Can the oil filter be replaced without draining the oil?

[DiKate]

It is possible to replace the oil filter without draining the oil. The replacement method is as follows: 1. Open the engine hood and unscrew the oil tank cap; 2. Loosen the oil drain screw located under the engine; 3. Remove the old oil filter and install a new one; 4. Pour in the specified amount of oil. The function of the oil filter is to remove harmful impurities from the oil, providing clean oil to moving components such as the crankshaft, connecting rod, camshaft, turbocharger, piston rings, and engine, thereby extending the lifespan of these parts. Consequences of a damaged oil filter: It can cause blockages in the engine lubrication system or lead to abnormal wear of components, resulting in severe engine damage or complete failure.

[VanJuliet]

I've personally seen newbies do this, and it ended up with engine oil all over the floor. To be honest, once you unscrew that sealing rubber ring under the filter, the old oil stored inside gushes out instantly, making a mess everywhere. That old oil is extremely dirty and hard to wash off from hands or clothes. Most importantly, after replacing the filter, there won't be enough oil left inside, requiring you to add new oil. But the old oil can't be completely drained out, and mixing old and new oil together significantly reduces effectiveness. So if you really need to change the filter, it's better to properly drain the old oil with an oil pan first, then replace it thoroughly in one go.

[DiBrynlee]

Xiao Zhang from the repair shop near my place mentioned this. He's very meticulous with his work. Skipping the oil change and just replacing the filter might seem like a time-saver, but it's actually quite troublesome. There's at least half a liter of oil left in the filter, and it's bound to leak when removed. The old oil splashing onto engine parts can also lead to oil sludge buildup. He also warned against just trying to save money—if the old oil leaks out, you'll have to top up with new oil, which means you'll end up using more oil than a regular service. In the end, it's more costly. It's best to take the whole car to the shop and let them drain everything properly and replace the full set. That way, it's hassle-free and saves effort.

[Harley]

I tried it myself during the last DIY maintenance. It's really not advisable to unscrew the oil filter without draining the oil first! Just loosening it two turns caused black, dirty oil to gush out, dripping all over the underbody shield. Not only did it take forever to clean up, but the real issue was mixing old and new oil—within two hours of installing the new filter, the engine started sounding off. When I took it to the shop later, the mechanic explained that the mixed oil's viscosity had changed. Plus, if the filter base's sealing gasket isn't thoroughly cleaned of oil residue, it's guaranteed to start leaking after a few days. It's better to properly drain the oil from the oil pan and take the opportunity to clean the filter base when removing the filter.