No Oil Filter Indications

[flyer92]

So...while changing the oil in my 3.6L today, I got distracted when some neighbors came over to chat and almost forgot to install the new oil filter before putting the housing cap back on. Pretty stupid, especially because I'm super OCD about any maintenance I perform on my vehicles.

This got me thinking (here we go...), because it is entirely possible that a dealership or other oil change shop could easily forget the filter. After all, we know they often overtorque the filter housing cap, overtorque the drain plug, or forget to refill with fresh oil, among other fatal errors.

Assuming they refilled with the correct grade/amount of engine oil and reinstalled the filter housing cap without a filter, would there be any obvious indication? Odd sounds, abnormal oil pressure readings, erratic engine performance, etc.? I believe all three would occur, but just curious what our experts have to say. Thanks in advance and happy Jeepin'!

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[Rick4570]

Interesting question. Some people only use the dealer for oil changes. If they forgot to put the filter in, they sure wouldn't say anything at the next change!

 

[flyer92]

Interesting question. Some people only use the dealer for oil changes. If they forgot to put the filter in, they sure wouldn't say anything at the next change!

Exactly. Seems we always discuss the other common errors that happen when we let others do our oil changes, but this one is never addressed. I have heard of this happening in other vehicles with cartridge-style filters, so while it probably doesn't happen often, it is still good to know what the indications would be.

 

[storyg]

Is it possible for someone to engineer a clear "unbreakable" and temperature compliant plastic housing including the 24mm head, that is tough enough for a lifetime of use? Even with a coating of dirty oil on the inner surface of the housing, would a visual check of the cartridge when the engine is not running, be visible?

 

[The Last Cowboy]

They need to take that 24mm head off the filter cap. That causes more breakage than anything.

That having been said, it's very common for filters to go unchanged. On my truck on the Wagoneer, I write the date and miles on the filter itself with a silver Sharpie.

On my Wrangler, I need to come up with something as a visual confirmation/reminder. I guess I could use a silver Sharpie on the cap itself, then clean it with acetone each time.

I also write the date and miles on my air filters, and keep a small notebook in each vehicle with the miles and dates of each service.

 

[58Willys]

Oil system should work without a filter, just no filtering so some added wear. I can’t access my factory service manual right now, but I think the bottom of the filter activates an anti drain back valve of some sort, so top end oiling on start up may suffer a bit.

 

[Gregj]

I don’t think that little nub with to o-ring on the bottom of the filter is an anti-drain back, I believe that is the filter drain that opens when you unscrew the cap. I think if you left the filter out you wouldn’t have much or any oil pressure as it would just pump out that hole in the bottom.

I think this could be the source of the overfull oil changes. I think if you drain the pan and put the plug back in and then pull the filter the oil held in the filter will run down into the pan. You add five quarts and now it is over full.
Gregj

 

[CarbonSteel]

The filter tip prevents the oil galleries from draining out--as evidenced by additional oil draining when you pull the filter.

Here is a post I made on the subject:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/lifter-failure-prevention.120957/post-2520091

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

I can think of a number of worse ways people can screw up working on a vehicle at home or in a shop. I'm afraid the filter thing would be one of the last. Around here, they pull the parts, log the parts used, etc.
Think of all the ways things can get screwed up - forget to tighten wheel nuts, not properly tighten pitman nut (or like many have done, use that one-time-use nut over again) and the list goes on and on and on - forgetting to put a cap back on something - like the coolant reservoir.
I suspect you just have to trust it's not a big deal and certainly not a safety concern. You almost messed up- but you didn't. So you can't say you DID, just that you almost did. You don't do this every day like some of us have where certain things become second nature, even a muscle memory sort of thing.
There's always a chance of a mistake - always, no matter what. So you want some sort of a light or a popup that shows there's a filter in there?
Naw.

 

[ALRUI]

Without the restriction the filter provides I think the oil pressure would be quite low.....

 

[mwilk012]

Good lord, why do people respond with bad information?

If you left the oil filter and reinstalled the cap, you run the engine with about 3 psi oil pressure, the oil light comes on immediately, and you will know. Same problem that happens when dumb oil change shops put the 2011-2013 model filters in the second gen housings. It dumps oil pressure to the sump. Not good.

 

[flyer92]

So you want some sort of a light or a popup that shows there's a filter in there?

LOL...no. I don't think there's a need for anything like that. Was just asking what sort of indications we could expect if the filter wasn't installed. Perhaps odd engine noise, abnormal oil pressure, erratic engine performance, etc.

 

[flyer92]

If you left the oil filter and reinstalled the cap, you run the engine with about 3 psi oil pressure, the oil light comes on immediately, and you will know.

Do you mean if you left the oil filter out? Assuming that's the case, it totally makes sense that oil pressure would be abnormally low.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

I don’t think that little nub with to o-ring on the bottom of the filter is an anti-drain back, I believe that is the filter drain that opens when you unscrew the cap. I think if you left the filter out you wouldn’t have much or any oil pressure as it would just pump out that hole in the bottom.

I think this could be the source of the overfull oil changes. I think if you drain the pan and put the plug back in and then pull the filter the oil held in the filter will run down into the pan. You add five quarts and now it is over full.
Gregj

That’s a likely cause, or not changing the filter at all and adding 5 qts. But I doubt the cartridge filter holds even close to a qt in suspension.

I bet a lot of people would be shocked by how many OCIs that filters get skipped.

I remember when it was recommended to change the filter every other OCI.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Do you mean if you left the oil filter out? Assuming that's the case, it totally makes sense that oil pressure would be abnormally low.

Yes, you Jeep newbie’s. Back in the day many dealers and shops put the old oil filter into the newer engines, they didn’t have the “nipple”. You would immediately know since the oil pressure light would go on. So Same as no filter. immediately you will get a CEL…

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