Today I tried to change oil myself and after I drained the oil, I tried to take off the oil filter, but it was too tight I couldn't take it off by hands. After fighting with it for 15min, I decided to just skip the oil filter part and put 3.5qt. of new oil to my tc. I went to kragen and bought oil filter wrench but here's my question. If I want to change oil filter only (cuz I already put new oil), is it okay to just take the oil filter off and change it, or do I have to do it from very beginning (take off drain plug and drain the oil and then replace oil filter) If I just take off the oil filter, is all the oil gonna spill out? Someone help me out please.
Thank you.

 

If you mixed the new oil with the old filter, you should really drain it again if you're going to actually change the filter. Or you could just wait until the next oil change to change the filter.

 

You shouldn't mix it like the other person said but if you aren't going to drain it go ahead and change the filter, I wouldn't run one filter through two oil changes even if you did drain and fill the oil.

 

Definitely change the oil and the filter next chance you get.

The old filter has trapped contaminants which are blocking the flow of oil through the filter. Maybe not an issue now but in a few thousand miles it might be. No oil flow = blown engine.

Your filter may have a bypass where if the filter clogs enough, oil will then be routed around the filter element, which means you're still running - but on unfiltered oil.

3 things you don't take chances with - battery, tires, oil.

 

Depends on how many miles is on that oil filter really, and how hard you fought with it (condition of the filter right now). Mixing oil is ok, because the fact is, there's always ~1/3 quart of old oil left in your engine everytime you change oil and filter anyway (some really **** people I know crank the engine to get the oil out during oil change, I personally think that's not needed and does more harm to the engine) so no, you DON'T have to drain everything and start from beginning.

Just change the filter and make up for the oil lost during the process. You will loose about 1/2 quart.

 

I always change my oil when my engine is hot b/c I want to make sure al the old oil comes out and yes I understand some is left behind but not 1/3.

 

crank it when you change oil and see. 1/3 quart was on a 2.2L camry engine. I am not talking about the oil that doesn't drip out, but the oil that's held in various parts of the engine during changes that won't drip out no matter if your engine is hot or cold.

 

1/3 would be a little over a qt and I know some oil will remain in the passages and in the head but it will not be that much.

 

dude, I said "1/3 quart"

 

my bad its been a really long day. I could see it. Think about it though a 1/3 qt isn't much considering our cars take 3.8 I think.

 

I know, that's why I call people who crank their engines for it ****.

 

Definately change the oil.

~Stephanie

 

And don't forget to lube the gasket on the filter so that you don't find yourself in this predicament again.

 

if you dented the filter go ahead and change it but you don't have to use new oil. if the filter is ok then just wait until the next oil change.

 

Thanks for advices, guys and girls. Mine only had 3000miles since last oil change and I've been using M1 synthetic oil and toyota oem filters. I guess I tightened filter too much last time (I tried not to but still...) Well, I will try to take it off again tomorrow if I have chance and change oil again (cuz my tc only has 9000miles and I don't wanna have any problems later on). Oh anyway how long does the oem filter last? Thanks again guys!!

 

you can go 2 oil changes on it, esp if you change it at 3k. if you use syn. oil then i would go longer, atleast 5k.

 

I'm noob at this, but if I don't change oil filter, will old oil from oil filter mix with new oil or does it just stay there (in oil filter) I'm changing oil at 3k b/c my brother put those oil treatment like 2.5k miles ago, and I've heard that treatment will ruin the engine eventually if I don't change oil soon after it.

 

Yes. But not a life threatening amount.

If you guys are having trouble with tight oil filters, go to any auto parts store and buy an oil filter remover. Its a little handle with a strap on the end. Cheap and easy so you don't mix new oil with crap oil.

 

ya its not much oil so it won't really make a difference. also, that oil treatment stuff is garbage, just change your oil on time and you'll be fine.

 

a standard tight grip oil filter wrench will do the trick, but if you can find a oil filter socket, you won't have to worry about denting your oil filter and makes things a lot easier. if you don't want to spend the money for new oil (wal-mart had 5 qt jugs of mobil1 full synthetic for like $24) then please at least do the oil filter change... don't worry about too much oil coming out when removing the oil filter (make sure you have your new filter prepped with some oil on the gasket).

oh... and just tighten the oil filter by hand, should be fine