Oil & Fuel Engine oil change question

[6sunset6]

I just did the fall engine oil/filter change on my TC34DA. When I start up the engine after the change it takes , I guess 5 sec for the oil pressure light to go out. If felt like 30 sec. Obviously the filter is filling up. The filter goes in horizontal so prefilling it would be kind of sloppy. This cannot be a problem but I just wonder what is happening in the engine.
How about on a hydraulic oil change where the filters are vertical. Should they be prefilled. Can't hurt I guess but messy.

 

[brin]

I just did the fall engine oil/filter change on my TC34DA. When I start up the engine after the change it takes , I guess 5 sec for the oil pressure light to go out. If felt like 30 sec. Obviously the filter is filling up. The filter goes in horizontal so prefilling it would be kind of sloppy. This cannot be a problem but I just wonder what is happening in the engine.
How about on a hydraulic oil change where the filters are vertical. Should they be prefilled. Can't hurt I guess but messy.

When I changed my hydraulic fluid on my NH - TC 29 I did fill the filter with fluid before installing it and when I do an oil change I fill the oil filter about 1/2 way and then quickly screw it on...there is some small spill on the oil filter but you just have to be quick..LOL - You did check your oil level after it circulated ..right ? since some will go into the filter.

 

[6sunset6]

Yes I checked after it started and topped it off. On the TC34DA with a FEL there is no such thing as quickly screwing it on . It's blind and takes a couple of corkscrews. The hole for the dip stick is just as bad. The fuel filter is not blind and takes one corkscrew. Good thing this is a once ayear in the fall.

 

[LarryD]

It's not any easier on my 33D. I don't pre-fill the oil filter and the few seconds oil light hasn't seemed to had any ill effects yet.

 

[Cami]

Regarding the pre-filling of oil filters:

I guess it depends on what you're taught. The first mechanic I ever worked for insisted that all filters be pre-filled without exception; I never ran into a horizontal one while working for him.

While I didn't think that a few seconds without proper oil pressure at idle with no load was a big deal(considering there's still a film of oil on them anyway), he was the boss and it became a habit

Most mechanics I know don't and one good friend says I'm wasting my time. He's an automotive mechanic and I'm inclined to agree with him when it comes to smaller filters but most of ones in our shop held 3-4 litres of oil.

By the way: I don't recall running into a horizontally mounted filter larger than a demitasse.

As for the real damage that may or may not be done by not pre-filling filters:

I'm sure if you invested some time in doing some digging, you might find a paper on the subject; maybe the SAE, the other SAE, in maintenance engineering journals or the ASME Tribology Division. It might make for interesting reading but I'll bet what you find has as much practical value as knowing how many angels can sit on the head of a pin. There are other things I'm going to do with my Sunday afternoon.

Finally: Can you trust that the engineers who designed your engine considered the issue of being unable to pre-fill the oil filter and decided that it wasn't going to be a problem? If not, then ask your local dealer what they do.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I just did the fall engine oil/filter change on my TC34DA. When I start up the engine after the change it takes , I guess 5 sec for the oil pressure light to go out. If felt like 30 sec. Obviously the filter is filling up. The filter goes in horizontal so prefilling it would be kind of sloppy. This cannot be a problem but I just wonder what is happening in the engine.
How about on a hydraulic oil change where the filters are vertical. Should they be prefilled. Can't hurt I guess but messy.

The bearing journals have a film of oil on them that protect them from "dry" start ups. Nonetheless, if I change a vertical filter, I prefill it.

 

[RickB]

As a general rule, I do not pre-fill filters. The only exceptions are two 1920's that I routinely service that have weak hydraulic pumps due to a long life of misuse and poor care by previous owners. The hydraulics on these tractors are extremely difficult to prime without prefilling. I don't like the idea of possibly introducing contaminants to the 'clean' side of the filter media by prefilling. Doesn't matter if it's engine oil, fuel, or hydraulic oil. If the engineers wanted the filters prefilled, the op manuals would so instruct.
Additionally, all ISM engines on New Holland and Ford compacts have the engine oil sending unit tapped into the cylinder head instead of the more typical location in a galley between the crankshaft and camshaft. These engines pump oil to the bottom end just as fast as any other engine, they just don't put the lamp out until pressure reaches the engine's top end. You may also notice after an oil and filter change the lamp will go out and then come back on; this is also due to the sender location.

 

[sweep]

There were instances in car engines when people prefilled the filter they would blow out the inside of the filter due to super high pressures-had something to do with the relief valve inside the filter could not handle the new oil coming in and evacuating the prefilled oil going out guickly enough on startup.

I just changed the oil in my tractor a few hours ago and the oil light stayed on at most for 3-4 seconds...if that

IMO way more damage is done by not changing the oil frequently enough than starting up the engine without oil in the filter.

 

[kbm3]

What is the optimum number of hours between oil changes? I have always changed mine at 50 hrs. I have been told that is over-kill. My dealer said 100 hrs., but that seems like a lot to me.........what are you guys doing?

 

[ToadHill]

I changed mine every 50 hours for the first 3 changes, then went to 100 hours with a new filter each time.