drain plug back in, pouring the old oil into a container I can take to the recycling center, removing the old filter, etc. By the time I am ready to spin on the new filter, all the oil has soaked in. However, right before I spin it on, I turn it over to drain any excess.

Mosey · Apr 21, 2003

It says to change the filter every other time the oil is changed, so it will be a while before I have to change the filter again, but I guess I'd better do like it says next time. It seems like when the oil is changed without changing the filter, the oil will drain out of the filter to the point where it's equivalent to soaking it and then draining the excess before putting it on.

s1120 · Apr 21, 2003

Every other oil change? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifI don't know, but adding clean oil to 1/2 qt of old dirty oil is not something I would do. If it was me, I would change the filter every time. But I am a little funny about that stuff.

chrisjbell · Apr 21, 2003

<font color="blue"> Every other oil change? </font>

I know that is what they recommend for my JD lawn tractor. But I agree that when you consider the cost of a filter vs. engine damage that replacing it every time makes sense. (But the filter on my JD probably only holds half a cup of oil, not quite half a quart /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif).

jhburke · Apr 21, 2003

I have been around engines all my life and I can do very little as far as repair on any engine. One thing that I can do is change oil and filters. I will spend the little extra on something I can do, rather than saving a little with the possibility of spending a lot for engine damage. When you figure what you are saving against how much you have invested in yur engine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mosey · Apr 23, 2003

So, do you also fill the oil filter on you car/truck? I've never seen a car/truck oil filter with instructions saying to do so. What's the difference?

Bird · Apr 23, 2003

I agree with the other guys that filling the filter with oil first would have to get the oil circulating a little quicker when you start the engine, and therefore it would have to a good idea . . . . but I've never done it myself. I just put a little oil on the gasket and spin it on.

gerard · Apr 23, 2003

I fill all my filters, well, not fill, but probably about 3/4's just so it isn't messy when I spin it on if I have to tilt it a little. Just too easy to do, no downside and the oil light goes off a lot quicker than if I don't do it.