Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

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Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

August 10, 2023, 05:44:21 pm

I have changed the engine oil and oil filter for my 03/ISL 400 engine several times. For all the good reasons, I always had a friend keeping me company. For the life of me, I don't recall if I pre-fill the oil filter or not? Should we or not?

Early this year, I purchased a used 2018 RAM 2500 Cummins with about 25,000 miles on it, and since then, I've put about 4,000 miles on it. I purchased it from a reputable dealer, but I still would like to change the oil and fuel filters to have my own fresh start. The engine oil indicates 60% life. I have watched several videos on how to change oil on a 2018 RAM Cummins and noticed that some do pre-fill, while some don't. The oil filter is located in a very tight place (it is a poorly designed location). What do you all think... pre-fill or not pre-fill?

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #1 – August 10, 2023, 05:52:47 pm

I think it is always a good idea to pre-fill an oil filter.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #2 – August 10, 2023, 06:17:04 pm

I've never pre filled my oil filters, but it is necessary for fuel filters.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #3 – August 10, 2023, 06:33:44 pm

NO. Unless you only pour oil in the outer holes (inlets), not large center hole (exit) you are putting unfiltered oil directly into the engine.

We had a petroleum engineer in the Diesel RV Club. When the question came up in one of the maintenance seminars, he was emphatic that one should not count on zero contaminants in the oil.

It takes less than 3 seconds from start up to fill the oil filter and get full oil pressure.

If you feel you have to pre-fill, only do so in the outer holes.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #4 – August 10, 2023, 06:37:45 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – August 10, 2023, 06:33:44 pm

NO. Unless you only pour oil in the outer holes (inlets), not large center hole (exit) you are putting unfiltered oil directly into the engine.

We had a petroleum engineer in the Diesel RV Club. When the question came up in one of the maintenance seminars, he was emphatic that one should not count on zero contaminants in the oil.

It takes less than 3 seconds from start up to fill the oil filter and get full oil pressure.

If you feel you have to pre-fill, only do so in the outer holes.

Totally agree....! no prefill unless thru filter first.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #5 – August 10, 2023, 11:35:47 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – August 10, 2023, 06:33:44 pm

NO. Unless you only pour oil in the outer holes (inlets), not large center hole (exit) you are putting unfiltered oil directly into the engine.

We had a petroleum engineer in the Diesel RV Club. When the question came up in one of the maintenance seminars, he was emphatic that one should not count on zero contaminants in the oil.

It takes less than 3 seconds from start up to fill the oil filter and get full oil pressure.

If you feel you have to pre-fill, only do so in the outer holes.

I find it hard to believe that engine oil manufacturers do not put clean oil into clean containers.
My head hurts!

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #6 – August 11, 2023, 12:56:50 am

Pre fill don't prefill, I believe more foreign material gets in the oil filter from not cleaning the filter housing before trying to install the filter. Than comes from the new unopened oil containers. JMHO

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #7 – August 11, 2023, 05:27:18 am

On my 2006 Dodge the oil filter is buried up under the front side of the engine. I should drain the filter for removal but seldom do. It makes a mess every single time I change it. I cant imagine filling it prior to installing. Double the mess. So Ive never prefilled it. I did go buy the special filter socket for the dodge and use a 12" 3/8 extension to facilitate remove and reinstall. Two other points. I use Dow Corning DC4 silicon lube on the gasket for much easier removal and my dodge front drive line requires being Lubed at oil change intervals. Much better to lube it before oil change mess. Nobody ever greases them. Required at 5K. The first time I do it I literally mark the location with paint marker because it is so difficult to find. Clean the factory grease/paint off of it and then it's easier to find next time. Big red arrow from paint marker helps. PITA.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #8 – August 11, 2023, 07:12:16 am

Stated this analogy before,on some Cat engines if you don't fill the filter then upon startup the valve train clatters like a banshee
for a few seconds,next time one of you non-fillers changes oil have someone start the engine and you stand next to it,don't know
if yours will clatter but would be interesting to know.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #9 – August 11, 2023, 10:08:19 am

On my sidekick I don't prefill the filter as it goes on sideways but the engine is noisy for
a few seconds. On my M11 I don't have to prefill as I installed a preluber so I have oil
pressure before turning the engine over.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #10 – August 11, 2023, 10:46:27 am

Lifting a pre-filled ISM filter into position would be no small task... not worth the frustration IMO since it's been proven time and time again to be unnecessary .

