Fill oil filter during a change or not

[stevej37]

I never fill it...but I make damn sure my cool collar is tightened down on the filter.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

It's funny that back in the day (80s and into the 90s) Fram was supposed to be the best. I believe back in the 70s Champion were supposed to be really good spark plugs. In the 80s and 90s, Champions were not considered good plugs, but Autolite plugs were considered good plugs. I do remember that at some point, Fram started to be considered junk.

I don't know who is supposed to make good filters out of the big US brands these days, like Fram, Purolator, STP, Wix, etc...

I think Purolater was a decent filter in the early 90s, but I've seen that they may not be good any more.

I've been using Mobil 1 filters for the wife's Outback.

I put Motorcraft on the F250. Toyota filters on the Rav and Highlander, Fram on the 08 Rav4, Fram on the Mazda 3. The Toyota filters don't cost much more than Fram and since both vehicles still have warranty, I like to make sure I use the "factory" filter.
Wix used to be my go to but since CarQuest got gobbled up by Advance Auto, the local CQ doesn't carry Wix filters anymore. I can get Wix from Oreilly's but they're pricey compared to what I used to buy them for.

[herr_oberst]

I just use Wix. Buy em about 4 or 6 at a time or so, and make sure I get a handful of drain plug gaskets while I'm ordering.

[URY914]

On my old Ford P/U you couldn't pre-fill it because you needed to tilt it 90 degrees to get between the crossmember and the pan. PITA getting the old one off.

[peppy]

If I can fill it and not dump it yes, otherwise no.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by IROC

My first thought was that he destroyed any credibility right off the bat by using Fram filters.

Yup

I am a fill the oil filter guy, at least enough to soak the filter media. It probably does not matter on a dry sump

What does Lubey say about it?

[A930Rocket]

On my F150, I don’t fill it, because the filter goes in horizontally over the k member. What a stupid design.

On my BMW 330, I don’t fill it, because it’s a cartridge type filter, installed from above. Any oil I put in there, would drain to the pan.

On my 911/930’s , I don’t fill it, as they install horizontally.

I do wet the gaskets with clean oil before install.

[fanaudical]

To me, it depends on the car.

The 911 - Never fill the filter. No point to do so. It's at the end of the line before it goes into the tank (plus is horizontal).

My Dodge truck - Filter is installed vertically up - YES - fill the filter. I think the service manual even says so. Not sure it matters - it still has that annoying Hemi tick.

The Q3 - Filter is installed upside down on the top of the motor - No way to fill it.

Older Audis with the 2.8 or 2.7 V6 - Nope - Filter hung horizontal - No way to fill it.

The old Audi Fox - YES - Had to fill it and also had to pull the oil pressure sender and pour some down the hole so that pump would prime after it was drained...

[sc_rufctr]

I've always done it when possible (see "fanaudical" post above).

Does it make a difference? IMO probably yes because it takes a moment longer for the oil pump to fill an empty filter. Those moments ad up over time.

[Bill Douglas]

I'd never heard of it until a year or two ago.

So by default, I'm a no I don't fill it guy.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'd never heard of it until this thread. With 256K miles on my 07 BMW still running very strong, top mount oil canister never been filled, I'd say it doesn't make a difference. Cayenne is bottom mount canister so impossible. 911 are side so impossible.

So who cares.

But he is entertaining.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I just use Wix. Buy em about 4 or 6 at a time or so, and make sure I get a handful of drain plug gaskets while I'm ordering.

FYI: the Wix filters made in the US and Mexico are good quality , but the ones made in China are not . Apparently they use a different manufacturing process and anti drain back valves . Charles Navarro at LN Engineering has done testing to flush out the differences .

[IROC]

Originally Posted by masraum

It's funny that back in the day (80s and into the 90s) Fram was supposed to be the best.

Back in the mid-90s (when the porschephiles mailing list was all models of Porsches) there was a guy on there with a 944 whose engine was destroyed by a Fram filter. The story was epic. He had documented evidence of filter media all through the engine, etc. and fought Fram to no avail. I think Fram basically said to pound sand the whole time.

Of course, as this story is unfolding, people are coming out of the woodwork with anecdotal stories of how Fram filters destroyed their engines, gave them cancer, ruined their eyesight, etc., but since then I have been wary of Fram.

I routinely change the oil on 6 different vehicles and I use factory filters on all of them.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

FYI: the Wix filters made in the US and Mexico are good quality , but the ones made in China are not

Buy a bunch when you see the good ones, and check them all.

[fastfredracing]

Ive had always filled it , up till recent years. Its just how I was taught, even though I basically understood there was no real advantage to doing so for some time now .
Im pretty sure that Navistar, and CAT specifically instruct to "NOT" fill the filters . I stopped doing it probably a decade ago . I just wet the seal and sent it

[fastfredracing]

Oh, and here in the rust belt, I see Fram filters rusted through somewhat frequently . Its always that wal mart customer, who buys super tech oil and a fram filter at wal mart, trying to save $4$ on an oil change when they bring me their KIA, and supply their own parts .
From personal experience , I would say ,Fram is the absolute bottom of the barrel. I cant remember ever seeing another oil filter rust through , even when they sit in a PA farm field for 10 years .

[pwd72s]

Fram. aka, "The Orange can of death"...(edit) But boy oh boy, did they ever have some effective TV advertising. Used to be that Purolater was considered good, among other brands.

These days...factory. Motocraft in the Mustang, Toyota dealership for changes on her car. Mobil makes the Toyotya full synthetic oil used, and I figure if their cannister insert isn't any good, whose is? On the Mustang, did Dino oil for the break-in ring seating, then switched to mobil 1. Ford dealerships use a semi synthetic, claiming it's a 50-50 blend. A chat with the service manager, and he had no problem with me bringing Mobil 1. Last I heard, the Motocraft filters are made for Ford by Purolator.

At 81, my floor jack, ramps, and jackstands all sit pretty much unused. Ditto the tools, though I do grab one once in a while for minor stuff around the house. Father time is a cruel bastid, boys. My balance is shot, I hurt in many places, and my strength has diminished a ton. We crusty old men are that way because what used to be easy-peasy is now either something we're no longer able to do or has become a major effort. Try to be kind & understanding, and maybe lend a hand when you can.

[Dantilla]

Local auto parts store had a few oil filters cut open on the display counter.
One look at the inside of the Fram, and you'll never ever use one.

[Brian 162]

I recently started doing my own oil changes. I add oil to the filter, it’s easy on a GM. I use AC Delco filters and Mobil synthetic.
Good to know about Wix filters.