During a routine oil change is it necessary to prime an oil filter before installing ? On my car the oil light will stay on the same amount of time if its primed or not and the motor makes no noises. Ive found that most places that do oil changes dont prime the filter. Also when cars come from the factory do they prime the oil filter?

I do so that the oil preasure picks up faster. But some people don't like to prime the filters on theyr car.

I do it on mine just out of principle. I don't think it's really that necessary. In college, I used to change oil at the local Walmart and we didn't do it, but that was more of a work layout issue. It definitely doesn't hurt anything, and really only adds about 2 minutes to a 10 minute job. Like I said, I do it just for the principle.



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Clem
SCCA TransAm Series Race Mechanic/CrewChief
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1983 Z28 with LG4, 5 speed, and (unfortunately) T-tops
1983 Z28, NO T-tops, (unfortunately) Auto Transmission---FOR SALE---
Looking for a V8, preferably 4 or 5 speed Camaro with NO T-tops (wanna trade?)

From what I know when you don't prime an oil filter, you don't have oil circulating properly when you first start the engine again. Basically the filter has to fill up with oil and while it does there is a lack of oil leaving the filter. I don't think it hurts anything, but I always prime my filters. It just makes a dirty job a little dirtier, and on some cars it is a real pain.

i fill the filter with oil when i change oil, unless the filter mounts side ways or upside down. builds preasure faster if the filter is full of oil to start with.

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

Prime it. You will wear out metal surfaces much less.

Not neccessary at all. Takes several rpms to rid the lube from surface. Just let the engine idle till pressure builds.

I fill mine with as much as I can. It can't hurt after all.

As far as taking several rpm's to wear off the film, if most engine wear is caused at startup, what is the damage from startup that includes an extra 5-7 seconds without oil pressure?

I noticed that with my v6, the filter is mounted sideways and pressure takes 4-6 seconds to come up and the valvetrain is a little noisier..

I fill the v8's though. It can't hurt.... But the v6 has 170,000+ miles so far.

After reading what people have said I will prime the filter when possible and when I cant because of angle of filter I will not worry about it. Thanx