1.6 hdi oil filter

[August]

Hello, (citroen c4 1.6 hdi 80 kw 2006 y.)

It has probably been talked about many many times, but I couldn't find a concrete answer.

What is a correct way to install a oil filter in Citroen c4 1.6 hdi 80 kw 2006 y.? Many people say you should firstly install it into an engine first (nipple inside a hole), some say it doesn't matter. I personally always installed the oil filter into a cap first than into an engine, the other way around seems to be counter intuitive. I haven't experienced any low oil pressure warnings either. But since many people swear for installing the oil filter into engine first.. it got me nervous that i might have been hurting engine due to improper oil filter installation. I've done probably 40k km with oil filter changing method as mentioned above and I am quite heavy footed .

Let's discuss!

[PaulC5]

Tried it both ways on our Cactus and found fitting into the body first easier than to the cap and then trying to get the nipple to line up with the hole it goes into.

[RichardW]

Engine first so you can engage the nipple at the bottom. Must be really awkward doing it lid first - how do you get it line up? If it doesn't go in then there's a risk of oil bypassing the filter and you will get low oil pressure warning.

[August]

But is it actually necessary to line it up?

I think the inner part of the filter housing is designed to catch the nipple while it is rotating with the cap. If you try and see there is like half moon barrier where the hole is (attached picture.. I tried to find the best one i could). And while the nipple is spinning it stops the filter rotation and only the cap is spinning pushing the filter nipple inside the hole.
I think it would be a big engineering oversight by PSA if it wouldn't be the case, making it extremely easy to make a crucial mistake on a part that is regularly changed

Also, lets say, nipple didnt go into hole.. what are the signs of that? does it always show low pressure warning or not?

[Huskyxantia]

Filter in first, cap on second ... BUT ... several times ive noticed how tight the cap can be slotting into the filter itself, so I now make the filter hole a little bigger the cap then slides around the hole better and the filter don't get screwed around with the cap and snapping the small nipple bit off at the bottom , happend to me twice , so I make my filter holes now bigger and no problems

[August]

But what are your reasons for filter first? To line up the nipple?
but from the pictures i attached isn't made to catch the filter in the correct position while spinning. also probably less risk braking the nipple

[Huskyxantia]

Yes to line up the nipple , hence why lots pop the filter in first.

[Paul-R]

TBH, with the nipple obviously fitting into a hole I've never NOT considered fitting the filter on to the engine first.

[August]

so considering i did the other way around compared to you guys, you think the filter is not correctly lined up inside my car right now?

[shtu]

so considering i did the other way around compared to you guys, you think the filter is not correctly lined up inside my car right now?

Odds of it having lined up correctly are slim.

[August]

What are the consequences for it not being lined up? Because like i said i covered about 30k km while changing the filter that way, but havent had oil pressure warning once

[Paul-R]

It's difficult to be sure but it sounds like your filter did happen to line up. Having said that my only experience of nearly having to fit a filter the 'wrong' way round was when I stupidly put the wrong 'O' ring seal on and of course it leaked oil from the housing.

I undid the housing, put the right seal on and then tried to pull the filter out of the housing to put it onto the engine. No way was that filter coming out undamaged. It gripped like the devil to the centre tube. I did try to screw the housing and filter back on but concluded that it was just too hit and miss. I ended up digging the nearly new filter out and having to buy a(nother) filter to put onto the engine first.

[August]

It's difficult to be sure but it sounds like your filter did happen to line up. Having said that my only experience of nearly having to fit a filter the 'wrong' way round was when I stupidly put the wrong 'O' ring seal on and of course it leaked oil from the housing.

I undid the housing, put the right seal on and then tried to pull the filter out of the housing to put it onto the engine. No way was that filter coming out undamaged. It gripped like the devil to the centre tube. I did try to screw the housing and filter back on but concluded that it was just too hit and miss. I ended up digging the nearly new filter out and having to buy a(nother) filter to put onto the engine first.

You mean filter got stuck inside the engine, inside the oil filter housing or inside the oil filter cover?

[PaulC5]

I think it is the filter was stuck in the cap since I have found I need to lever the filter off the cap they hold on that tight. The design is probably so when the cap is being undone, it pulls the filter out of the hole so oil can drain out back to the sump.

[August]

Okey, thank you all for the information

The next oil change im going to do is this friday and im going to try the filter first method since its the majorities opinion of the correct way

Also since i got no oil pressure warnings, i assume my oil filter most likely lined up correctly and i dont need to worry about unusual wear, yes?

P.S Maybe someone has access to servicebox and can actually check what PSA says is the correct way