Video summary

Does Pre-FILLING The Oil FILTER Cause Engine DAMAGE?

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / concepts / lessons

  • Internet claim being tested: Some people say you should not pre-fill an oil filter (i.e., pour oil into the filter before installing it), arguing that the oil in the filter will be unfiltered/dirty.
  • Video’s goal: Provide data (not opinions) on whether pre-filling an oil filter causes engine damage or improves/changes oil cleanliness and oil pressure behavior.
  • Key lubrication principle introduced (“4 Rs”):
    • Proper lubrication requires the right oil (correct viscosity/additive package),
    • at the right place (oil must reach the engine/critical components),
    • at the right time (during startup),
    • and the right amount.
    • The argument against pre-filling is framed as potentially violating “right place/right time” (oil delay until pressure builds).
  • Concern addressed: Not pre-filling may increase the time before the engine achieves oil pressure (and therefore oil film protection) during startup.
  • Secondary practical point: Even if the oil/filter is fine, you can contaminate oil during handling—e.g., using a dirty funnel. Keeping tools clean matters.

Methodology / experiments (detailed)

1) Lab analysis of oil cleanliness (particle count)

  • Collect a reference sample:
    • Take fresh oil directly from the drum/bottle.
    • Send it to a lab to measure cleanliness using particle counting.
  • Run another condition to compare:
    • Put the oil into an engine such that it passes through the oil filter before sampling.
    • Do not start the engine (or use a pre-lube/prime approach as described) to avoid damage while still allowing oil to circulate through the filter.
    • After circulating/priming and allowing it to drain appropriately, take an oil sample from the engine oil system.
  • Lab test standard used:
    • The lab results use an ISO cleanliness test with particle ranges:
      • particles < 4 microns
      • particles < 6 microns
      • particles > 14 microns
  • Compare results:
    • Determine which sample has more particles (higher ISO number = dirtier oil).

2) Oil pressure timing test (empty filter vs pre-filled system)

  • Condition A: empty filter
    • Install the oil filter without pre-filling it.
    • Crank/prime the engine oiling system and record time to oil pressure.
    • Rationale given: oil may flow initially, but the gauge shows pressure only when restriction/pressure builds, which happens once oil reaches the filter/paths and pressure builds.
  • Condition B: pre-filled filter
    • Pre-fill the filter (and prime so oil is circulated through it).
    • Again observe and record oil pressure rise time after cranking/starting behavior.
  • Interpretation:
    • The longer it takes to reach oil pressure, the longer the engine is relying on minimal/insufficient oil film protection during the earliest moments.

3) Engine wear evidence referenced from a prior test (supporting context)

  • The speaker references an earlier video/test (a Porsche break-in scenario) where early oil changes and lubrication setup were discussed.
  • They claim:
    • A dry start and difficulty priming certain engines (cartridge filter, hard to pre-fill) correlated with bearing material detection via oil analysis (copper/tin/lead).
    • Later oil changes showed reduced bearing material, attributed to improved lubrication handling (“4 Rs” fulfilled).

4) Handling/contamination caution

  • Even clean oil can become contaminated if you:
    • Pour through a dirty funnel
    • Store/handle tools in dirty environments (example: funnel near a grinding bench)
  • A “clean funnel storage” habit is recommended to avoid introducing particles.

Main results (as stated)

Particle count / ISO cleanliness

  • Oil from the drum (before engine filtering): ISO cleanliness 16 15 12
  • Oil sampled from the engine after filtration (before running): ISO cleanliness 19 18 5
  • Conclusion drawn by the speakers:
    • The engine-side sample had more overall particles, meaning the “oil in the can is dirty” claim is not supported by their data.
    • They use this to argue that pre-filling with bottle oil does not mean you’re adding worse contamination; the oil from the supply is the cleaner baseline.

Startup oil pressure behavior (conceptual result)

  • They recorded that with an empty filter, oil pressure took about 4–5 seconds.
  • With a pre-filled/primed system, oil pressure is shown to build faster (described as the key difference the bearings would prefer).

Myth-busting conclusions

  • Debunks Myth 1: “Oil from the bottle/container is dirty; therefore pre-filling is bad.”
    • Their particle-count comparison suggests the opposite: the bottle/drum oil was cleaner than the sample taken from the engine after circulation.
  • Debunks Myth 2 (implied): Pre-filling causes engine damage by injecting unfiltered oil.
    • They argue the oil used for pre-filling is as clean as it gets initially and that the bigger concern is oil-pressure delay when not pre-filling.

Speakers / sources featured (as identified from subtitles)

  • Lake the motor wheel geek (host/speaker; name appears in subtitle text)
  • Don (co-host/speaker)
  • Lab (unnamed) conducting particle count and ISO cleanliness testing

Original video