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #11 – August 11, 2023, 11:43:03 am

Just asken but how has it been proven time and again,Old guy just said his sidekick is noisey for a few seconds,that is not helping
the engine.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #12 – August 11, 2023, 11:53:46 am

If you change the filters before the oil , the low pressure time is reduced. Then change the oil.
My Cat filters must hold about 4 qts. I fill them maybe 2/3 full and boost them up .
I serviced many turbo cars. The oil change process included turning the engine over with the ignition off to build pressure before the engine runs.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #13 – August 11, 2023, 11:56:15 am

Quote from: John44 – August 11, 2023, 11:43:03 am

Just asken but how has it been proven time and again,Old guy just said his sidekick is noisey for a few seconds,that is not helping
the engine.

I'm just referring to ISM owners I know that don't prefill (myself being one of them) and I've never heard of a single problem

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #14 – August 11, 2023, 12:53:47 pm

Old Guy,what kind of prelube system do you have?

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #15 – August 11, 2023, 02:32:47 pm

I don't bother prefilling the oil filters on most of my engines because many of them the filters are sideways. When it comes to the ISM it's so easy to do I think some people are really exaggerating the difficulty.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #16 – August 11, 2023, 03:22:32 pm

The only reason I have not to like my Onan generator is the sideways mounted oil filter, I always fill my filters prior to installation. With the extreme compression and load on the crank etc of a diesel I want oil volume asap not a couple of seconds while the filter gets filled.
IMHO

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #17 – August 11, 2023, 03:33:54 pm

Back in my trucking days when I paid to have the oil changed in 14+ liter diesels they always prefilled the oil filters, I never had to ask.
I follow the same practice with the coach and my diesel pickup. Yes it takes a little more time and effort but worth it in my opinion.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #18 – August 11, 2023, 03:54:19 pm

Drifting all over the place. The original question was
2018 RAM Cummins and noticed that some do pre-fill, while some don't. The oil filter is located in a very tight place (it is a poorly designed location). What do you all think... pre-fill or not pre-fill?

no I don't refill and have done over sixty oil changes over many years on two 2006 5.9 Cummins

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #19 – August 11, 2023, 04:00:07 pm

I have tried Google to search for an old Texaco commercial with a car using Havoline oil being drained completely then driven around Indianapolis speedway 1 lap the tearing down the engine and showing no damage.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #20 – August 11, 2023, 04:07:09 pm

Think I saw that one 40 years ago,the guy pre-filled the filter.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #21 – August 11, 2023, 04:12:22 pm

Old Guy,what kind of prelube system do you have?

It is one I made. I bought a pump (which one day I will upgrade) and a check valve a some fittings.
To operate I use a spring loaded^[1] switch and I hold it until I have oil pressure and a bit more and
then I start the engine.

¹↵

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #22 – August 11, 2023, 04:15:23 pm

Amsoil used to sell a kit but discontinued years ago,not sure why.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #23 – August 11, 2023, 06:22:50 pm

No on prefill, What would be the need? What good would it do? None to both questions.

Oil filtering is by-pass filtering. Only a small amount of oil is filtered at one time. Most of the oil goes from pump straight to the parts. If all of the oil from pump went thru the filter, many parts of the engine would be straved for oil and would be damaged. If the filter is blocked, the engine would lock up from lack of oiling. The oil must be pumped thru the oil filter, until the oil pump picks up the oil in the pan, no oil moves any where in the engine.

Re: Engine Oil Filter Pre-filling or not?

Reply #24 – August 11, 2023, 06:58:12 pm

Depends on the engine,they are all not piped the same,depends on the size of the filter,the filters themselves have a bypass spring,
have changed oil on many engines and all it takes is one time to hear the dry clattering of the valve train to see what I mean.The
engine is not going to fail from one non fill start but it will get more wear,most wear on an engine comes from startup so anything
I can do to eliminate wear helps,it's been said on the forum that these are "million mile engines"well why don't they all last a million
miles,premature wear is one culprit.

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