When changing your oil, do you fill the new filter up with oil before screwing it on?

I read this on a different (non-car-related) forum and the replies were mixed. Some said it's crucial and some said it's just a waste of time.

The theory behind it was that the first time you start the engine after the oil change, the filter has to fill up first leaving the engine dry for a moment. I would think that with a recently run engine, there would be enough oil left on some surfaces to make up for any 'dry' moment that may occur at the initial startup.

What say you?

 

The only vehicles you NEED to prime the oil filter is Diesels. The rest is personal preference.

I don't on gas engines because the filters are small enough to fill up quickly when the engine starts.

 

I change oil at a chevy dealer and nobody pre fills the filter. There is enough oil left in the engine so it is not necessary. The one and only time I have done it is when i put a motor in my friends truck since it was sitting a while and im sure almost all the oil had drained down to the pan.

I have never done it on diesels either and never heard of anyone doing that. You need to prime the fuel filter but i have never had a problem with the oil filter

 

We just do that on the diesels with large filters. The D-max has a fairly small filter so those we don't, but the Cummins motors use those huge oil filters.

 

I always fill mine. It really only takes a minute and every little bit can extend the life of your engine. Start up is the worst time for any engine as far as lubrication goes. So why make it worse by having a empty filter?

 

I do on filters that are vertically oriented. Can't do that on my Blazer.

 

i read that 90% of engine wear occurs on startup

 

After changing filters on my cars for 40 years, I never had an engine suffer terminal wear due to not pre-filling the filter. That said, in the past few years I have been trying to remember to fill it, but if I don't I doubt that it will change anything. You can find plenty of folks on sites like bobisthe oilguy who will explain in great detail how it will save your engine, but you can get **** about anything in life.

 

I have the best answer of all..... Can't hurt !

 

Nope, never done it.