Does Pre-FILLING The Oil FILTER Cause Engine DAMAGE?

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7 ай бұрын

When doing an oil change, it is common practice to change the oil filter as well, but should you pre-fill the oil filter before you install it?
I was taught that you should always pre-fill the oil filter before installing it. However, there are conflicting opinions about this practice on the internet, so we decided to put this to the test. Let's find out if the oil out of the bottle is actually dirtier than the filtered oil going through the engine. Using SPEEDiagnostix to run ISO 4406 cleanliness tests, we measure the cleanliness of the oil right out of the drum and right out of the engine. As always, we are going to rely on the science instead of speculation!
If your oil filter is vertically or horizontally mounted, here's a Short that shows you how to prime the filter before firing the engine: • Oil Change Hack For Ve...
To check out the previous video, here's the link:
Oil Change Video: • AVOID the ONE MISTAKE ...
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Who is the @themotoroilgeek? I'm a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Certified Lubrication Specialist and Oil Monitoring Analyst (I've maintained both of those for over a decade). I also worked for Joe Gibbs Racing for 12 years as their lubricant specialist. During that time, we worked with Wix Filters (one of our sponsors) to test and develop filters for our race engines. We also worked with Lubrizol and Chevron-Phillips Chemical to test and develop oils for our race cars. Following that, I was the head of R&D for Driven Racing Oil. During that time, I formulated and tested over 50 products. We also worked with Cummins, Comp Cams, Oak Ridge National Labs and General Motors on various R&D products. Those efforts are recorded in peer reviewed white papers published by SAE International and ACS Sustainable Chemistry journals. I also own and operate SPEEDiagnostix, which provides used oil analysis.
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#oilchange #motoroil #oilfilter

Пікірлер: 9 900

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

If your oil filter is vertically or horizontally mounted, here's a pro tip to prime the filter before starting the engine. kzfaq.infoZF-SPAKtzrY?feature=share

@DK-Nachowifi 6 ай бұрын

@themotoroilgeek I've been a auto technician for years and I had a old timer. Tell me that didn't have to fill the oil filter if you did the oil change and no oil in filter. To start the engine and then turn it off and repeat atleast three times. To prime the oil in the system and through filter. I was never sold on not filling the oil filter so, I fill the filter still and then start and then turn engine off atleast three times. I would like to know your thoughts about this. After a oil change and oil in the filter should you start and immediately turn engine off multiple times before running the engine longer to prime the oil in the engine?

@Pighater22 6 ай бұрын

@@DK-Nachowifiturning it off and on does nothing because the oil pump doesn’t run with the vehicle off. But prefilling the filter just insures the system will prime faster, maybe takes a second to two at most. Prefilling the filter is good and can only help. If you can’t cause it’s a horizontal mount then oh well it is what it is.

@mrwebber35 6 ай бұрын

I know for a fact that pre-filling the filter prevents that little slowdown from a fresh oil change from bearings dragging or lifter delayed pump up. I don't know what was causing the engine to have a sort of load on it on the start up but prefilling the filter prevented that. Keep in mind that that I have several V8's with high mileage that did that. The cars I have always owned and have prefilled are a '76 Dodge B200 360C.I., a'79 Camaro 5L, an '88 Ford 5L and a '98 Ford 4.6L. Lets just say all my engines don't burn oil happily without additives well over 100K miles. I only had to hear that lag once for myself to be convinced. I should point out that I was a professionally trained mechanic back in 1989 where my journeyman taught me to always pre-fill the filter.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

@@mrwebber35 Thanks for sharing!

@ec9156 6 ай бұрын

🤣

@frankjones4094 6 ай бұрын

I'm 70 and have been prefilling filters since I was 18, on a tip from a friend. This the first time I've ever heard it questioned. It blows my mind that people think new oil out of the container is contaminated!

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Right?

@jeffgriffith7003 6 ай бұрын

Especially given the fact that many smaller air cooled engine's don’t even have an oil filter, those are critical to start with clean oil.

@DanielSmith-yp7mw 6 ай бұрын

@@jeffgriffith7003 exactly. Great point.

@markaruski 6 ай бұрын

Do these people also filter their new milk from the grocery store before drinking it?

@Truckguy2007 6 ай бұрын

I always prefilled my filters when I had Chevy trucks. Can’t do it on fords.

@tomscrossthreadgarage4183 6 ай бұрын

I've been a heavy truck and equipment mechanic for 35 years. Today I serviced a Western Star that holds 11 gallons of engine oil. The two oil filters together held 1 1/2 gallons. I can't even imagine not pre-filling them.

@calgreco8607 6 ай бұрын

I can't imagine the bill for the oil change!

@dickjohnson7845 6 ай бұрын

That's a different animal than a daily driver auto. Special applications require different methods.

@danielquilesjr.3461 6 ай бұрын

Right there with you. I always pre fill all vehicles I work on unless not able to.

@Yukanhayt-Mhenow 6 ай бұрын

Watch garage 54 with the transparent oil filter, they fill instantly with the motor turning over!

@ryanstage3912 6 ай бұрын

That's a Centrifugal pump and filter so your comparing a mountain to a couple grains of salt.

@nickcautrell2514 7 күн бұрын

I will applaud your patience. If someone told me that pre filling the filter with new oil would damage an engine because it hasn't been filtered, there's no way I could be polite. The amount of stupidity in that theory would normally shock me not considering some of the other things going around in not surprised. Nice job on the video

@JakeSpeed116 Ай бұрын

I always pre-fill the filter three times. When I let it sit between fills I can see the level go down as it soaks into the filter material. Thanks for all the great info.

@MrPLC999 Күн бұрын

In my experience there is absolutely no benefit to prefilling the filter with oil. Assuming your oil pump is working normally, it will fill that filter in a few seconds and away you go. I've been doing my own oil changes for 50+years and I always keep my cars a long time. Never had a problem. And if your filter is mounted horizontally, how are you going to prefill it???

@MRworldEtIkA 2 ай бұрын

"If it came out with oil, then it will go in with oil." - My father

@themotoroilgeek 2 ай бұрын

Well said!

@karlpayne9069 Ай бұрын

Mad respect to yo Pops😂

@sailormanoyster1849 25 күн бұрын

@@karlpayne9069i cant listen to this fellow screeching😮

@quanj3349 25 күн бұрын

that is a killer line from your pop!! Blessings!

@andreetje1964 22 күн бұрын

@MRworldEtikA; And look; here you are! Right out of your Father That made sense years ago 💪💪💪

@philzellmer6073 6 ай бұрын

As a lifetime pro mechanic and hi-performance geek, I just want to thank you both for going the extra mile to disprove some of the incredibly stupid stuff floating around the internet....you have my deepest respect!

@bobmcgehee1749 6 ай бұрын

Some people like to argue for sake of arguing

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Thanks, I appreciate it. The response to this video is literally mind blowing, LOL

@johno9507 6 ай бұрын

@bobmcgehee1749 What a load of crap, how can you say people like to argue for the sake of it? I want to see proof. 😏

@bobmcgehee1749 6 ай бұрын

@@johno9507 Ok, go look in the mirror.

@johno9507 6 ай бұрын

@@bobmcgehee1749 😉 I couldn't resist

@zekearchuleta6061 Ай бұрын

I spent 50 yrs in the business, Building Engines from small gas to Heavy Duty Diesel, This is a habit I practiced through my career, Filled Filter is the Best way, Excellent Best Practice !

@themotoroilgeek Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@DavidL-wd5pu 7 күн бұрын

This was a no-brainer for me. I don't need a study to tell me that the oil that comes out of a new bottle is clean.

@billboswell4509 6 ай бұрын

65 years old and changing oil for about 55 years with my dad. We have pre-filled since the first one. Proud to say I’ve paid for only 2 oil changes in my life. I look after the family’s cars.

@JustAGuy85 6 ай бұрын

Same here. Have always done free maintenance on my CLOSE relatives cars (grandmother, rest her soul, my mom, my brother, mine, and my sister when she lived at home when we were all teens. Also the ex and ex-mother in law). I like to get to pick out the oil, though, (either Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 OR Rotella T6 5W-40, depending on the engine) and always, always tell them to use an AC Delco filter for GM and Motorcraft for Ford. That's just how it's done. I have a 5.0 (the old school one), so I use the giant FL-1A. Mom's 4.6 3v and bro's 4.6 2v and 4v S/C gets the FL-820S. Silicon anti-drainback valve. And then there's a 3800II in the family in a Park Avenue, it gets the AC Delco PF-47... or the PF-47e when there's no PF-47's in sight. I think that's the right one. Haven't seen the plain PF-47 in a long time, really. I just know in my gut that "e" on the PF-47e is for "economy", meaning, economical parts inside of the filter lol.. aka, cheap.

