Oil change : No oil gushing out of the filter

[Maim Menu]

So I changed my oil yesterday, and no oil spilled when I took out the filter. Turned it around and it seemed to be quite clean. It was oily inside, but it wasn't gushing oil like it usually is.

It was a carquest (Canada) filter and I have replaced it with a Toyota OEM filter (the black ones).

Is there something to be concerned about? I never got an oil light on that car and this is pretty wierd to me

[camry6]

Did the filter have an anti-drain back valve? That would be the rubber flap that covers the holes around the perimeter of the filter (circling around the threaded hole). Some cheap filters don't have this feature and this will allow the oil to drain out of the filter and back to the base pan. This will result in a delay of oil delivery to the engine at each start up. The Toyota filter has this valve built in to keep the filter full of oil at all times, which will cause the gush of oil when you remove it next time. Always buy the filter with this valve in it.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by Maim Menu

no oil spilled when I took out the filter.

Normal, don't worry.

[Maim Menu]

I backed the 'yota filter out some and oil started gushing out. Torqued it back and called it a day.

That's the end of the line for Carquest filters.

Thanks guys

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by Maim Menu

I backed the 'yota filter out some and oil started gushing out.

How long did it sit after shut down? The filter will drain through the filter element to the outlet side. I've had all types of filters in the car and they all drain out over time, even with drain back valve. The fact that the filter is so small and does not require much volume to fill means your engine won't suffer the time lag it takes to fill the filter before getting oil pressure.

[69GTSport]

Yeah, my Toyota filter will come off "dry" whenever I change the oil and if the engine wasn't started recently.

[tacosteelersman]

I only change the oil on a warm to hot engine. If you did a cold oil change this may be normal. Do not do cold oil changes on your car.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by tacosteelersman

Do not do cold oil changes on your car.

Why?

[JohnGD]

For one warm oil helps keep contaminants suspended and help carry them out more easily.

The problem happens with OEM or aftermarket filters. I think it's more of a poor design with these engines that Toyota corrected with the 2.4L later.

Originally Posted by Stillrunning

Why?

[tacosteelersman]

Yup what John said..I like a good flow of oil, It kinda shoots out of the plug hole when warm..

[LittleWhiteBubble]

That's why I don't use fram filters anymore. I use purolator pure1 filters now. They still leak down pretty quick but they're a little better about it and they're smaller so as stated above it doesnt take as long to fill it back up.

When I change mine I drain the oil pan first while warm, then change the filter after, giving it time to drain out some so it doesn't make a huge mess when it comes off. And it keeps oil from the filter from dripping down on you when you're messing with the drain plug. Some cars I will do the filter first just so I can wipe up the runoff while I'm under the car draining it.

[Maim Menu]

The engine was definitely warm when I proceeded, I always warm it up to normal operating temp before draining the oil out to get better flow and more contaminants out of it.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

For one warm oil helps keep contaminants suspended and help carry them out more easily.

Suspended where? Contaminates are in the oil, so when you drain the oil they flow out with the oil, hot or cold. If they're not "suspended" then they precipitate out, which would mean they're on the bottom of the pan, and drain out with the oil. The advantage of letting the oil cool is that more dirty oil (with contaminates) drips down into the pan so you get a more complete oil change and you don't burn your hand with hot oil. Why would hot oil suspend more contaminates than cold oil? It might dissolve more contaminates into solution, but then they're in the oil anyway. Dissolve sugar in hot water then cool the water, sugar doesn't go back to the crystalline state in the cold water. Any heavy particles in the oil should have been filtered out already. I think hot oil changes is just another myth put out there by the oil change companies, but I'll look at any evidence saying hot is better.

[LittleWhiteBubble]

If you made chocolate milk, but let it sit for an hour or two, there's gunk at the bottom of the glass again. If you stir it up again then pour out the glass, there won't be as much left in the bottom of the glass. That might not be a scientific argument, but changing the oil in a car that's been sitting is not better. Also warm oil does thin out, which makes it flow out better, rather than cold oil sticking and hanging on to internal parts and not running out freely when you drain it.

[Hajoca]

The carquest filters are usually great quality (WIX or Affina) and I would not be surprised if the anti drain back valve was holding well.