Cat Oil filter - fill with oil or install dry?

Dani-Lu

Dani-Lu

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2007
1,352
Delray Beach, Fl
Boat Info
2001 410DA
Engines
3126 Cats
I always fill the filter with new oil to the top prior to installing. Not an easy task to install port side filer without spilling oil in the bilge.

I just read this in a cat maint book: See notice below 4. Does this mean I can install oil filters dry?:

Typical filter mounting base and filter gasket
g00103713
3. Clean the sealing surface of the filter mounting base. Ensure that all of the old oil filter gasket is removed.
4. Apply clean engine oil to the new oil filter gasket.
NOTICE
Do not fill the oil filters with oil before installing them. This oil would not be filtered and could be contaminat- ed. Contaminated oil can cause accelerated wear to
engine components.
5. Install the oil filter. Tighten the oil filter until the oil filter gasket contacts the base. Tighten the oil filter by hand according to the instructions that are shown on the oil filter. Do not overtighten the oil filter.
 
I install mine dry then after I run it, I'll check the level and top off.
 
Ever the contrarian, I fill every oil filter I can with fresh oil when I put them on, including the ones on my Caterpillar engines. The only ones I don't fill are those with an inverted or horizontal mounting. I think the potential for wear is a lot greater than the potential for contaminated oil when you crank and run a diesel engine with no oil pressure for 15-30 seconds. Besides, if you remove the foil seal in tact, just how much contamination is going to be in a gallon of new Rotella, Delo 400 , SAEO or DEO.?
 
I think those directions are for third world countries! I will not install dry filters on any engine...period...especially big diesels!
 
Whew! I just had this discussion yesterday with a friend. He told me that he'd never seen anybody pre-fill an oil filter before. My logic is the same as FW's, that's an awfully expensive engine to run dry. I was starting to second guess my process...
 
I fill my filters and since they mount vertically it's not a problem with spilling any oil. I just can't see filling these huge filters by starting your engine and pumping the oil into the filter. Seems like too much time with no oil splashing on the moving parts, especially since boats sit for weeks at a time without running.
 
I prefill mine... I swear those things hold almost a gallon of oil each. But I own Cummins... It actually says to prefill them on the side of the filter.
 
Frank W., Not the answer i was looking for, since it is a pain to get the filled port filter on while my 200 lb. body is wedged in a space built for a 160 lb. guy. Every time I change the port filter, I tell guys on the dock to call the fire department to cut me out, if they don't see me in 15 minutes. But, that is how I have been doing it, and since Frank W. says so, I will continue filling the filters. Frank H., shame on you - fill those filters! :)

Jeff
 
I always have and always will pre-fill my filters. The CAT filters, 324-2598, hold a little over 2 quarts each.

Jeff:
I weigh in a wee bit over a deuce, I'm old and I have arthritis. Whenever I know I will be on the outboard side of either motor for any extended period....(starboard impeller replacement comes to mind)...... just like the filters, I pre-meditate. But honestly, I don't see it as that big a deal to replace the oil filter on either motor. I wear a pair of latex-like gloves to help the grip and take my time. Haven't dropped one yet. I'll be changing the oil in about a week or so....now that I jinxed myself I'll probably drop the old filter and the new filter...
 
Just figure that the cylinder walls are coated since I get the engine warm before I change the oil. Actually as easy as it is to put oil in the filters, I am stupid for not doing it but then again........Anyway, I don't think I have done any damage during the past 7 years.....anyone want to buy a well oiled 410 ???

Dom are you still going to Il Giordianos? We can't make it down but it is one of our favorites.
 
ImpulseIII said:
Dom are you still going to Il Giordianos? We can't make it down but it is one of our favorites.
Click to expand...

Nah....Mike screwed those plans up by whimping out of a little ocean ride with High Winds and Small Craft Warnings yesterday. He's getting the snot beat out of himself now though. Linda cooked up a storm of Italian food....we're eatin' in at Dom's marina. If you're around, come on over.....
 
I've always filled oil filters with new oil. Like Frank said, how much contamination can there be in new oil? It's the same new oil you're putting into the engine.
 
I always make sure I have a second set of hands to do the port side. I weigh 160 and it takes alot of contorting to fit back in there and get my head around the alternator. I have somebody hand me the other filter and help balance it until I can get it started.
 
The CAT powered 380DA has considerably less room than the 410DA. I worked a neighbor's 380DA with CATs and was amazed at the difference in space.
 
I can't believe you guys don't have inboard filters on both sides. Cat had options for fuel and oil filters to be mounted on either side and Sea Ray checked that box on engine order form on the 450DA's.
 
I've said it before....and I'll continue to say it.......Sea Ray chinced out on a few things ....Oil Filter Relocation Kits and Small single 500ma Racor fuel filters. For the life of me I can't understand why they wouldn't at least have made it an option for the owner to decide.
 
Perhaps they did. My boat was ordered by the dealer for a specific buyer and it has equipment for safety, convenience and off shore cruising. Maybe some of the boats with single filters, etc were ordered by dealers for their inventory and the lower the cost, the cheaper they could sell them. But, who knows this far after the fact.
 
My specific boat was built for a VP of Sea Ray. He changed his order at the last minute and took a then new to the market 420DA. Both boats were available in 2003. I was told it had the upgraded soft goods used on the 'bigger' yachts installed....but I can't verify. I've looked at many CAT powered 410DAs and talked to many CAT owered 410DA owners. I've not found one with factory installed larger or dual Racors nor the relocated oil or fuel filters. It was a pure matter of economy of scales on Sea Rays part. The 410DA is plenty safe and handles offshore cruising just fine. It just lacks some of the easily factory installed conveniences that 'should' have been offered, but were not, as options.
 
Must be dumb luck on my part..... Both oil filters in the middle between engines and dual racors for both.
 
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