@__WJK__ 6 ай бұрын

@@JustAGuy85 - Hmmm... seems you might be familier with "Project Farm's" youtube channel(!?)

@Yukanhayt-Mhenow 6 ай бұрын

Same here but I never prefilled the filters because the engine fills it the instant you turn the engine over. Garage 54 did a clear one

@user-wv1pj6wh4h 6 ай бұрын

HOW MUCH YOUR ENEGINE DID LAST?

@billboswell7275 6 ай бұрын

@@user-wv1pj6wh4h I usually get over 225,000 miles / 350,000 kms before selling or the body rusts out.

@buzzs7274 6 ай бұрын

I have been pre-filling my oil filters for 50 years and now you proved the fact thank you.

@bustjanzupan1074 5 ай бұрын

And i am pre-filling oil filters or at least pre-cranking the horizontal filters for more than 30 years.

@1957f100 5 ай бұрын

60 years for me

@bustjanzupan1074 5 ай бұрын

@@1957f100 GoooOoood !!! ! !!! Thanks to God that some people on the planet still Know how an engine bearings are Working !!! ! !!!

@28tpi 5 ай бұрын

40 yrs for me so by my calculations that's 180 yrs collectively. ✅

@tommurphy4307 4 ай бұрын

the only thing that was proven is the fact that pre-filling the oil filter makes pressure more quickly upon startup. if it makes you feel better- good for you.

@gonefilming2020 Ай бұрын

I am a master technician, I've been around engines for the past 50 years and I agree FULLY with the practice of pre-filling a new oil filter prior to installing it. Best practice. Where possible (as on your SB Chevy V8). If it's a factory upside down cartridge or sideways mount, you're just out of luck. But looking back at all the engines I have serviced, repaired and diagnosed, there has not been ONE major engine (bearing) failure due to doing scheduled maintenance without pre-filling the filter. It's just moot. The small wear on the babbit of the bearing surfaces during the initial start has no siginificance on the engine lifespan. When all is said and done, major engine failures are caused by overheating, unfrequent oil changes and mechanical failures caused by incorrect fuel / air ratios and other problems causing an upset in normal engine operation outside of manufacturer's specs. This goes for your normal car or light truck engine. Race engines operate at much more demanding specs and other, stricter rules apply. Again, I fully agree with your video content, but the relevance in view of the actual engine life span is not given.

@heightsgolan8742 Ай бұрын

my 7.3 diesel pickup has a huge oil filter. It would not be a moot point to run that motor with no oil pressure while waiting on that filter to fill.

@gonefilming2020 Ай бұрын

@@heightsgolan8742 It is moot as far as the overall longevity of the engine is concerned - this is from half a century of experience in engine service. But if it eases your mind, you can pre-fill your filter to your heart's content.

@heightsgolan8742 Ай бұрын

@@gonefilming2020 eases my mind?? You just admitted " the small amount of wear in start up". So maybe ease your own mind since no oil pressure for several seconds is a moot point and rev the snot out of it before oil pressure. My first rebuild was in 1969 on a car. But many small engines and one motorcycle starting in 1965. So, I have seen much in my OVER 50 years of EXPERIENCE. So many main bearing knocks and rod knocks. Too many to count. So it DOES EASE my mind to see oil pressure right away. I guess you get a thrill out of seeing that red light in the dash stay on as long as possible. Oh yeah, lets purposefully let that 2 qt filter on my diesel slowly fill while the crank is without oil. It don't matter.

@gonefilming2020 Ай бұрын

@@heightsgolan8742 Woah, dude. You off your thyroid medication? Of course you also have OVER 50 YEARS EXPERIENCE. And of course your experiences are sliced bread as opposed to mine. Nowhere did I say to "...rev the snot out of it before oil pressure" or that I "get a thrill out of seeing that red light in the dash stay on as long as possible". You did not get the intent of my post. Perhaps read things so many times over, until you can follow the content. Or have someone explain it to you. And it's perfectly o.k. to have a different opinion - no need to discredit others, because only your opinion counts. Perhaps find someone to give you a hug. Everything will be o.k.. Promised. 🤗

@heightsgolan8742 Ай бұрын

@@gonefilming2020 amen bro. thanks

@mowcowbell Ай бұрын

Been driving and doing my own oil changes for 45 years, never prefilled any oil filter. Never experienced any engine failures either.

@flintwithers8460 23 күн бұрын

Me either. Tbh, if it was a necessary step you would think that either the oil can or the filter would say so on the packaging. I mean, it says to lubricate the seal but doesn't mention filling the filter with oil?

@speedster2464 22 күн бұрын

How long did you keep the vehicle for? It’s all about wear!

@daleyoung87 22 күн бұрын

When you add new engine oil to the engine it fills the filter almost immediately

@HungryH1951 18 күн бұрын

The oil will find the filter. The new engine oil is clean and it will coat the inside of the engine, circulate and find the dry filter and soak and fill it. Not prefilling the filter is no big deal. After running the engine for an hour or so you might want to check your engine level to make sure you are not a bit low after the filter soaks up oil,

@leethomas556 16 күн бұрын

The filters I see, say not to pre-fill

@AMS-dx7wo 6 ай бұрын

in the early 80's Bosch sent a Service Bulletin advising techs to pre-fill filters. The reason given was that the wet filter media was stronger and less likely to have elements break away during initial cold start.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@jamesmedina2062 6 ай бұрын

that was before designed obsolescence. Now they do all kinds of things to accelerate wear like giving bad break in advice and long oil change intervals. I knew an engineer for aircraft told me we have the tech to make engines last millions of miles but choose to not use it for that. Brakes too!

@reason2gether 6 ай бұрын

Yes, the filter media can experience a great shock from the incoming oil pressure wave while being unsupported on the filtered side by an equilibrium of pressure. Another great reason to pre-fill the media.

@monikhushalpuri 6 ай бұрын

Hmmm on my 3.7 mustang if I were to pre fill the oil filter and install it since its installed sideways then oil will come out while installing...I don't like dry installing the filter so what I started doing is filling the filter and then letting all the oil drain out of the filter...good to know about shock of oil pressure on dry filter media...I suppose my method of filling the oil filter and then draining and installing to saturate the filter media reduces this issue at the least on horizontally mounted oil filters

@AMS-dx7wo 6 ай бұрын

@@monikhushalpurion side mount filters, I fill them ~½ full. oil will wick/saturate media.

@ITSFUNZ 6 ай бұрын

In the 1970s my Grandfather taught me to always fill the oil filter first, and lubricate the seal, always wipe the mating surface clean as well ! Been doing it that way ever since ! It just makes sense. Never had a lubrication problem with an engine ! My 97 Silverado is over 307 thousand miles still working great 👍

@willg.5168 6 ай бұрын

Vortec 5.7 is the Godzilla of V-8's💪🏽

@alanmerritt860 6 ай бұрын

What do you do when you have to turn your filter upside down?

@marcludwick512 6 ай бұрын

Anti drain back valve, most of it will stay in the filter without coming out.@@alanmerritt860

@tommurphy4307 6 ай бұрын

i've built 180-cubic-inch V6 motors that have made 275bhp- with a slightly massaged holley model 4412 2-barrel carb- and all motor. lets see mr. goodwrench do THAT.

@BobVan 6 ай бұрын

@@alanmerritt860spin it on really fast?? There’s definitely some dumb designs out there with oil filter placement.

@daletimms7792 10 күн бұрын

My granddad was a engineer in the US COAST GUARD for 33 years and I remember when I was 12 years old helping him do my first oil change on his truck he told me then to pre oil your oil filter always.

@rickb.5492 Ай бұрын

I don't know about your engines but on my Harley-Davidson big twin engine the filter is on the RETURN side of the oil flow NOT on the feed side so pre-filling is a moot point. Especially since the oil filter is mounted horizontally.

@FishFind3000 6 ай бұрын

Another thing is that massive equipment like Caterpiller and Komatsu that are for quarry use have engines worth stupid amounts of money. Those machines have a prelube system to build oil pressure before every start to maximize engine life.

@miltonwells6750 6 ай бұрын

What if you spin the engine over without crank it?

@hotrodray6802 6 ай бұрын

Accumulator systems for this are pretty reasonable priced. Plumb into the gauge hole. Road race cars use similar to prevent starvation during cornering.

