Oil goes IN the Oil Filter?

chinaski · Post by **chinaski** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:53 pm

Changing my oil for the first time. I've pulled up all relevant posts from MB on this topic, have all the parts and tools and I'm ready to go. One thing is keeping me from beginning. My dealer told me before I put on the new oil filter to put oil IN the filter before screwing it on. I understand to rub a little oil on the mouth/o-ring of the oil filter before screwing on but do i really put oil IN the oil filter before screwing it on? Wouldn't it spill as i navigate the filter back to the point of attachment?

Any advice/info would be much help. Thanks all.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:57 pm

I don't fill the filter.

I drain, remove filter, replace drain plug, install new filter and fill to the full level on the dip stick.

Then I start it and let it idle for a few mins. Shut it down, wait a few mins and check the dipstick to see if I need to add a little more.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:33 pm

chinaski wrote:Changing my oil for the first time. I've pulled up all relevant posts from MB on this topic, have all the parts and tools and I'm ready to go. One thing is keeping me from beginning. My dealer told me before I put on the new oil filter to put oil IN the filter before screwing it on. I understand to rub a little oil on the mouth/o-ring of the oil filter before screwing on but do i really put oil IN the oil filter before screwing it on? Wouldn't it spill as i navigate the filter back to the point of attachment?

Any advice/info would be much help. Thanks all.

Well, that's just silly. If you filled the filter with oil, it would run out and make a mess when you tried to install it. Just do exactly as BuddyRaton described.

chinaski · Post by **chinaski** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:33 pm

Thanks BuddyRaton.

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:39 pm

Your dealer is an idiot. Never have I heard of such a thing. Good luck with your first oil change. I have one under my belt and it felt good.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:57 pm

chinaski wrote:Thanks BuddyRaton.

Anytime Dude!

Just be careful...in a few months you'll be tearing motors apart just to see what's going on in there!

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:27 pm

Tocsik wrote:
chinaski wrote:Changing my oil for the first time. I've pulled up all relevant posts from MB on this topic, have all the parts and tools and I'm ready to go. One thing is keeping me from beginning. My dealer told me before I put on the new oil filter to put oil IN the filter before screwing it on. I understand to rub a little oil on the mouth/o-ring of the oil filter before screwing on but do i really put oil IN the oil filter before screwing it on? Wouldn't it spill as i navigate the filter back to the point of attachment?

Any advice/info would be much help. Thanks all.
Well, that's just silly. If you filled the filter with oil, it would run out and make a mess when you tried to install it. Just do exactly as BuddyRaton described.

Uhhh, it actually doesn't run out. (At least if youre fairly swift and competent about getting the filter on the stub and started)

The element absorbs the oil, and by pre-wetting the filter, you're preventing a "dry" start...waiting for the oil pump to fill and pressurize the filter, while the engine runs essentially without oil pressure until that happens.

Thats the only way I do it, pre-filling the oil filter....and have done so for years.

chinaski · Post by **chinaski** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:47 pm

Uhhh, it actually doesn't run out. (At least if youre fairly swift and competent about getting the filter on the stub and started)

The element absorbs the oil, and by pre-wetting the filter, you're preventing a "dry" start...waiting for the oil pump to fill and pressurize the filter, while the engine runs essentially without oil pressure until that happens.

Thats the only way I do it, pre-filling the oil filter....and have done so for years.

You make a good point from my inexperienced perspective. If I was to put a small amount of oil in the oil filter I assume it wouldn't be alot, maybe a few cc's at most, eh?

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:55 pm

chinaski wrote:
Uhhh, it actually doesn't run out. (At least if youre fairly swift and competent about getting the filter on the stub and started)

The element absorbs the oil, and by pre-wetting the filter, you're preventing a "dry" start...waiting for the oil pump to fill and pressurize the filter, while the engine runs essentially without oil pressure until that happens.

Thats the only way I do it, pre-filling the oil filter....and have done so for years.
You make a good point from my inexperienced perspective. If I was to put a small amount of oil in the oil filter I assume it wouldn't be alot, maybe a few cc's at most, eh?

I fill it nearly to the top, watch it absorb in and level (appears) to go down for the absorption, and...."wham"....I get it onto the stub.

