If your filter is mounted bottom up, then I believe the proper procedure
would be to poke a hole in the top of it. This will allow the oil to drain
out of the filter and back into the oil pan. At least that's what I remember
from Mercruiser school.

As far as trying to fill the filter before hand, I wouldn't worry about it.
There are plenty of engines out there with high hours, and I doubt many
people prefill the filters.

Justin
wrote in message
ups.com...
After a short cruise to the Indian restaurant just up the sound and
back to the dock, the oil was hot and ready to change.

After changing the oil for the third time on the new engine, I am still
not confident that I'm doing something right....

My old engine had one filter that down from the fitting. The screw
fitting was at the top of the filter, so it was easy to fill the oil
filter with oil before screwing in onto the engine. I always liked to
pre-load the filter and reduce the amount of time it would take for the
engine to develop oil pressure when restarted.

The new engine has two filters, and they are mounted on top of a
bracket. The screw fitting is at the bottom of both filters.
When the old filters are loosened for removal, there is a need to keep
a bucket and a petro diaper under the filters as oil begins leaking out
before the old filter can be completely unthreaded.
It's messier than it should be.

I am using the factory filters, and they are supposed to have a
backcheck valve.

You guys with "bottoms up" oil filters on your engines. Do you preload
them with oil? Do you have a technique for getting the loaded filters
onto the fittings without making an oily mess in the engine room?

I almost feel like I should endure the oily mess to reduce the number
of seconds the engine runs with the oil pressure alarm sounding. (I
cranked the engine for 45 seconds, three times, so about 2 minutes
fifteen seconds total with the "stop" button depressed to try to fill
the empty filter cans. It still took about
5-10 seconds after the engine started for pressure to come up enough to
shut off the alarm).

Ideas or suggestions?