@gregoryclemen1870 6 ай бұрын

having worked in a hospital, now retired, the "CAT " diesel engines running generators would crank the engine with cylinder unloaders open until oil pressure was established, closing the cylinder unloaders/ shutting off starter motor(s), and letting the engine start/ run, first at at an idle then ramp up to operating R.P.M.( 1800), allowing the transfer switches to operate. we tested generators every two weeks. the engines also have coolant block heaters to keep the engines as close to operating temperature as possible. the oil cap. on these engines are 60 gallons

@jacobmartin1951 6 ай бұрын

@@miltonwells6750That all I do. Hold down fuel pedal crank it over for 15-20 seconds. Fills the filter.

@jamesmedina2062 6 ай бұрын

@@miltonwells6750Not good enough. The engine starter spins engine a few revolutions also before it starts chugging. Don't be lazy!! Just prefill filter

@BOB24502 2 ай бұрын

Thanks! I never pre-filled my filters in the past (not because of thinking it was a bad thing, just lack of knowledge), but will from now on!

@BingBongYourLife Ай бұрын

Same!

@petemcpeterson6205 15 күн бұрын

As an automotive machinist ( 40 years)I can say with complete confidence you don't have to pre fill the filter. A ton of modern engines have filters that are either horizontal or vertical ( upside down) that have zero issues not being pre filled.

@BOB24502 14 күн бұрын

@@petemcpeterson6205 Why not flipping the car upside down, or put it on its side for models with filters not facing down?

@fmsracing442 13 күн бұрын

A little tip, when I have an engine that I can't pre-fill the oil filter. I disconnect the ignition and crank the engine until I see oil pressure. Then I reconnect the ignition and start the engine.

@edwardwritt3820 Ай бұрын

Good information for those who do their own oil change. I've been pre filling for years . Your video just proved I've been doing this right thing.

@themotoroilgeek Ай бұрын

Right on!

@Cyfi71 6 ай бұрын

This 70 year old always prefills his oil filter and I also concur on being careful not to get any pieces of the seal from the oil jug into the oil. Changing your own oil and filter is also a great time to inspect the engine area and under carriage for any leaks or damage underneath.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@gregoryclemen1870 6 ай бұрын

you will get a better job by doing it yourself, if you let the quickie lube joints do it, they do not care.

@dennisadorno6721 6 ай бұрын

I think the guys who post comments like that are truly just looking for attention.....There, there my uninformed friend, why bother with a prefill??? Or for that matter why bother changing your oil at all??? It's just a big scam to make the oil companies richer....Ha ha

@JetFire9 6 ай бұрын

With my Jag and Range Rover, the oil is fully changed from the top of the engine.

@tommurphy4307 6 ай бұрын

they do it that way to keep the showroom floors cleaner...@@JetFire9

@danielgriffith7694 6 ай бұрын

I’ve prefilled my filters for over 50+ years. And this proves what I’ve been doing 👍👍👍

@Johnsmith-zi9pu 6 ай бұрын

proves nothing.

@xbrizzcakez 6 ай бұрын

I`ve never prefilled a filter for 50 years without any problems. Current vehicles are 15 &20 years old.

@stewiegriffin5075 6 ай бұрын

Are you still driving that same car ???? My daily driver is 40 years old and I have never pre filled the filter in all that time so it proves nothing

@quintrapnell3605 6 ай бұрын

I doubt it matters but whatever google told the man was dumb

@MechaTronic161 6 ай бұрын

Prefilled or not, it doesn’t matter.

@MrC1066 Ай бұрын

Well I cannot believe that I am commenting. It seems obvious that pre filling the filter is a good idea. I understand that a horizontal filter can drain in any case but the argument that new oil is not filtered before it enters the engine beggars belief. Keep up the good work and a good informative video and I hope no one comes back with any more negative comment.

@georgestringam689 25 күн бұрын

Years ago putting your filters on dry was pretty much a non-issue. No one gave it much thought. I knew guys from both sides and it didn't seem to have much effect on the engine's life. However, with the advent of multi-viscosity oils that old method went to hell in a hand basket. When Cummins brought out the Big Cam engines there was a sharp increase in camshaft/follower failures. Cummins soon found out that many failures occured shortly after an oil change. What few operators realized was that the multigrade oils got so thin that when the drain plug was pulled that 8+ gallons of oil, which now had the viscosity of black coffee, rushed out with such a fury that it siphoned out the lube system. Refilling with fresh oil plus installing the filters dry took many seconds to refill the oil galleries. There was an advisory to fill the filters before installation. A second advisory was to not change the oil hot but to let the engine cool down for an hour before pulling the plug. "For the extra three cups of old oil left in the galleries, the new filters should take care of that." Close quote. After following that advice engine failures amost stopped completely...

@markleggett3944 2 күн бұрын

They should come with pre-lube systems from the factory.

@nephetula 6 ай бұрын

So many engines have filters mounted at angles, or even horizontally, that pre-filling becomes problematic, and probably a moot point. Many other factors contribute far more to engine wear than not pre-filling the oil filter.

@DekGT5mad 6 ай бұрын

Yeah, longcranking because people don't pause at the on position for a few seconds for the ECM to do it's checks when starting the engine is probably the most common! My 323 takes 2 cranks when I pause at "on" to start, but if I go straight through it takes 7 or 8 to start!

@steveeab2364 6 ай бұрын

The filter on my F150 is horizontal and pre-filled really isn't an option

@fluoridaman2332 6 ай бұрын

@@steveeab2364 Fill it up and let it soak for at least ten minutes then drain it back out into the container. This helps prevent media damage from the initial oil rush on startup.

@SmallBaller 6 ай бұрын

A major part of that starting sequence is fuel pump priming. I wait the few seconds until the pump stops @@DekGT5mad

@swaggerdo7231 6 ай бұрын

Nah, yeah fam; I also have issues with scratching my arse and picking my nose at the same time. Life if just hard, amirite?

@kbros65 6 ай бұрын

Like everyone says! Been priming filters since the 70s and I’ll keep doing it!! Thanks guys!!!

@lukew2194 6 ай бұрын

I have been drinking green tea all my life, I guess I will live forever.

@bishopsfishops7440 Ай бұрын

I work on a car ferry. Our big cat V8s need to be pre lubed with a pump before starting. It can take up to 10 seconds for the oil to get to the top end of the engine. And you can hear the valves tick until oil gets into the top end. So it absolutely makes sense to fill up a filter. Just like it makes sense to pre-lube our big diesel.

@michaeltotolo1251 3 күн бұрын

Thank you for making videos like this and actually educating people. You rock.

@highrzr 6 ай бұрын

This makes perfect sense considering the majority of engine wear happens at startup.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely!

@02hreblue30 6 ай бұрын

makes zero sense. only oil at start up is on cylinder walls, bearings and pistons from previous use. Engine hasn't run yet.

@TheBigRed. 6 ай бұрын

Lol.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Resistculturaldecline 6 ай бұрын

More because of a cold engine clearances.

@bobbybishop5662 6 ай бұрын

I want to see you prefill a filter that mounts horizontally or one mounted on the top mounted upside down. I'll wait.

@1slow5point0 6 ай бұрын

I’ve always filled mine up with almost as much oil as they can hold on vertical or slightly angled filters. On horizontal mount ones, I add enough oil to be able to rotate it and soak the filter material without any running out.

@CatRacer1a2a 6 ай бұрын

Agreed. This is what I do. If I can't fully fill a filter because of the angle, I figure wetting the filter media is the best I can do.

@robertisaar 6 ай бұрын

Realistically, that's probably half full of the oil has time to saturate and pass through to the unfiltered side. Far better than nothing.

@Harold-si7eh Күн бұрын

As a former truck driver I have been in Mobile Oil factory. And know the oil is clean when put in the containers made of plastic,Not guaranteed what may be in the metal drums! The filter had been full when you tookit off!Who knew! The Bigger problem is I have hauled into the Oil filter factory's the Coiled metal used to make filters and you should always inspect any filter before installing by looking inside you may be surprised What falls out!!!

@tomb9878 Күн бұрын

Not necessary but couldn't possibly hurt...some filters are installed horizontally. New oil is clean.

@redvision350 6 ай бұрын

I am a newer tech and I have not been pre-filling oil filters, wasn't even something that came up in school or around the shop. After seeing this video I am going to start doing this! Thank you for posting this.

@GrandePunto8V 6 ай бұрын

Now imagine, that there are literally hundreds of such little things you don't know about the trade.

@rogerdonoho4924 6 ай бұрын

Makes perfect sense. Although I have not practiced it. Now, with my 2016 colorado, I couldn't if I tried. Cartridge filter on top of engine. My car's filter is cannister. But extremely tight space and on the slant. Have to turn filter a couple of angles to get where it's going . Days of V8 with cannister are pretty much over.

