2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Pre fill oil filter..Good or Bad!

[JJW_ND]

Those of you that get Lube Tips would have seen this. I found it interesting. It relates to pre filling (which I have always done) the lube filter prior to installing a new one.



Seems like others think this is not a good deal!



Read on:



In a recent issue of Lube-Tips, it was stated: "When replacing top-suspended spin-on or threaded canister-type filters, fill them with fresh oil before installation. This will reduce the amount of time that the engine or machinery undergoes dry start-up by having that extra available amount of oil available. In some cases, it could also prevent filter damage when a gush of high-pressure fluid hits a dry element. "



For many heavy mobile equipment manufacturers, the above mentioned is not an approved practice. Many of the newer Caterpillar models are equipped with prelubrication systems making this a step that can greatly increase the risk of contaminants entering the new lubricating oil.



After an oil change (unless the system has been flushed) there will be enough residual lubricant that an "at idle - no load" startup will not cause any damage, and there is much less chance of contaminants entering the system.



All oil changes should be done with the oil warm. This assures that the contaminants in the system to be drained are already in suspension in the old oil, and that the system has a good film of oil on all the moving parts to protect them during the new filter fill and start up. Automatic pressure prelube systems are still the best answer. (Submitted by Richard Driver, Equipment Contract Engineer, Finning Chile S. A. Thanks Richard!)



jjw

ND

 

[gitchesum]

I think the pre-lubing comments are the key here. They mention the CAT's have a pre-lubing system installed. The 5. 9 doesn't.



Here's my question, what side of the filter is the clean side and what side is the dirty side? you could always just fill the dirty side and the oil you pour in there would be filtered.



Anyone got extra info?

 

[Jeff Knight]

I always fill my filter with oil before putting it on. My 95 had 199000 miles on it when i sold it. I didn't have any problem with it. I will continue this on my new truck. Jeff

 

[Crazy Horse]

I've always prefilled the filters also. On the gas engines it prevents the dry lifter tick while building the initial oil pressure.

 

[illflem]

I know that on my '95s when I drain oil overnight and remove the filter in the morning it's only half full anyways, it must siphon back. All the way empty probably adds less than a second of fill time till the oil circulates. A couple of my JD tractors with the equivalent of over a million miles each have the filter on up side down, it drains every time, not just in an oil change. I used to prefill my filters but haven't for a few years, don't think it makes much difference, I'll let you know if I only get 495k before a rebuild.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I *always* pre-fill my new filter before installation - and if any are suggesting that doing so is somehow more likely to attract or introduce contaminents into the filter/engine, just ask yourself if it REALLY is gonna make any difference whether contaminents fall into and EMPTY filter, or a FULL one...



The key here is being careful during installation - whether the filter is pre-filled or not is a non-issue...

 

[TomGolden]

Gary, I absolutely agree with you. Always have, and as of today, I always intend to pre-fill my oil filters until something proves to me that a better method is available for my Cummins - at a price that is reasonable.



Tom

 

[Joe G.]

I always pre-fill mine. You have to be carefull because the hole in the middle is the clean side. If stuff gets in there it can block a piston cooling nozzle. BAD NEWS if that happens.

 

[Wiredawg]

Pre-fill everytime!

I've always prefilled my oil filters. Never any problems. I also keep my engines very clean to minimize getting contaminants in the filter while putting it on.



Wiredawg

 

[LSMITH]

I agree with illflem on this one, it just isn't going to make a difference in the long term. I prefill mine to about half-way, it isn't going to hurt anything and the time it takes is minimal. If I was in a hurry I would spin it on dry and fire it up.

 

[Wheaties]

Originally posted by Joe G.

I always pre-fill mine. You have to be carefull because the hole in the middle is the clean side. If stuff gets in there it can block a piston cooling nozzle. BAD NEWS if that happens.

Joe G. is right. This is exactly what Cummins documented was the cause of more than one engine failure. It was written up in the TDR. In more than one case, they found the foil seal from the oil bottle had dropped into the filter, travelled down the oil galleys, and plugged one of the piston cooling nozzles.



I pre-fill too, but I make absolutely sure that the foil is far, far away from the filter. You are definitely pouring into the clean side!



Matt

 

[Motorhead]

The ONE reason that I like the Fleetguard filters is that they are plastic shrink wrapped. I have seen other brands that come in a box, un-wrapped, with cardboard dust in the middle opening and anything else that got in there.

I too pre fill and do so from a new un-opened gallon jug.

 

[Jeff H]

Has anyone noticed that the engine rpms come up slightly once you have oil pressure? Geuss thats why I prefill mine. It don't take that long to prefill anyways.

Other thing I do is grab the oil filter from the top. That way crap hits the top of my hand and falls away from the filter.

 

[drawson]

I read an article once from England in the early days of WW2... A spitfire or Hurricane would come in for it first oil change with no problems and leave and with in a short time have rod bearing problems. The problem was found to be putting the oil filter on dry. Not only does it delay the engine getting pressurized but it also blows all of the oil already in the bearing out as all the air in the filter is blown into the main oil galleries. The merlin engine are far worse than our because they had over 2 1/2 gallons of oil filter air doing the deed. When ever possible always preoil the oil filter... .

 

[SOOT]

I always pre-fill. Even though most of our equipment is Cat powered we still pre-fill. Cat says not to but we do anyways, our small Cats are C10's about 350HP adn have 1 filter that is 1. 5 gallons and another that is 1 gallon. The BIG Cats we run are 3512's or twin turboed V12's about 2250HP with 3 filters that are 1. 5 gallons and hold about 45 gallons of oil total. it takes a while to fill the filters if installed dry. It's not a risk we want to take with a $350,000 engine

 

[3dracer]

I thought that the main reason to pre-fill was to give instant lube to the turbo? I don't understand the bad reason for this if you are careful to pour clean oil in. Besides there still is a chance that you can contaminate it even if you didn't prefill it. In case no one has noticed, it is not real easy to get the filter in it's place anyway...

 

[jcbrown]

Prefill...

... outside holes of filter; NOT center hole. That is the normal flow of oil through the filter.

 

[24V-DSL]

jcbrown... .



I'm confused... gotta go home and look at a Fleetguard.



I can't visualize anything but ONE opening hole in the filter to pour in oil??



Are you saying that pouring into the "center hole" is somehow useless or harmful? If so, please elaborate. I always prefill with the idea of mitigating "dry start", but if I'm not doing it right I need to know.

 

[Wheaties]

24V-DSL:



Right, the center hole is where you pour the oil. Around it are smaller holes, but still inside the gasket. These smaller holes are separated from the center hole by short threaded pipe that holds the filter on. The outer holes connect to the oil pump galley and the center hole connects to the galley that goes to the bearings, so the center hole, and center of the filter is the 'clean side'. You want to make triple sure that it stays that way. Anything that gets in there goes straight to the bearings.



If I understand the issue correctly, some manufacturers feel that the risk of contamination from stuff that may come in with the oil outweighs the risk of having dry bearings while the air works its way out of the system. If you've seen a picture of a piston cooling nozzle clogged with the foil from the quart bottle cap, you might agree.

 

[24V-DSL]

Wheaties....

thanks for the helpful explanation. The more I tried to visualize what the top of the filter looks like, when I read your response I now 'umbember the outside holes being there as you describe. I am disgustingly cautious about the foil when I open my Delo jugs.