Change oil filter w/o draining oil?

[wesrick]

I went to change oil on the car for the first time this past weekend. I didn't realize I needed a filter wrench. I had already drained the oil, so I just put new oil in and went the next day to get a filter wrench.

My question is, can I change the filter now, without re-draining the oil? Will all or some oil pour out, or is it pretty much all held in the pan?

[TrailDust]

It doesn't cost that much to replace the oil. I'd just change the oil and filter as you would for any oil change and take the experience as a lesson learned.

[gdanaher]

I gather the car is new to you or you'd know to have a wrench handy. Anyway, change the filter and add about a pint of oil back in and you should be good to go. It is highly unlikely that significant crud in the filter would migrate out into the fresh oil. I would not waste the new oil.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by gdanaher

I gather the car is new to you or you'd know to have a wrench handy. Anyway, change the filter and add about a pint of oil back in and you should be good to go. It is highly unlikely that significant crud in the filter would migrate out into the fresh oil. I would not waste the new oil.

+1

[PRINCESS PEACH]

+2

[JohnGD]

+3

Originally Posted by gdanaher

I gather the car is new to you or you'd know to have a wrench handy. Anyway, change the filter and add about a pint of oil back in and you should be good to go. It is highly unlikely that significant crud in the filter would migrate out into the fresh oil. I would not waste the new oil.

[olympicgold]

I am in similar situation. I recently added Auto Rx to clean out the engine and it says to change out just the filter after 1.2k miles. The only problem that I think once you take filter off about quart of oil will come rushing out of there??

[gdanaher]

Read thread.

[lenjack]

On many cars, next to nothing will come out. Lost only a few drops on an '07 Prius.