@rocknraptor3195 6 ай бұрын

🤦wow

@madewithscraps 6 ай бұрын

Hopefully this shows you how much your schooling lacks for proper education of practicing the trade correctly. As a ASE Master Engine Builder, plus other titles, 33 year owner of automotive machine shop, look at books used in classes to see horrible statements and massive lacking of information required for the tech to be successful.

@Ozzy3333333 6 ай бұрын

I think my 29yo 1994 Toyota truck with 442K miles doesn't care, I have never prefilled my filter, 7 minutes per oil change with filter, and 5 minutes without filter (I change the filter every other time). Half a year to 30, no major work done, still running well.

@gregscott9170 6 ай бұрын

It’s not just about oil starvation on initial startup. Pre filling the filter saturates the media and on startup the DP across the filter is lower in a full filter than in a dry filter. It also minimizes air in the oil.

@ratgreen 6 ай бұрын

Exactly, even with side mounted filters, I will fill the oil filter as much as I can to wet the filter media as much as possible, and pour out the excess if theres too much, for that exact reason.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Right on!

@oneninerniner3427 6 ай бұрын

@@ratgreen sure you can, maybe not plumb full, but just because it's on a bit of an angle you can still get quite a bit in them. Some of the older Ford's it was real easy, they were pretty much vertical. One of my older pickups has an oil cooler with a horizontal remote mount for the filter. I can get it 2/3rds -3/4 ish full then hold it vertical and quickly tip it horizontal and spin er on. You don't lose much oil.

@kfelix2934 6 ай бұрын

when I had spark engines , I used to pull the disturbor cap to keep the engine from starting up and spin the engine 3-4 times to fill the filter and then replace the cable and then start the engine. I know that was being paranoid but that would prevent any oil starvation issue, but to be fair that was being overly parnoid. Newier cars and diesels you can do what I'm suggesting.

@martinlang9615 6 ай бұрын

@@ratgreenOn a side mount filter I do that too, except I totally fill the filter first until all air is purged, then hold horizontal until the level stabilises, then screw it on (with the a thin film of oil on the rubber of course).

@drew2717 Ай бұрын

Learned this 30+ years ago. Kudos for dropping the knowledge and research to prove.

@themotoroilgeek Ай бұрын

Thanks!

@carnelsullivan6009 Ай бұрын

Great video guys, this information has been helpful and has finally given me a straight forward way to look at this from now on. Thanks

@reason2gether 6 ай бұрын

Amen!!! I work for a Fleet and have done this for well over 35 years. I can see and hear the difference upon start-up after the oil and filter change. You can see how long it takes for the oil pressure light to go out while cranking and at initial start-up. You can also hear any low oil pressure related knocks that exist in that engine until the oil pressure light goes out, and you can hear the sudden disappearance of that noise when it does go out. The only reasons people have to justify not doing the pre-filling of the oil filter method are: The textbooks do not mention doing it. The owner's manuals do not mention it. Finally, some oil filters are mounted at an extreme angle or even upside down which prevent a total fill of the filter without spilling oil during installation. In the last case mentioned, it still helps to add oil slowly to the filter while tilting it and rotating it around to at least saturate the media. Then install it. The majority of the time it takes to reach oil pressure while cranking and at initial start-up is because the media is still absorbing oil before it can let oil pass through. I know, I know, some will say "who has time for that?" I do. Especially for my own vehicle. I still do it for the Fleet vehicles I work on because I care. I know it helps longevity and I want to do the best job I can to ensure that. If you don't, even on your own car, you are plain and simple just being lazy. Before you saw this video or read this comment you could claim ignorance, but not anymore.

@cr500mike 6 ай бұрын

Right -On !!!

@budlanctot3060 6 ай бұрын

There's some crazy Russian mechanics on KZfaq who do weird things with cars & engines. They once modified an oil filter by grafting a clear body onto a filter base plate. It took a surprisingly long time to fill the dry oil filter. They didn't time it, but I'd say it was almost 5sec from when first started.

@tomphillips2608 6 ай бұрын

Makes sense. My '11 Tacoma 4 .0 l v6 filter is a spin on upside down. From now on , I don't care if it gets sloppy, I will at least try to saturate the media with fresh oil. Thanks!

@jerrykorman7770 6 ай бұрын

I bought new a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser with the 4.0 V6. The spin on oil filter is near the top of the engine, upside down. Many many oil changes and never, ever heard a knock or tick after changing the oil. Oil light went out almost instantly

@The77stevo77 6 ай бұрын

@@jerrykorman7770bull 💩 roll the window down and listen. It ticks like crazy for about 1 or 2 seconds. Can't be good

@rooky55 6 ай бұрын

As a millwright I worked on many large industrial engines for 50 years and most of them had a pre lube pump on them so that should tell anyone how important lube is at start up. They also had post lube pumps on the turbos that were spinning at 30,000 RPM at shutdown.

@joesutherland225 6 ай бұрын

If you want caterpillar actually offers oil analysis for a relatively low cost .I believe amsoil also offers this analysis too

@rooky55 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Joe. Working with large diesel / natural gas prime movers for 33 years oil analysis was routine and required by the insurance underwriters. Take care.@@joesutherland225

@paulricketts1089 6 ай бұрын

...VW has auxillary waterpumps that circulate water through the turbo for 2 or 3 minutes AFTER shutdown. It keeps the oil from carmelizing inside the turbo. Thus prolonging the life of the turbo. It is why truckers don't shut off their engines immediately after driving. So when you see a semi-truck setting there idling for a time while parked , you'll understand why.......

@ProudDad1976 6 ай бұрын

I believe all engines should have an electric auxiliary pump for the oil however if you prefill or not a car without that will not have good pressure for the first five or so seconds prefill or no so I see no reason to refill unless you add that pump. Side note I have added that pump to my classic cars, it is not hard to do and you can tell the different every time you start the cars

@tedclark7860 6 ай бұрын

You can do that with a car too by making it so it won't run when you try to start it.

@quailhunter9343 Ай бұрын

Amazing how some people think or lack of. Thank you for the video

@lukaszbebnowski7633 10 күн бұрын

You got my thumbs up on all videos I've watched and a subscribe too. There are many things I like about your videos, the filming, the editing, the amount of time taken to create each test, oil lab tests and more importantly using science, proper testings of oil done by independant lab to prove speculations right or wrong. Keep up the good work mate. As a side note, hatters gonna hate (can't change a mules way of doing things) and people who were previously in doubt or did not know about this, have proof and know how to do it right.

@shanehathaway2791 6 ай бұрын

When I was a young man in my 20’s My grandfather always said preload your oil filter my Dad told me this too… And they both always gave me great advice… thanks for confirming that for me… Now I’ve no doubt I’ve been doing it right for years…..

@binyamj 6 ай бұрын

Great video! I have been pre-filling since I started doing my own oil changes 7-8 years ago. I’ve never heard that it was a bad idea. Common sense would dictate that it is a good idea. You proved it.

@__WJK__ 6 ай бұрын

Exactly... total "common sense" for sure!

@brian_328 6 ай бұрын

Brand new oil in a brand new oil filter somehow not being filtered has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. Exhaust bearing, blinker fluid, winter and summer air for your tires okay I can see where you made a mistake 😂 but this makes me think that some people wake up and stop using their brains.

@TheCompbuzz 6 ай бұрын

Not all filters can be prefilled though. Some are mounted sideways instead of up and down.

@PNH-sf4jz 6 ай бұрын

@@TheCompbuzz You do the best you can and clean-up any accidental or incidental spillage. Better than not pre-filling at all.

@olliefoxx7165 6 ай бұрын

@TheCompbuzz You don't fill those filters all the way. You put in enough oil that won't spill then screw it in. Some oil is better than no oil.

@redbillywiley Ай бұрын

Thank you for posting actual data to back it up.

@themotoroilgeek Ай бұрын

Happy to help!

@djr320 2 күн бұрын

Never even knew it was a thing. I’ve learned something new today. Thank you guys 🙏🙏

@jeffgriffith7003 6 ай бұрын

I always pre-fill my filters, even the ones are mounted sideways, I just get them as full as I can without spilling any oil because some oil is better than none. I’ve always been told people don’t like to pre-fill filters because they’re worried about stuff falling into the filter like a sloppy mechanic would do. But I always make sure I’m in a clean environment without dust floating around and I’m always very mindful of anything that could get inside the filter before I install it so it’s really a non-issue unless you’re a sloppy mechanic.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259 6 ай бұрын

Yes, I think maybe they install the dry filter before removing the plastic wrap just to avoid any chance of contamination.

