DUMB? question
 

Can you change the oil filter on a 3.2 without draining the oil tank? Or will you dump a lot of oil if you take the filter off without draining the tank? The reason why I am asking, I had to change the oil, and did not have a Mahle filter available and had to use a brand X filter, now that I am back home, I want to put the mahle filter on.:confused:

Do it cold and have a towel ready.....

If the filter you put on does not have an anti-drainback valve you will lose about 1/2 of an oil filter's worth of oil. Less is you are fast. With the Mahle filter I never lose more than about a teaspoon full of oil. Either way, draining the oil has no effect on how much oil you lose when changing the filter.

I've done this and as stated you 'll lose a little oil. jam newspaper or paper towels underneath to catch the spillage. Tip the threaded end up as quickly as possible.

There are no dumb questions.
There aren't are there?

Thanks guys, I have always drained the tank first, so I didn't know how much would come out just taking the filter loose.