Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

[MRS]

I want to change oil filter on motorhome the oil only has a couple hundred miles on it. Can I pull filter with out draining oil or will it it keep draining out the rest of the oil Thanks for replys.....

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

Depends on where your filter is mounted. Most likely a good bit of oil will come out, but unless your filter is below the oil pan, you will not lose all your oil from the filter port, just what is in the filter and a bit extra. I would recommend to just change oil at same time, but if you must only change the filter, safest way is to do it quick and measure the amount of oil that comes out and replace with equal amount.

 

[slia67]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

Yeah, what Beaufort said. Just have your new filter ready to go (gasket oiled) and once you pull the old one off put the new one back on.

Question though,... Why do you just want to change the filter?

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

If the engine is a chevy you can pre-fill the new filter with fresh oil and you'll have oil pressure right away at startup. Then check the oil level after running and letting it drain down for a few minutes.

I'm not familiar with other brands of engines like ford and chrysler, but the chevy's you can definitely change that without draining the pan. It'll still make a mess, and in addition to what's already in the filter you'll lose about a cup of oil, but you can definitely do it. As mentioned in the above good advice, lube the seal as well and only hand tighten the filter. You don't need to reef on it.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

What motorhome with what motor? Most likely yes, but details would help.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

My uncle religiously has changed oil filters between changes on all his farm tractors, that was in the old days don't know how far technolohy has come along since the 60's probably not a common practice anymore but old habits die hard.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

I am curious...how long has the oil been in there?

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

I am curious...how long has the oil been in there?

I read that he said it had been in there for a couple of hundred miles. And yes I'm reasonably certain you can change the filter w/o losing oil from the crankcase if it's chev, dodge or ford, 'cause IIRC they all pump oil thru the filter, so it will be difficult to move oil thru a gear pump if it isn't turning.
Mike

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

Unless the filter is damaged, I can't imagine why you would want to change it without changing the oil. A more common practice is to change the oil filter every second oil change, although I would not really recommend that either.

 

[MRS]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

Hey guys thanks for the replys it is a 1989 motorhome GMC with 454 I had to smog it today. I always change the filter and oil before smog was told a long time ago that the oil and filter hold a ton of hydro carbons in them. The oil only had a couple hundred miles on it so I did just change the filter and you guys are right it only lost a cup or so of oil plus what was in the filter and it did pass smog. I did some work on it and changed the oil and filter before thats why the oil only had so little miles on it my normal oil and filter change is 3,000 or one year witch ever comes first Thanks again.....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

was told a long time ago that the oil and filter hold a ton of hydro carbons in them.

Now that is pretty funny...What do you think oil is? Hydrocarbons! Maybe what is really meant are combustible hydrocarbons.

Changing the oil would only help if there is a lot of unburnt fuel or volatile components in the oil which may get burnt because of the engines PCV system.

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

Hey guys thanks for the replys it is a 1989 motorhome GMC with 454 I had to smog it today.

Love those 454s! I had a couple of those, one in a motorhome and one in a pickup truck. It's good to know that they can pass California emissions.

Here in the "free world" nothing has to pass an emissions test. Heck, vehicles that smoke a lot are desired for mosquito control!

 

[MRS]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

yea I always loved the 454's and when you smog in Cal. they do have a HC# count so I guess it is funny but if you do not pass it you will not pass I have never had a problem with it changing oil and or filter. The 454 is the best to me and on mine I do not need the Cat. converters so I want to keep it as long as I can....

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Can I change oil filter w/o draining oil?

My wifes side of the family lives in Ontario Canada. Brother-in-law is a motorhead.
He changes oil and filter the day before their mandatory emissions testing.
He has first hand proof that many vehicles that fail the test will pass the test 15 minutes later simply by changing the oil.
The emission testing depots are also private repair shops. When a vehicle fails, changing the oil is the "first fix" at $250.
So anyone in-the-know does so before taking their vehicle in.