@lkeil84 6 ай бұрын

I hate the my Subaru had an upside down filter. Made it easy to change, but could not be prefilled.

@davidh.8513 6 ай бұрын

I fill the filter "as full as I can" on my side mounted John Deere Yanmar diesel engine also!

@georgedavall9449 6 ай бұрын

Very good comment jeff! I pre fill my filter inside, away from my workshop, and cover the filter as I take it out to the vehicle, and immediately install it. COMMON Sense after all.

@Googurz 5 ай бұрын

My father taught me to pre-fill the filter when I was a kid and I've always done so. It always seemed common sense to me that you will build oil pressure faster by pre-filling. You can actually HEAR the difference in the initial engine startup with many engines. You generally hear a tiny bit of engine clatter before pressure builds, and starting an engine with an empty filter makes noise for at least a couple seconds longer.

@themotoroilgeek 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@thewatcher611 5 ай бұрын

Clear flood mode is easier, and better. When you remove the filter, you let more oil out than just what is in the filter. What are you going to do about that? Clear flood mode primes the entire system without the stress of combustion.

@Terminxman 4 ай бұрын

so just use flood mode...

@elephant1851 4 ай бұрын

@@thewatcher611 Do both if you know you can't afford a new engine.

@paul41to45 4 ай бұрын

dad taught me to prefill also, more than 50 years ago. common sense really proven here

@ricarldonelson 24 күн бұрын

Even if only basic common was used....adding oil to the new filter just sounds right 👍

@yawhan6828 23 күн бұрын

Great video, great duo. I am going to start doing this

@disgracebook5708 6 ай бұрын

I’ve been pre filling oil filters during changes for 43 years. Thx for the confirmation.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Glad to help

@MartyrMachine 2 ай бұрын

Been changing my own oil for 20 years. Always filled the filter before install. Never was told to do so, never heard to to do it, I just did it. Glad I have.

@themotoroilgeek 2 ай бұрын

Glad to help

@jimgagne3801 2 ай бұрын

I'm 56 and been doing it for 39 years ...Do you know why you and I have been doing this for so long and were never told to do it? Cause we are not dumb. So to all you young dumb people out there that think your reinventing the mouse trap, If it comes off the motor with oil in it, don't you think you should put the new filter back on the same way you took it off? And for all you that think the new oil is dirty till it goes through a new filter,....You are just a special kind of stupid, aren't you. My God ! young people are Dumb ! As the saying goes, "Youth is wasted on the young"

@frankorobinson1540 2 ай бұрын

And how much actually stays in the filter before you get it tightened 😮lol if its mount upside-down 😂😂😂❤

@christians131 Ай бұрын

⁠@@frankorobinson1540Bro you obviously just flip the car over in that case 🙄

@frankorobinson1540 Ай бұрын

@@christians131 actually you can just crank the engine over with ignition coil fuse out crank until red oil light goes out and good to go .but flipping the car over works too lol

@redchevy3307 9 күн бұрын

Thanks guys for getting the truth out and using data to prove your point.

@Keene88 Ай бұрын

Awesome video! I've always prefilled my oil filters ever since I was taught to do that in my high school auto mech class back in 1980.

@MrHfroese 6 ай бұрын

For 30 yrs I have always prefilled my oil filters and I don't think I will ever stop doing it that way.

@churchyandfriends 6 ай бұрын

Is it really a bad thing to not pre fill the filter? I’ve never pre filled a filter.

@bustjanzupan1074 5 ай бұрын

Aaammmeeennn , Me Tooo !!! ! !!!

@IDontWantAHandle101 5 ай бұрын

@@bustjanzupan1074And me. It's not hard and it does save those golden seconds on first start. Anyone who argues different is just dumb.

@unikornkontroller 6 ай бұрын

I’m just recently going back to doing my own oil changes and I used to always prefill. The idea is you are allowing as little air into the pump as possible so it pressurizes as fast as possible. It’s weird this is even a debate. Even if it served no other purpose than piece of mind I’d still do it. It adds maybe 30 seconds of work to the job.

@unikornkontroller 6 ай бұрын

@@user-uv7up4vg6i But the entire system needs pressure regardless of if it’s downline or upstream from the pump. Air anywhere in the system causes pressure to drop, right?

@davelowets 6 ай бұрын

@@user-uv7up4vg6iIt's not so much "air in the pump", but the filter will obviously be full of nothing but air if you don't fill it first, and those few seconds it takes to pump the filter full of oil means that the engine is running with ZERO oil pressure, and the engine suffers a bit of wear from it. That little bit of damage DOES accumulate over time, and takes precious life off the engine.

@davelowets 6 ай бұрын

@user-uv7up4vg6i That oil left in the bearings is basically useless without pressure behind it. It's a proven fact that up to 90% of engine wear happens during start-up, when there isn't any pressure in the system. If oil sitting in the bearings was enough to protect the engine, we would use it, instead of a much more expensive special clingy, thick, assembly lube when we build an engine.

@guytowers8479 6 ай бұрын

What about vehicles with oil filters that go on sideways 🤷. So it's not going to be fully filled.

@JimV90 6 ай бұрын

@@guytowers8479 You still put oil in it. just enough before it wants to spill out. Anything is better than nothing.

@Mikheno 24 күн бұрын

Been pre-filing oil filters for over 60 years now. Haven't destroyed an engine yet. I did spot one thing I do a little different than you guys. I don't just rub some oil on the sealing gasket. That only lubes the outside of the gasket. I remove the whole thing and lube both sides. Now you don't worry about a dry spot where the ring contacts the can which could allow it to leak. Small potatoes I know but it's just what I do.

@jcnikoley 23 күн бұрын

Good information. I'll be priming my filters from now on. I didn't think it made a difference as long as you re-checked, and added oil after the first start after an oil change.

@kevinmurphy3464 5 ай бұрын

Great video. When I was a kid my friend’s dad was a petrochemical engineer and told us to always pre-fill filters when doing an oil/filter change. My auto shop teacher in high school said the same thing and I’ve been pre-filling filters every-time for the last 46 years with no problems.

@themotoroilgeek 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@TheGrumpyFarmer 5 ай бұрын

@@themotoroilgeekI’m a 57 year old farmer who’s changed filters on a lot of tractors and combines over the years and I’ve never filled oil filters 🤷‍♂️

@waveriderz2687 5 ай бұрын

Have a side mount filter. How do you do that without spilling oil every where?

@kskip4242 5 ай бұрын

@@waveriderz2687if you pour the oil in the oil filter and let it sit upward for a while before installing it it will soak into the filter media just don't overfill it.

@hillbillyhenry5098 5 ай бұрын

I all ways filled mine up half way to get it on , because a lot of them are side ways but still have about half the oil in it.

@johnmiller3394 6 ай бұрын

Even though, as a seasoned mechanic I already knew the outcome before I watched the video. It was still a very good and informative study. Although, the fact that ANYONE would think prefilling oil filters is bad amazes me!!😅

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@jeffro221 5 ай бұрын

@@GeorgeSanford-pb1yj Very true. I used to not believe pre-filling could damage my engine. I was cocky, so I did an experiment. I did an oil change and deliberately picked a tiny spec of dirt off the ground, about the size of a flake of black pepper, and put it in the filter while I pre-filled it. Then when done, I started the engine, and sure enough, after 10 seconds, the engine exploded. I studied all the parts and every bearing in the engine was completley wiped out. Now when I change oil, I do it as if I was working on the space shuttle.....clean room, complete body suit with respirator face mask. And no more pre-filling!

@user-et1id3hd5i 5 ай бұрын

No oil at all will do it faster.@@GeorgeSanford-pb1yj

@Georgiagreen317 5 ай бұрын

BS! @@jeffro221

@bustjanzupan1074 5 ай бұрын

It amazes me tooo !!! ! !!! But, this is obviously Just Because they Are sooo Lazy, or Careless , or Greeddy !!! ! !!!

@philippogue8158 2 ай бұрын

No. It helps oil get to the rocker arms and top of engine quicker, when you don't sometimes you here tapping rods hitting on lifters, so it is better to put some oil in the filter!

@themotoroilgeek 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely!

@jackiebeene9609 12 күн бұрын

I'm 73. Have always prefilled my oil filters. When I got a Gladiator a few years back, it really bothered me when I changed my oil that I couldn't prefill the canister filter. I knew about the pre-flood mode. But the canister filter on this thing is inverted and empties each time you shut the motor off. I found a product called the Baxter Performance spin on filter adapter. You can replace the canister filter with a spin on cartridge filter. Yes, it is still inverted but remains pressurized so no more dry starts.

