ok, i changed the oil yesterday and when i was trying to change the oil filter, i couldn't take it out by hand. so today, i went to the store and got the tool. Now, is it wrong to change oil filter when there is oil in engine? Is it only suppose to be done when the whole car is drained out??? please advise.
thanks!

LIL Raja

 

You can change the filter with or without oil in the crankcase. And you should have to take it off with a wrench. If you can take it off by hand, it was probably too lose. Put on by hand, take off with wrench. If you oiled the filter gasket before installing it, it should get tighter by the time you change it next.

 

ps. By doing what you've done, you have mixed in the 1/2 qt or so of old oil with all your new oil. Since this is too little to make any difference, don't worry about it.

 

If you have already changed the oil and are now changing the filter, here are the issues I can think of
- you have contaminated the new oil slightly because there was a certain amount of the old still in the filter that has now been mixed with the new, I would not worry about this, I would just be sure to do a complete oil and filter change at 3,000 miles
- you can replace the old filter with the new one without draining the oil out of the engine, you will have to plan on dropping some oil on the floor because of the angle of the filter, when you loosen it, no big deal, just clean up afterwards
- you should check the level of oil after the car has been run a while to make sure you have enough oil in the system because the fresh filter will suck up some of the oil volume in the car, plus the amount you drip out

Congrats on now having the tool. I would suggest using your hands to tighten the new filter or the tool but if you use the tool be careful you do not tighten over 7/8s because if the O-ring is flattened it will not make a good seal.

When you remove the old filter, be sure the O-ring is in the filter, you do not want this being left behind, stuck to the engine block.

Before putting the new filter on, I always coat the O-ring and threads inside the filter with a bit of fresh oil and actually add some oil to the inside of the filter, challenge here, you can not put too much in or it will run all out when you put the new filter on, again, because of the silly angle the filter is mounted at.

 

xviper you typed faster than I, when I say his question there were no replies yet.....

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Triple-H
[B]

 

thanks guys.
u guys are the best.

LIL Raja

 

Come on xviper, let's take our bow together....