I just changed my oil yesterday and I realized when I was done I had forgotten to put som oil on the gasket of the oil filter, is this a problem? I tightened it real tight, and dont have any leaks. What are the reasons for oiling it? To provide a proper seal?????

 

It makes life easier next oil change. No leaks no worries.

 

Sorry, you have voided the warranty.

 

To answer you question, there are two reasons to apply oil to your filter gasket as well as most sealing seals or o-rings.

The first is for installation purposes. If the seal is lubed then it will not bunch up, tear or split as easily when it comes in contact with metal and the filter (or lid in the case of fuel filter) is still spinning. Simply the gasket is allowed to slip on the turning surfaces instead of grabbing and bunching up/tearing/splitting/etc.

The second, especially in the case of an oil filter is for easier removal of the filter on the next oil change as dry rubber on dry metal kind of has more friction and can make it very difficult to overcome the co-efficient of friction in order to get the filter to start turning for removal. It isn't necessarily impossible but it is usually more difficult (partially the reason why people complain the factory filter is so hard to remove the first time).

The good news is that there was likely a little oil left on the filter housing after you removed the old filter to allow some lube for the new seal. Likewise if it isn't leaking now then there is no way your seal is torn/split/bunched up/etc. The only issue you may notice is that the filter may be difficult to remove on your next oil change. In otherwords don't sweat it and just do it next time you replace the filter.

 

I require my guys to do that to make sure that they look to see that the gasket is there... I have had to filters come with out gasket and 1 made a huge mess on a Michigan Loader and the other was caught because of the policy change!
(BTW Napa Filter)
Oilguy

 

I like to fill the filter with oil before I install it. Some always spills on the gasket and lubes it. On a fresh change, it takes a bit for the filter to fill before the oil gets to the engine. Just be careful as what you put in comes out unfiltered. Cummins has cautioned that some techs have found foil seals from bottle tops plugging up passages causing engine damage. Be careful and your engine will be better off for it.

 

....my 17 year old just learned from that same experience this weekend on his his "new" (recently accuired) 69 Mustang.........under my supervision I let him go right up until he was to turn the engine over ...stopped him and had him look at the filter and notice that the gasket was missing....hopefully he will have learned from this!

like another poster stated there should be enough residual oil left on the block to suppress any problems.....I will say though the factory sure puts the original filter on TIGHT...man it took some grunt to get it off....also I am used to my prvious trucks to where you can take the filter off from the top w/out some much struggle....
cameron