@unclebucksoutdoors3767 6 ай бұрын

Great video. As a retired aircraft mechanic it is wild to think anyone would recommend not pre filling. Unless someone is cleaning the filter housing area thoroughly prior to removing the filter, more contamination would come from there than a new bottle of oil.

@TIMEtoRIDE900 6 ай бұрын

I pre filled a filter and crawled under my truck, careful not to spill the oil, then bumped the fuel line and got sand all over the filter !! Back to the auto parts store for a new one !!

@fluoridaman2332 6 ай бұрын

@@TIMEtoRIDE900 Good filters come with a plastic seal cover and you can reinstall it after prefill then remove it when you are in position to install it onto the engine. It's best to rinse clean the area of dirt and debris prior to service to prevent any contamination.

@malcomreynolds4103 6 ай бұрын

You should be fired if you are doing something in the maintenance routines that the manufacturer does not tell you to do. That is how you get people killed. If it tells you to fill it, fill it. If it doesn't tell you to fill it, don't.

@johnmuir8305 6 ай бұрын

This is why I don't fly in GA shitboxes

@TIMEtoRIDE900 6 ай бұрын

@@malcomreynolds4103 Sure - now explain how people are actually "killed" by pre-filling an oil filter where the manual says "don't bother" - - - ??

@FishFind3000 6 ай бұрын

Also if motor oil was dirty from the bottle how would small engines like lawn mowers and generators survive since they are splash lubricated with NO oil filter!

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Great point!

@RogerMiller-td5yc 6 ай бұрын

Or type 1 Volkswagen engines

@turbodog99 Ай бұрын

They fail at 500 hours, far short of the 10,000 fir a modern engine

@TheSonarSailor Ай бұрын

Not to mention, how do you fill your engine with pre-filtered oil? You don't, that's how. Bottle straight into the engine oil fill.

@whatsit2ya247 Ай бұрын

@turbodog99 At 500 hours hmm? I wonder how my 25 year old walk behind John Deere is still chugging along, starts first or second pull even after sitting all winter 🤔

@SavetheBytes 10 күн бұрын

I'm just a youtube trained DIY-er, and while I always lubed up the gasket and put a little bit of oil in the filter, I will start filling the entire filter from now on. Never debated it, but just never thought to fill it more like as the old filter comes out. Makes sense after watching the video and reading all these comments now, but never thought about it before. Thanks!

@thomasgarrison3949 Ай бұрын

Thanks for the info, I will start pre-filling my oil filters & doing my oil changes myself, because most oil change places DO NOT pre-fill the oil filters.

@davidh.8513 6 ай бұрын

Great video guys! I ALWAYS prefill my filters with oil. And you just proved why you should!

@bennylloyd-willner9667 6 ай бұрын

I have two Subarus, and I never prefill the filter on those. I would need to turn the car upside down to do it...😊

@spresc2180 5 ай бұрын

Speaking for just over 50 years of owning Toyota’s and doing oil/filter changes every 3000 miles and NEVER prefilling the filters, each car had over 220,000 to 225,000 miles on them before I traded or sold them, all with excellent compression and very little oil burning between changes, never had excessive chain/sprocket wear, worn valve guides/stems etc. I am 74 now and still doing it the same way. Proof is in the pudding. Lots of wives tales out there along with poorly made engines and engines with poor care and neglect from their owners.

@ricosilverback2608 5 ай бұрын

Kudos to Toyota

@joeyoungs8426 5 ай бұрын

Same here with two Caravans that were near 300k before selling. Currently an Equinox and Malibu with over 200k and counting.

@dix_pack_of_sixie 5 ай бұрын

Nothing is always...you both beat the odds. But then again, knowing the science & data support prefilling the filter, how much less wear would have occurred had the system been properly primed and pre-filled?

@joeyoungs8426 5 ай бұрын

@@dix_pack_of_sixie With respect to the Caravans it doesn’t really matter. I got my miles out of them. One of them went to 360k before a t-bone accident (no casualties) ended its run. Jury’s still out on the two Chevys.

@ihd-3603 4 ай бұрын

Can’t say I’ve ever heard of an engine failing due to not pre-filling the filter. Most are from using oil not specified by manufacturer or not following recommended oil change intervals.

@backlineguy 28 күн бұрын

Great video...glad I pre-fill the filter now...

@genobrn8743 11 күн бұрын

TREMENDOUS! Thank you👍🏿

@Shanes_Shed 6 ай бұрын

I can't believe people would think pre filling a filter is a bad thing. I know what the ISO cleanliness numbers mean so I'm glad you touched at the end the difference in particles with the code number increase - im sure many out would be thinking the increase is only a couple of numbers, but each increase is actually doubling the number of particles

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Absolutely! Thanks for mentioning that!

@kychristell1779 6 ай бұрын

Definitely silly

@georgedavall9449 6 ай бұрын

It boggles the mind, doesn’t it?! I don't know what some People are thinking these days?

@nicholaspetre1 6 ай бұрын

Guys, finally we have scientific and empirical approach to the oil topic, not just opinions of sofa specialist who express their opinions and those are true because they do so. Please make new videos more often. Your content is super terrific and useful.

@GrandePunto8V 6 ай бұрын

This type of knowledge is nothing new in the industry, oil analysis etc., was there for last 40-50 years. But somehow this is "new" to many people, especially in the automotive field. No one has an obligation to educate internet trolls.

@InexplicableBill 6 ай бұрын

@@GrandePunto8V Well ain't you a ray of fkn sunshine. Dude - EVERYONE has an obligation to educate internet trolls. Your way of thinking is the polar opposite of what it should be.

@MarkoVukovic0 6 ай бұрын

"sofa specialist" 🤣Love that! There are so many. I call them "armchair experts".

@cliffords.8341 6 ай бұрын

@@InexplicableBill I believe his/her way of thinking is no education is good education. 🤪

@cliffords.8341 6 ай бұрын

@@GrandePunto8V Nobody is saying oil analysis is new, but in this video it shows that new oil out of the bottle is cleaner than when it came out of and engine without filling the oil filter with oil prior to installation and after the system has been primed. It's showing the trolls that there is engine damage (crank main bearings and connecting rod bearings) due to not pre filling the oil filter. If this information is not put out there for the general public to know, then how are people to learn right from wrong. Everytime I sell and oil filter I inform my customer they should fill it with oil prior to installation and I explain why. They usually say if they do it will leak out when they install it because most of them are sideways on motorcycles. I tell them while the engine is warming up fill the filter with clean oil and let it sit and when it comes time to install it, it would have absorbed most of the oil and you're only going to lose maybe a table spoon.

@JimmyMakingitwork 3 күн бұрын

I have been amazed watching people say it was a bad idea to prefill an oil filter. Most of the time I let them be since they usually know it all.

@carolchia1001 11 күн бұрын

I started changing my own oil a little over a year ago and when I was researching before beginning my undertaking, there were a lot of mixed reviews for prefilling vs not and since I didn’t know and it didn’t seem to cause major immediate damage either way, I picked the most logical way: prefilling. It takes literally 2 extra seconds and could add miles to your engine, so why wouldn’t you? Thanks for adding the science to back this up though. Sometimes what one thinks is the logical choice isn’t really the best one so it’s nice to see actual data support👍

@dirtyburd71 6 ай бұрын

Another tip for funnel storage, keep it upside-down with the openings covered. Small opening up leaves less chance of junk entering the funnel.

@DAK59 6 ай бұрын

I store mine in a gallon Ziploc bag. I also label the bag with the type of fluid the funnel is used for.

@Comm0ut 6 ай бұрын

I wipe mine off and toss them in the dishwasher with the next load of dishes. Dishwasher detergent makes short work of oil.

@ihd-3603 4 ай бұрын

Just hang mine on the wall until next time. 😂

@DavidMott-ws4rh 6 ай бұрын

I have been prefilling filters since I was at least 16 or 17 on all of mine and my family's cars that I maintain. From age 16 to 21 I worked at a full service Texaco station. Every oil change I did there I prefilled the filters. I am so glad you did this video if for no other reason it backs up what I all ready knew.

@quonsetthehutt3105 6 ай бұрын

Too bad for those engines with sideways canister filters that can’t be pre filled

@user-wv1pj6wh4h 6 ай бұрын

good for you- your customeerr will offer you a gift for pre cum flters

@TexTheMaster 6 ай бұрын

@@quonsetthehutt3105you can still prefill those kind of filters by priming the car

@scottmoto 6 ай бұрын

Yet in 45 years of wrenching I have never heard of or know anyone that did this. Not cutting it down, but it is not that common as you think.