Seriously, there may be a little dribble if you are tentative about getting it positioned...but the lesser of two evils when compared to a dry start IMO.

Anyway, after a time or two's practice , it can be done 100% clean!

Because of the presence of an oil pressure light on my Vespa...the difference is noticeable on first start up....with a dry filter you sit there and watcha nd wait several seconds for the light to go out indicating good oiling. With a pre-wetted filter, its nearly instantaneous. Proof enough for me. Our Buddys don't have oil lights...a bit of a shortcoming, but its the same thing to the engine.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:31 pm

Just make sure that you don't fill the oil filter, then pour 800 or 900cc of oil down the filler tube. Use some of the 800 or 900cc you will use in the oil change to fill the oil filter. Otherwise you'll end up with an overfilled crankcase, and you have the potential for engine damage.

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:34 pm

Syd wrote:Just make sure that you don't fill the oil filter, then pour 800 or 900cc of oil down the filler tube. Use some of the 800 or 900cc you will use in the oil change to fill the oil filter. Otherwise you'll end up with an overfilled crankcase, and you have the potential for engine damage.

Indeed, the oil you place directly into the filter is part of the total amount you need to add to your engine. Ideally, it simply means you'll need to add less after intial start-up/level check is all...

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:45 pm

Well, the "idiot" I mentioned earlier turned out to be me.

Learn something new every day.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:47 pm

Raiderfn311 wrote:Your dealer is an idiot. Never have I heard of such a thing. Good luck with your first oil change. I have one under my belt and it felt good.

One oil change's worth of experience and you're calling dealers idiots. That must have been an epic oil change.

mattgordon wrote:Uhhh, it actually doesn't run out. (At least if youre fairly swift and competent about getting the filter on the stub and started)

The element absorbs the oil, and by pre-wetting the filter, you're preventing a "dry" start...waiting for the oil pump to fill and pressurize the filter, while the engine runs essentially without oil pressure until that happens.

Thats the only way I do it, pre-filling the oil filter....and have done so for years.

Though I've never pre-filled there's definitely some logic to doing it. Might see if I can do it without making a mess next time.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:56 pm

mattgordon wrote: Uhhh, it actually doesn't run out. (At least if youre fairly swift and competent about getting the filter on the stub and started)

The element absorbs the oil, and by pre-wetting the filter, you're preventing a "dry" start...waiting for the oil pump to fill and pressurize the filter, while the engine runs essentially without oil pressure until that happens.

Thats the only way I do it, pre-filling the oil filter....and have done so for years.

Huh! Thanks for the education! I hope it's as easy on the 150's. The oil filter sits on the oil cooler in a different spot than the 125's. I'll give that a try next time (which is in about 400 miles).

Raiderfn311 · Post by **Raiderfn311** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:01 pm

^^^^Yes, Eric, I may have jumped the gun a bit.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:57 pm

I can't say as I've ever done it, on cars, trucks or scoots. And I've never had a problem with any vehicle, either, but it's not stoopid.

My scoots don't have a cartridge filter, just a screen. Do you think I can prefill it?

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:57 pm

Tocsik wrote:
mattgordon wrote: Uhhh, it actually doesn't run out. (At least if youre fairly swift and competent about getting the filter on the stub and started)

The element absorbs the oil, and by pre-wetting the filter, you're preventing a "dry" start...waiting for the oil pump to fill and pressurize the filter, while the engine runs essentially without oil pressure until that happens.

Thats the only way I do it, pre-filling the oil filter....and have done so for years.
Huh! Thanks for the education! I hope it's as easy on the 150's. The oil filter sits on the oil cooler in a different spot than the 125's. I'll give that a try next time (which is in about 400 miles).

Its actually easier on the 150 as the filter is a bit more accesible than on the 125 (we had one of each) AND it's got a splash shield! Haha

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:00 am

Syd wrote:My scoots don't have a cartridge filter, just a screen. Do you think I can prefill it?

Yes...and you must post a video of you doing it!

Modern Buddy

Oil goes IN the Oil Filter?

Oil goes IN the Oil Filter?

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Re: Oil goes IN the Oil Filter?

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Re: Oil goes IN the Oil Filter?