pre-loading filters?

[T-Bird]

When I was a young teenager my older brother and cousin were techs at the local motorcycle shop.
They would come in after school and work on the bikes and do routine service. I had the privalage of being able to hang out and help. One thing I learned then (1969) and still do to this day, is to pre-load oil filters before putting on. I had a few buddies over the house last night for a wrenching party, and was doing some oil changes on a couple of bikes. They had never seen this done and thought it wasn't needed in newer bikes. I informed them that I had always done it that way.
        How many of you do this...if any at all ?

[Kaiser]

That's how my dad taught me how to do it.  He also said it was important to put a light layer of oil on the filter's gasket prior to installing.

[old2soon]

That's how my dad taught me how to do it.  He also said it was important to put a light layer of oil on the filter's gasket prior to installing.

[six2go #152]

I've done it with cars, but on a motorcycle where most filters are mounted horizontally, how do ya keep the oil in when you tip it to thread it on?

[Bobbo]

The layer of oil on the gasket is a must, but filling the filter with oil isn’t necessary.  I usually fill it about halfway, simply because I have the oil right there.  I agree, any more than half will make a mess when you try to mount it on the bike.

[Hook#3287]

I do it on all my diesels, but haven't on my bikes.

[Kaiser]

I've done it with cars, but on a motorcycle where most filters are mounted horizontally, how do ya keep the oil in when you tip it to thread it on?

That's easy - just tip the bike. 

[9Ball]

I've done it with cars, but on a motorcycle where most filters are mounted horizontally, how do ya keep the oil in when you tip it to thread it on?

That's easy - just tip the bike. 

that's how I drain my gas tank....

[six2go #152]

I've done it with cars, but on a motorcycle where most filters are mounted horizontally, how do ya keep the oil in when you tip it to thread it on?

That's easy - just tip the bike. 

I tried that once, but MRS. six couldn't hold the back of the Valk high enough. She's only 5'1".

[John U.]

I prefill oil filters, tho not too much on horizontal mounts. Even then the filter media will absorb quite a bit. It will shorten the period of 0 oil pressure, which has to be a good thing.

[fordmano]

Yep, I do it too.

Usually try and fill it 1/2-3/4 before I do anything else and let it sit. Then by the time it's time to install the filter most of the oil has been absorbed and does not spill when tipped over.

Now do you use fresh oil or old oil to lube the gasket? I was told by my auto shop teacher back in Highschool that you should use the OLD oil to lube the gasket it has already been burnt a bit and will not change any further were as new oil may actually change a little from heat cycles and then act almost like a gasket material instead of a lube between the rubber and the mount location?

I don't think that is true at all but the few times I have used the new Oil as lube for the filter it was harder to remove the next time. I think it is that the new oil let's you spin the filteron tighter than the OLD oil will and that's why it is harder to remove.

[Chiefy]

When I got my first car, that seemed like the prudent thing to do.  But my Uncle the professional mechanic told me (when he stopped chuckling) that it's not necessary, so I stopped doing it.  He never gave me bad advice before or after, so I'll go with Uncle Kurt.   

[Blackduck]

Well a couple of points to ponder.
When you tip oil into a filter it is usually on the discharge side of the filter so if the is any contaminant in the oil it goes straight into your engine.
Caterpillar specifically mention NOT to prefill filters.
If you have run the engine to warm the oil before draining and do the oil and filter change straight away then there is enough oil in the system and running surfaces to start and bring up oil pressure without doing any harm.
If you let it drain for a day it maybe a problem.
Each to their own
Cheers Steve

[Madmike]

As a general rule I do not prefill most engine oil filters as it has always seemed to me that it is a good way to get a bunch of contamination in an engine.  The only time I do it is on large remote mount filters on some stationary engines that use multiple elements in a single canister - once the new elements are installed there is no way that unfiltered oil can reach the engine and it is way faster to pour the oil in to the filter canister than it is to fill it with the prelube pump.

[John U.]

It may be worth mentioning that oil filters bypass oil when cold so unfilterd oil is regularly pumped into all engines.

[Chrisj CMA]

I have never done it on any car or bike or truck.......over 200K on the truck and 120K on the bike......both run great no oil issues, no smoke no useing oil.......cant see that it has hurt anything

[Kaiser]

Isn't the contamination found in oil junk that it picks up by passing through the engine?  I thought that any "new" oil was not contaminated.  It only gets contaminated by passing through the engine, right?  Or am I completely wrong here?

[Ricky-D]

yes, you are correct!

The filter is the last obstacle in the path of the oil returning to the sump.

***

[Kaiser]

Ok - if I'm correct, the argument that you could get contamination in the engine by putting new oil in the filter prior to installation is unfounded.

[Bobbo]

I think the contamination referred to earlier was from outside the engine, like dirt and dust.  If you are changing your filter in that dirty of an environment, it might get contaminated anyway!

As far as using old or new oil on the gasket, I don't believe it would make much difference. The oil is mostly to keep the seal from binding or tearing when installing.  It also helps it to come off later.

[2qmedic]

yes, you are correct!

The filter is the last obstacle in the path of the oil returning to the sump.

***

OOPS, me thinks it's the other way around.
Oil pump to filter to engine then drains to sump.