Nothing makes me cringe more than watching the dealer change my oil (I'm having them do it while under the warranty period so they can't say I didn't do it periodically) and hearing the engine clatter to high hell as the start it up because they don't prefill the oil filter.

Ugh, its so simple why don't they do that???

If it weren't for warranty concerns I would not have my truck in there!

 

How exactly do you prefill an oil filter?? Unless you have a remote oil filter mounting system that holds it vertical, the filter screws onto its mount horizontally (i.e. sideways). Last time I checked, when you tip a full oil filter sideways, the oil dumps out.

 

You don't fill it all the way, just as much as you can. Sometimes some oil drips out, but thats a small price to pay for the engine not to be running dry for that period of time until it fills the filter itself.

 

Unless your let the vehicle sit for 2 days with the drain plug out, there is no need to fill the filter.

There's enought lubricant in there to protect the engine during startup and to start circulating the oil in 3-5 seconds.

Unless you start your engine and hold it to the floor--which I wouldn't advice.

There is bascially no load on the engine when start and let it idle to circulate the oil.

I would be more interested in seeing the stupid dealer us a torque wrench on my drain plug and filter. (Yes there are torque specs for those)

I would also be more interested in the dealer properly filling my oil, not to high and not too low. I usually only give them enought to be about 1 quart low and tell them I"ll top it up when I get home! I hate my oil being over filled.

Proper oil level should be check on a cool engine, on level ground. I you fill it when it's hot, it its overfilled.

 

Well, its obviously not having enough lubricant because I hear the bad clattering for 2-3 seconds tops as they start it.

I watch them do the oil change every time and its always the same.

Are you saying that even though it makes that clattering, its still lubricated? I would assume if your assertion is correct I would have heard nothing.

Now, if you use some of that teflon stuff then sure, it may have more oil sticking up there.

 

I'm guessing you haven't tried to prefill a filter on the '03 yet. With the horizontal mount and mickey mouse access to the filter, any oil you put in will promptly drain down your arm and all over the steering linkage, cross member, etc...

Only way around it is to go to a remote mount.

After 162,000 miles of no prefilling on my '97, I don't bother with my 99 either after 90,000 miles...

As msparks said, it may not sound great but for the 2-3 seconds under no load, it ain't that big of a deal after an oil filter change.

 

You got me.

I guess I shouldn't speak about things I haven't personally experienced.

On my F100 it was at a heavy angle, but I still could mostly prefill it.

I stand corrected (until I find out otherwise, which will likely not happen for another 26k miles, when warranty period is up).

 

mscott... you have a valid concern and on some vehicles you could do this. No reason why you wouldnt expect your dealer to do the "small things" to ensure more life out of your truck.

 

Why aren't you guys changing your own oil?

 

I'm on my fourth F-150 (see My Gallery) - 2001 SCrew. I've previously owned a '95, '97, and a '99 as well. Yeah, I know that's a lot of trades in a short time. I kept changing things with each one until I got the truck exactly the way I liked it. Anyway, I change my own oil on every one of them. Never have I prefilled the oil filter in all the miles that I have put on each one. One of them was up to 60,000 when I traded it. I've never had any engine problems as a result of the way I do my oil changes. My fifth truck (2004 FX4 SCrew) is already ordered and should be on the way soon (I hope). I plan on continuing oil changes with that in the same manner.

 

Earlier on the same subject someone suggested getting a key cut that hasn't the pats chip in it so that the oil would prime only under crank condition.
I'm seriously considering checking it out.
anymore info out there on this?

 

I think that you are wasting your time getting a key cut. The engine will still be turning over for the same amount of time until the oil pressure builds up. The only difference in my opinion is that the noise from the starter will hide the clattering.

 

Pre lube the oil filter with half a quart of oil. The filter will absorb most of the oil and if you are mounting it horizontally you will not spill any. You can top it off if you have a vertical oil mount. If you pay someone to change your oil talk to the wrench that will be doing the work and ask them to pre-lube; 99% of the time they will do it, they realize you care about the engine.

Cutting the key or holding the gas pedal to the floor wile cranking will do just as much damage as cranking and letting it clatter at idle until the oil pressure build up. Always pre-lube.

BTW, SilvrDrgn, I am on my 4th F series truck also. The first was a 72 F100 that lasted over 300K miles. The second was a 78 F100 4x4 that I traded after only 170K Miles for a 86 F250 Diesel that ran almost 350K before I traded it. I dropped back to a F150 as I didn't need a heavy duty anymore.
Only the 78 gave me any engine problems - that was due to the crappy valve guides and removal of leaded gas from the market. I rebuilt the engine to stock "unleaded" specs at 70K and it ran like a champ while I had it.

 

Well putting oil in the filter before it goes on is just common sense where I come from, side mounted or not, some side mounted filters, had problems with the pump not priming right, then car would just run with no oil pressure till pump was primed or oil was added to the filter. This was a problem with older cars, Im not sure about newer ones, but if I were you I'd definetely tell them to prelube my filter.

 

on my 97 4.6V8, from day one i have always prefilled. It is a vertical mount though with lots of room underneath so spilling is not an issue. I dont think the "prefill or not to prefilll" question is a huge point either way. I always do it though because i change my own oil, prefilling costs me nothing and i think prefilling gets the oil to the engine a ? second faster. On my 4.6, i prefill to the top and install. On my 03 4.2V6, i put in less (about half full) and deal with the drippings.