How much oil does a used oil filter contain?

[maxp]

I just did an oil change on my 2l focus. The oil filter i removed was definitely heavier than the one that replaced it, however when I turned it upside down, only a small bit of oil drained out.

How much oil does a used oil filter 'retain'? Looking at the amount of oil i drained, and calculating from the oil that replaced it, im guessing (very vaguely) 100-300ml?

[Eighteeteewhy]

The inside of the filter is paper so it will retain oil even after you've poured it out. The difference for oil change with/without filter is about 0.3 litre.

[Agrispeed]

in the book I have for oil change i think it says add .3L if taking filter out, but that's an old car, but with a spin on, so not sure really.

Did you warm the car up first? I find that if its been standing the oil runs down, so drains the filter and system - hence why lots of wear happens when cold starting.

[maxp]

Makes sense. No, though, I idle'd it for about 5 minutes with the odd blip of throttle, so it was probably quite full.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Agrispeed said:

in the book I have for oil change i think it says add .3L

Assuming your oil filter is the canister type and fitted with open end upwards you should know the answer to this question very easily. When you fit a new filter you fill it with oil before you screw it onto the car. If you use a measuring jug you can pour in clean oil until the filter is full. Then pour the oil out again into the measuring jug. Less will come out than went in and the difference is the amount retained in the paper...

[Agrispeed]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Agrispeed said:

in the book I have for oil change i think it says add .3L

Assuming your oil filter is the canister type and fitted with open end upwards you should know the answer to this question very easily. When you fit a new filter you fill it with oil before you screw it onto the car. If you use a measuring jug you can pour in clean oil until the filter is full. Then pour the oil out again into the measuring jug. Less will come out than went in and the difference is the amount retained in the paper...

Open end down on mine - so if i filled it with oil i would get very messy!

and OP, did you find the golden rule of oil changes? - you will get covered in oil, and without realizing will transfer it to something white - no matter what you do.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Agrispeed said:

the golden rule of oil changes? - you will get covered in oil, and without realizing will transfer it to something white - no matter what you do.

My driveway could tell you some stories....