@juddlebot2146 6 ай бұрын

Is not necessary to prefilled them anyways people been doing them for years they have no problems

@gilberthale7777 Ай бұрын

Excellent post. And surprisingly in a subject that ought not cause any controversy. But, it does. I placed a link to this video on one of my Facebook rants on the subject.

@alfredolopez-bruce6199 Ай бұрын

i have changed the engine oil several times and i never did prefill the filter with oil. and by not doing so, it never did any damage to the engine. now a friend has told me that its best to prefill the filter with oil before installing it in the engine. thanks for the demonstration.

@ratgreen 6 ай бұрын

I've always prefilled. I feel like anyone who understands how an oil pump, and oil pressure / lines / fluid mechanics works would instinctively know that pre filling will always make sense. I've only ever heard 'its a waste of time' from people who dont understand how things work, or lack the ability to think ahead, or are hacks who dont care about anything.

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Right on!

@lukew2194 6 ай бұрын

I guess people who design engines for a living don't have a clue about engine lubrication and the people who make oil filters are idiots also. However, some goof ball in silly glasses has all the right answers.

@brucenichols540 6 ай бұрын

@@lukew2194 Actually YOU are correct. Those folks are 'compartmentalized' and know very little outside of their specialty.

@kirkstiefel2102 6 ай бұрын

Really? What about large filters? Running the engine for seconds longer with low/no oil pressure can't be good. Filling the filter can't hurt and surely must benefit the engine. People who design engines agree with pre-lubing. Racers do it all the time. Pre-lube kits can be installed on engines. You throw a switch before starting the engine and the oil is pressurized BEFORE starting. Dry starts are NEVER good! @@lukew2194

@georgedavall9449 6 ай бұрын

Indeed!

@boostedmaniac 6 ай бұрын

Always pre-fill the oil filter if you can. It reduces the amount of time during that initial start the engine has low oil pressure from filling the oil filter itself.

@Scummy_shovel 6 ай бұрын

Lol. Uhh no. The oil pump is way before the filter. It’s gonna build pressure regardless of rather the oil filter is full or not. Pre fill. Don’t pre fill. Doesn’t matter

@garyalford9394 6 ай бұрын

Some filters set up straight and wont let you pre-fill.

@Scummy_shovel 6 ай бұрын

@@garyalford9394 and some like the pentastar are upside down AND cartridge so they 100% just bleed back down to the pan a few minutes after you shut the engine off.

@mback12000 6 ай бұрын

@Russel_russelson No. There is no pressure until the system is filled. There is flow, but not pressure. Watch the video again. You can't have pressure pumping fluid into an empty cavity. There is no oil to the bearings while the filter is filling from empty.

@Scummy_shovel 6 ай бұрын

@@mback12000 I don’t need to. I have built engines for over 20 years. There is no pressure at the gauge sending unit because there isn’t any flow there. But the oil pump on ever engine is directly connected to the oil reservoir and builds pressure the second you start the motor. You can’t have “flow” if you don’t have any pressure to push the flow. Oil sending units are located on the top end usually You noticed he dint show testing with a empty full filter? You know why? Because the time Result is the exact same. I have built and tested this multiple times.

@dalekelley3003 26 күн бұрын

Friend of mine in the NHRA always told me to prefilled oil filter, and since he still holds a couple of records I'll listen to them, and have been pre-filled filter on my BMWS and Volvos for 20 years.

@david88va 14 күн бұрын

I'm glad y'all did it for the people that needed it, but I wish I got my several minutes back for watching something most people already know 😅

@ronaldjoyce7374 6 ай бұрын

I was a mechanic for 38 years and can’t tell you how many oil changes I’ve done, not only on gasoline engines but diesel engines as well and have always prefilled oil filters. Not only pre filling engine oil filters but also pre filling fuel filters and hydraulic oil filters as well. Old school education and I’ve also taught this to my students when I taught a preventative auto maintenance class. It’s only common sense. BTW you now have a new subscriber and I thank you for setting this straight. Ron

@BradArringtonBoating 6 ай бұрын

The modern diesel world has a bit of a different view on pre-filling fuel filters, at least in marine applications. Per the spec and maintenance instructions on my Cummins QSC 8.3 and my QSB 6.7, they definitely spec to pre-fill the oil filters. But Cummins specifically warns NOT to pre-fill the fuel filters. The reasoning ,per my local Cummins agent and others, is that modern common rail diesels have such small injector ports that you don't want any contamination. Filling a fuel filter effectively bypasses all the upstream filtering of usually 2 filters. In my case its a 20 micron Racor and the 2 micro on-engine filter. Unlike oil that's from a sealed container fuel is generally of unknown quality. Fuel can also have biological growth that would clog an injector. It's simple to prime the filter on a Cummins common rail: their own instructions call for just cycling the key to the "run" position a few times and letting the lift pump run to fill the filter. I know older engines require bleeding of air, but the Cummins common rails don't need it after just a filter change.

@malcomreynolds4103 6 ай бұрын

Even in my 1994 they told you to not prefill the fuel filter, same thing in a friend's 1992. What the manual says, is what you do. You don't deviate from it. Just because hacks that think prefilling an oil filter is helpful go away with prefilling other things, doesn't mean that it was ever correct. In the case of my 1994, there was a bleed valve you used to allow the fuel pump to prime the system on its own. On my friend's 1992, there was a hand operated primer you used to prime the system. following the manual, is not difficult. Making up useless crap to do is far more effort

@DanielSmith-yp7mw 6 ай бұрын

You'd be surprised of how many dealer mechanics and lube places skip that part. Filling the filter. I know first hand mechanics who told me they don't bother with it because of the extra time it takes. It's not them worrying about contaminated oil. Part of why I will always change my own oil.

@robertswift6101 6 ай бұрын

those are speed oil changes,,the faster the more money they make,,they could care less about your car

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@lukew2194 6 ай бұрын

You think anybody working on your car is deeply concerned about it. It's just a job to them regardless of where you go@@robertswift6101

@lukew2194 6 ай бұрын

You think that a mechanic is not pushing cars in and out as fast as he can to make the most money for himself.@@robertswift6101

@reason2gether 6 ай бұрын

exactly! @@robertswift6101

@user-bk6ft6yv5t 7 күн бұрын

One of my favorite features of the c6 vette is if you press the throttle pedal when you start it up. It will crank for about 3 seconds to build oil pressure. It’s phenomenal for cold starts

@user-zk5di5uu6i 14 күн бұрын

This is crazy that people think it's bad to pre-fill the filter. Love your Vids, so glad I found you on youtube

@user-xn9it8df3s 12 күн бұрын

Some engines are practically impossible to do this on the oil filter goes on upside down some VWs and Audis

@budlanctot3060 6 ай бұрын

I've ALWAYS pre-filled my oil filters. Been doing it that way for the last 55yrs, and I've always changed my oil myself. I didn't need anybody to tell me that, it was just obvious. For the last 25yrs I've been using FilterMags on my oil filters, too. If everybody could see how much ferrous dust those magnets can pick up out of the oil and hold it until you replace the filter, they'd be using neodymium magnets on their (metal bodied)filters, too. Maybe you could do a scientific test of that, and cut open a filter and show viewers that, also.

@tommurphy4307 6 ай бұрын

probably a good idea for crappy blocks. when you inspect for metal- inspect for stray casting sand in the filter media while youre at it and you'll see that GM blocks are the WORST

@frankmartin4018 6 ай бұрын

You still got lublication on bearing when you start it up since you just had it running before you change the oil . I saw a boy one time changing oil, had the oil out, decided to move the car off the rack and put it back on the rack for some reason, never hurt the vehicle one bit, a fact, Than he put the oil in it, filter was already on it, owner seen him do that. LOL No, did not hurt the car, owner of the dealership knew it did not hurt the car, it was a Chevey Impala . By the way, I never did fill up oil filters on any car , not even my NIssan Altma and it has 151,000 miles on it now , and I done thousands of oil changes on state police cars as a head mechanic, , it still has lublicant on the bearing, and it will fill the oil fifter right up fast , never had a problem with it , NEVER , after changing oil in hundreds of police vehicles for over a decade . Don't rev it up until it picks the oil up you understand. LOL Only problem I ever had with those Dodge cars where cam shafts on those 318 motors would go out or those police would get the car hung up and rev it up wide open back and forth until they blow a hole in the piston . Now those real old police cars that had the 440 motors in them, it could have a dead cylinder on that piston and he can ran it like that also , LOL it would still do 140 mph with one dead cylinder and run smooth as pie, yes that is a fact . LMAO

@thomasaberlic375 6 ай бұрын

I have started an engine after changing the engine oil and filter (empty). With the engine idling, there was a noticeable crankshaft bearing knock until the filter was full and oil pressure was established. The crankshaft bearings were all in good condition and not worn. When the filter was prefilled with clean engine oil, and the exercise repeated, oil pressure was reached within a couple of seconds. It makes sense to pre-fill the oil filter if you can. It makes no sense at all to start the engine with the oil filter empty if you don't have to.

