Oil Filter FILL procedure?

[OilPatch197]

What are the thoughts on pre-filling oil filters?

I got some lawn mowers that tell me I should put oil into the filter and have the filter pre-soak the oil into the element material before installation....

I've always installed the FL-1A's dry, would I gain any benefits by adding 1/2 quart of oil and let the filter soak it up prior to installation?

 

[MountainMike]

Just saves you a second of a dry filter having to get filled from the oil pressure in the engine. I've always done it, the old boys in the shop do it so I'm going to keep doing it.

 

[whocares]

Just saves you a second of a dry filter having to get filled from the oil pressure in the engine. I've always done it, the old boys in the shop do it so I'm going to keep doing it.

I agree.

 

[TheTopher]

I think it's a good practice on most vehicles but I think prefilling it would just make a mess on my truck's horizontal A1 filter. One of these days I'll get the kit to make it vertical so I can not only prefill it when I install it, but it'll stay filled for every start-up.

 

[mn_smokeater]

I fill it bout half full but that's dependent on how the filter goes in ie if the thing gets moved in 18 different angles igoing in I won't fill it

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I've always filled mine. I figure it's better to have some oil in there to get things started than none. Depending on how the filter goes in and how it sits depends on how full I fill it.

My Ranger has a filter on like a 40* angle and takes a lil wiggling to get in, so it gets filled about halfway. My F-150 has a FL-1A horizontal, along with the F-350s I drive and maintain for work, so they only get a lil put in - I stop adding when the filter material stops sopping it up. My BIIs have vertical filters so they get filled up.

A full FL-1A filter will take around a quart of oil, FYI. I figure it's probably not good for the engine to have to circulate enough oil to fill that bad boy up from a dry state.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm assuming that the oil goes through the filter before going through the motor. I fill mine as full as practical and always have.

Richard

 

[Mike Tonon]

Yup, the FL-1A was the oil filter for my 87 Ranger with the 2.9l. My dad taught me to fill it, so did my shop teacher back in high school. The FL-1A is kind of a big filter. I would say fill it, let it drain into it and fill it once or twice more. While you have the oil on/in the filter, lub the rubber gasket. I would imagine even put a little oil in the filter is better than none.

 

[adsm08]

I used to. I usually don't any more, except on the 7.3 and 6.7L's, because they won't start without the pressure.

It doesn't hurt anything to do it, and it's probably better, but I have yet to blow up an engine, including my own, from not doing it.

 

[doorgunner]

Since my wife's Exploder ran 45 minutes up=side down before seizing up, I'm not as concerned about a dry-filter-start-up as I once was......






But...Wet can't hurt!!!!!

 

[whocares]

I used to. I usually don't any more, except on the 7.3 and 6.7L's, because they won't start without the pressure.

It doesn't hurt anything to do it, and it's probably better, but I have yet to blow up an engine, including my own, from not doing it.

So if you dont fill the filter on the 7.3's or the 6.7's, will it just crank an extra time or two until the filter is full and there is pressure or will it not start at all?

 

[adsm08]

It will crank for a while before it fires. Those are 2+ qt filters.

 

[91stranger]

me and my friends always fill it at least halfway, we always takes our fingers and put some on the rubber seal to prevent corrosion too.

 

[odie1969]

Since my wife's Exploder ran 45 minutes up=side down before seizing up, I'm not as concerned about a dry-filter-start-up as I once was......






But...Wet can't hurt!!!!!

Sorry if I missed the thread you say why the explorer was upside down for 45min. hope your wife is ok.

 

[MountainMike]

but it'll stay filled for every start-up.

They have an anti-drainback baffle in them. It's that little orange ring you see on top.