Myth: Cleaning an Oil Filter Lid Before Installation
A common piece of “garage wisdom” suggests that you should thoroughly wipe the lid of a new oil filter before spinning it onto your engine. While cleanliness is generally good, this specific advice is largely incorrect. The only scenario where you should be cleaning the top of the filter is if you’ve accidentally dropped it in the dirt or onto a dusty floor before installation.
In fact, the rubber gasket on top of the filter needs a bit of “mess” to work correctly. You should apply a thin film of clean, used oil around the rubber sealer to ensure it creates a vacuum-tight seal. If you install a bone-dry, perfectly wiped filter, the friction can cause the gasket to bunch up or tear, leading to dangerous oil leaks down the road.