Over time, oils and greases will buildup on the internal parts of your car. This buildup can create problems like poor acceleration, stalling, and difficult starts. As you might have guessed, draining oil is the quickest and most straightforward way to remove this buildup. Draining oil also has the benefit of removing any harmful or polluting chemicals or contaminants. The decision of whether to drain or filter an oil can be a confusing one. Depending on the type and amount of oil in your engine, different methods may be necessary. Draining is typically used when there is not enough oil in the pan to properly start the engine; this happens most often with newer engines that use synthetic oils. Filtering uses a mesh screen to trap particles from the oil, which can eventually lead to wear and tear on your motor as these microscopic objects get stuck in gears over time. The question Should I drain oil or filter first? is a commonly asked question from auto owners. In this article, we would provide an answer to this reoccurring question, as well as related questions and answer around our topic of discussion. Let us dive right in.
Should I drain oil or filter first?
If you’re unsure whether or not you should drain your oil or filter it first, Yes, it’s usually a good idea to drain your oil. Draining oil will also help to remove any harmful or polluting chemicals or contaminants that may have accumulated in the oil. Filtering your oil, on the other hand, may not remove all of the buildup, but it will help to keep the oil clean and decrease your exposure to harmful contaminants.
What tools do I need to drain my oil?
If you decide to drain your oil, be sure to use a car oil drain bolt and funnel. Follow the manufacturers instructions to install the bolt and funnel. Once you have installed the bolt and funnel, pour your oil down the drain. Be sure to wait until the oil has stopped coming out of the drain before you remove the bolt and funnel.
Do you have to prime your oil filter before changing it?
No, the oil filter does not need to be primed. However, the engine runs with no oil pressure for the time it takes for the oil filter to fill with oil. Most modern automobiles have small oil filters, so it doesn’t take long for the filter to fill with oil…and the engine to return to normal oil pressure. The larger the filter, though, the longer the procedure takes. I’ve got a ’98 GMC truck with an oil filter that’s holding around a quart of oil.
The majority of engines idle at around 750 RPMs. So the crankshaft will have rotated 750 times in one minute, 75 times in ten seconds, 37 times in five seconds… Which is probably about the same amount of time it takes for a small filter to fill up with oil… After that, oil pressure will be applied to the main and rod bearings on the crankshaft. Meanwhile, no oil pressure is applied to any of the bearings for around 37 crankshaft revolutions.
Metal on metal contact between the bearings and journals is avoided by oil flow under pressure. If you understand what that means, you’ll be priming your oil filter in no time. If you don’t, you won’t be able to.
How do you change an oil filter?
Finding the item in a modern automobile may be a chore! Some are spin ones, which are self-contained metal cylinders with the filter element built in, while others are simply the filter element (cartridge) in a housing attached to the motor.
- Simply unscrew the old one counterclockwise if it’s your standard spin on.
- If the person who put it in didn’t lube it or overtightened it, you’ll need a special tool to remove it, such as a cup that fits it or a self-adjusting band tool.
- Lubricate the new O-ring with oil, and make sure the old one isn’t still stuck to the mounting flange before putting it on! Double-gasketing a filter is a dirty and potentially costly procedure!
- To remove the cap from a cartridge filter, you’ll need a specific socket. The majority of caps are composed of plastic and are tightly fitted. It’s not a good idea to use a pipe wrench or a pair of pliers to open the cup since you can fracture it!
- To correctly tighten the cap after installation, use a torque wrench.
Make sure the new filter is of good quality before you buy it. Eighty percent of filters are useless. I opened a lot of filters just to look at the filter element. Always buy from the dealer if you’re unsure. The price difference isn’t significant enough to justify the risk of damage caused by a faulty filter.
What happens if you change oil but not the filter in a car?
If the oil filter is clogged with muck and new oil is added, the extra pressure may push open the filter relief valve, releasing all of the muck in the filter into the new oil, resulting in blocked oil channels and a ruined motor.
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Why is my car shaking after an oil change?
Should I drain oil or filter first?- Summary.
Yes, it’s usually a good idea to drain your oil. Draining oil will also help to remove any harmful or polluting chemicals or contaminants that may have accumulated in the oil. Filtering your oil, on the other hand, may not remove all of the buildup, but it will help to keep the oil clean and decrease your exposure to harmful contaminants.
Ride in style.