Fill Oil filter?
Think about it. Most of you guys are pretty smart, so use your head. Oil goes from the pan, the pump, the filter, and then the rest of the engine. Any dead spaces in there will have to be filled before oil goes to the engine. That's a big filter. Why have a nearly 1 qt dead space if you can easily avoid it?
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,688
Likes: 4
From: Texas
On the sideways ones I filled the filter until the element was what I thought was saturated. Which was I filled it up until the filter was topped off and quick drinking oil. Then I poured the oil back out into the bottle to at least the level of angle at which the filter was to be applied. Then I used my cat-like reflexes and master skill to screw the filter on without spilling a drop.

My thinking behind this was at the very least there was some oil in the filter and soaked in the element to be pulled through until the filter filled up completely. It did take an extra few minutes and probably sounds batty but just something I did. Not a clue if it was actually preventative, no skin off my teeth to do it.
I've never had anything with the filter upside down.
When I change the oil myself, I pre-fill.. The last change, I had a friend that owns an auto repair shop do it for me, and I have no idea if he pre-filled or not, but the truck is still running, so I don't worry about it.
Think about it. Most of you guys are pretty smart, so use your head. Oil goes from the pan, the pump, the filter, and then the rest of the engine. Any dead spaces in there will have to be filled before oil goes to the engine. That's a big filter. Why have a nearly 1 qt dead space if you can easily avoid it?
If it was a big deal, no filter would be mounted horizontal or upside down on a diesel or any motor.
Good idea to pre-fill, sure, simply makes sense.
Enough to worry about if you don't, I don't think so.
Good idea to pre-fill, sure, simply makes sense.
Enough to worry about if you don't, I don't think so.


Watch for debris, there was some info from Cummins about engine failures because a piece of foil or something that got into filter when filling ended up plugging small oil hole in engine causing engine failure. After hearing that it's dry filter for me. When you change oil on warm engine the parts will still have oil on them and the pressure comes up quick.



Just be careful and thorough taking the foil off.