Odd oil change technique - add half, start car?

Doing my own oil changes for years, I would add 3 quarts then start the engine to fill the filter first. I did this, not to avoid temporary overfill, but to avoid ending up with overfill when I added the last bits of oil. By filling the filter first, I could use the dip stick accurately to complete the oil change.

 

when changing my own oil i fill the filter about 1/2-2/3 full . i don't think starting the car to do this process would be such a good idea.


-drew

 

I know the main reason for starting the car after an oil change is to fill the filter, but it's also to make sure the filter is seated properly. How do you do this in a Prius? Assuming that the car is already warm, if you press the start button, isn't it possible that the ICE will just sit there? Do you turn on the A/C and other accessories to try to drain the battery? Do you just sit there and wait?

 

i usually just fill to the line, then drive a block or two. then remeasure and refill to the line. when filling the filter, you are talking a cup or two.

 

I add 3.5 quarts, drive the car around the block, measure the level, and add slowly until reaching the full mark.

 

Lazy/non-anal people will note that there's no need to completely fill the system. Anywhere between ADD and FULL is fine.

 

ok just for a laugh and I'll date myself, back in the early 70's I was working in a GM dealership in Northern British Columbia and the lube dept called me in, I was in the tune-up dept, and said they just got chewed out by a customer with a mid 60's Buick when they changed his oil because the motor had an oil filler cap on both valve covers and they put all the oil in one, they tried to get me to explain to the guy that it was ok, I had to remind him the car had only one oil pan and there was only one oil pump and all the oil circulated thru the entire engine, he was still muttering when he left. He wanted the oil put in both sides. Normlly I put in 3 and run it and then top it off at the full mark.