@user-oq6bd1gw5s 5 ай бұрын

If it's knocking it's shit anyway, oil filter full of oil doesn't fix worn out parts, only your imagination is satisfied.

@lylethomsen7901 5 ай бұрын

If you keep changing the oil without pre oiling the filter, you will, sooner than later, experience Rod knock, or at least lifter wear. Always prelube the filter when changing oil in your engine!

@arcanekingo5716 5 ай бұрын

@@user-oq6bd1gw5s Ive worked at a lube shop. The newer cars knock the loudest.

@arthursmith643 5 ай бұрын

Many vehicles some very expensive have cartridges filters and they are not pre filled.

@bustjanzupan1074 5 ай бұрын

And if the filter is horizontally mounted , you just disconnect the nozzles/jets , or ignition sensor , or at old diesels disconnect the gas-switch on the High Pressure fuel pump, and than crank it Untill the oil-pressure light turns off , And only After that , you Can start the engine Peacefully !!! ! !!!

@blythkd9017 26 күн бұрын

I started in a shop when I was 15 and didn't prefill filters my first few years. Now I always fill when possible and have for years. Even on a Duramax where the filter sat horizontal, I would prefill and lose very little 15W-40 getting the filter started. Good to see some actual data.

@nicholasstobaugh3966 Ай бұрын

thought it was because you could possibly get a piece of the plastic or foil that you have to puncture or remove from the container of oil inside of the filter that will go directly into your engine

@frankpriolo7735 6 ай бұрын

As a retired ASE Master Heavy Truck Technician, I can vouch for everything you put forth in this video. I started out in 1969 as a mechanic apprentice in a small speed shop. When we built and engine, we assembled it using Lubriplate. Put it on a run-in stand and flushed out the lubricating system before installing it in a car. As I got older, I switched over to heavy trucks where I spent 49 years. During that time, if it were at all possible, we would fill the oil filter.

@paulhunter9613 6 ай бұрын

Lubriplate used to be some of the best oil you could buy, very high zinc levels. I used it for decades . When taking off valve covers to replace the gaskets that were starting to leak, I noticed that the valvetrain and even the inside of the covers were absolutely clean, no sludge of any kind. And that was after 100,000 mi on the engine. Now the epa has forced lubriplate to reduce the amount of zinc so I have quit using it.

@stevenbongiorno9277 6 ай бұрын

I’ve been filling my filters since the 80s. I saw an article about it, and it made a lot of sense to me. I have a Chevy small block, so it works well. Even though now it’s running a remote filter mount, that is vertical, I still fill my filters. My street car has a vertical filter mount, and you can bet that I still fill it. I believe that otherwise, there’d be a huge air bubble that would cause some damage in starting the engine

@InexplicableBill 6 ай бұрын

When you say vertical... do you mean the filter screws down on the post or up? Most filters are vertical... or slightly diagonal, but screw upward from below. I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea of pre-filling an oil filter but then turning it over to mount it... 😱😱

@Enword_Jim 6 ай бұрын

The thing is, there's always an air bubble, the pickup tube drains when you empty the oil pan and there's also still some air space in a pre-filled filter. This test was flawed because they did not test how long it takes to get pressure after draining the engine and installing a pre-filled filter, it takes more time than an already primed engine. I still think you should pre-fill the filter, but you don't get instant oil pressure like they tried to demonstrate in this video.

@dhgmllcshea5038 Ай бұрын

@@Enword_JimRight on... underrated comment!

@quanj3349 25 күн бұрын

Thank you so much for doing this and showing the proof! My father taught me this so many years ago while working on w123 Mercedes-Benz engines on an '83 240D, '82 300CD and '85 300DT and taught me the same applies to standard or American engines and I've always thought common sense made sense as to why to do so when changing the oil. Great video! Greatly appreciated!

@garyschuetz2779 Ай бұрын

Very entertaining couple of guys here! I learned of the importance of pre-lubing for airplane engines that sit for extended periods. My last truck was a 2003 Sport-Trac with the notorious cam-chain failing 4.0L V6. I experienced the startup rattle at about 35K miles (nearly just broken in) and found out that when it sat for more than a couple days, the cam-chain tensioners, which were pressurized with oil, would go flat......it didn't rattle if started every day. I rigged up a starter relay switch on the dash so that I could crank the engine about 5 seconds and never had a startup rattle. I later learned that I could use a non-chipped key and just crank for about 5 seconds. A couple years ago, I traded the Sport-Trac with well over a 100K. My Tundra, with the 5.7 V8, has a cartridge filter which cant be prefilled. I have a non-chipped key that I use to pre-lube if the truck sits for a couple of days. For my Tundra oil changes, I stretch the cranking to about 10 seconds before swapping to the chipped key and starting the engine. Some might think it's too much trouble and to them, to each their own. I think I benefited from this little detail with the Sport-Trac and I think it's wise. I salute you Motor Oil Geeks and keep up your good info sharing. 🙂

@martinlang9615 6 ай бұрын

I REALLY like this topic: The home mechanic doing an oil change can also test this for themselves: Time how long it takes for the oil pressure to come on from when you crank the engine, when: 1/ new oil filter is pre-filled, 2/ new oil filter installed without oil. I know for a fact that it takes longer for the oil pressure switch light to go out. So of course I always pre-fill. I can’t believe people would think new oil would have particulates that could harm the engine without going through the oil filter first! It needs to get dirty FIRST! That’s serious overthinking right there, LOL 😂.

@davevan8864 6 ай бұрын

My Auto Tech teacher at Independence High in Charlotte was the first person that told us to pre fill a oil filter. He was a club racer and ran a big block Vette, which he said must have a full filter on start up. So I am glad you confirmed the info I got 45 years ago!!

@themotoroilgeek 6 ай бұрын

Is Charlotte area folks got to gleam info from the masters at Holman & Moody back in the day!

@davevan8864 6 ай бұрын

@@themotoroilgeek We went to the old shop many a time!!! thx

@RwingDsquad 7 күн бұрын

Even though everybody told me it's unnecessary, I still always filled up the filter before installation. It only makes sense to not run the engine without oil for any amount of time. When you dont add oil to the filter and start the engine... the engine sounds VERY angry for a few seconds.

@richardcornelius1050 Ай бұрын

The answer is NO pre-filling the oil filter will NOT damage the engine . I’ve been doing it for Decades .

@supra8544 6 ай бұрын

It’s a good idea to prefill the oil filter but I wouldn’t worry about not doing it. My Tacoma’s oil filter is up side down, meaning that for the past 18 years, I couldnt pre- fill the oil filter on my Tacoma. My Tacoma has 200k and the engine still runs like day one.

@russelloppenheimer3970 6 ай бұрын

You can still prefill it. Sorta. The first like half quart you pour into filter gets sucked into filter media. Won't spill out. Pour small amount of oil into filter, watch it disappear. Keep doing that until some small amount of liquid oil remains visible. Now install filter quickly. Might not even spill a drop. But whatever does spill, easy cleanup, totally worth it.

@tesitest378 6 ай бұрын

Same thing on toyota tercel filter mounted diagonally and not need to prefill only fill motor with 8 ounce of oil, my tercel last 32 years and work better than new toyota yaris

@tommurphy4307 6 ай бұрын

geez- thats a no-brainer. just fill the filter, let it sit for a few minutes, dump out the extra oil and make sure the seal ring is oily, and screw it on. just make sure the pan plug is in before filling. sounds easy, right?

@fiero11 6 ай бұрын

I enjoyed this video. I was also told not to prefill my oil filters from the drum/ 5 gallon bucket. I said that was wrong, why would packaged oil be more contaminated than what's in the engine. The biggest reason, though, is that my trucks are diesel and have extremely large filters. The time it takes to fill an empty filter with oil can do significant damage to the engine. My large trucks use two filters that hold almost 2 gallons of oil...long enough to possibly seize the engine while filling. The filters even state damage can occur if they are not prefilled! The only other issue I have found is previous services or owners did prefill the filters as instructed, but then proceeded to fill the truck with the manual listed oil capacity which overfilled them by 2 gallons, also not good.

@ShiftyKen08 11 күн бұрын

I've been pre-filling oil filters ever since I learned about this practice over 30 years ago. It just made sense when it was explained to me. One need not be an engineer to understand basic concepts