Running engine to flush oil out of filter?

[paqman]

I was talking to a friend of mine, (I'll say up front, he's not stupid when it comes to cars) who said that he always hates changing the oil in his Tacoma because the filter is oriented in such a way that it's next to impossible to take it off without getting oil all over EVERYTHING. In his searches he found that what the dealerships are doing is after draining the oil, before taking the filter off, they actually start up the engine and run it for a second or two, then immediately shut it off. They say that it it sucks all the oil out of the filter and it comes off clean.

This sounds intriguing to me, because while I don't have a huge issue with a mess when taking off the filter in my mustang, it is a bit of a nusiance. And it is quite a bit messier in my Ford Escort. Is this practice safe for the car? They're only running it for a second or two, and if the dealerships are doing it, it must be ok right?

[Blue)(Fusion]

DO NOT DO THIS.

This is damaging to the engine. 1-2 seconds of oil starvation won't kill the engine immediately, but do it a few times and the bearings will be destroyed.

I reiterate, DO NOT DO THIS.

The oil pump is BEFORE the oil filter. If there is no oil for it to pump, nothing is pushing on the oil in the filter. So it just sits there.

Just get a little messy. The way it is in my Grand Marquis, tons of oil from the filter and everything in the oil galleries above the filter comes spewing out. I use a ziploc bag around it to catch most of it. I lay some cardboard down for the bit that gets out of the bag. It's been working pretty damn well for the past 5 or so oil changes.

[paqman]

Originally Posted by Blue)(Fusion

DO NOT DO THIS.

This is damaging to the engine. 1-2 seconds of oil starvation won't kill the engine immediately, but do it a few times and the bearings will be destroyed.

I reiterate, DO NOT DO THIS.

The oil pump is BEFORE the oil filter. If there is no oil for it to pump, nothing is pushing on the oil in the filter. So it just sits there.

Just get a little messy. The way it is in my Grand Marquis, tons of oil from the filter and everything in the oil galleries above the filter comes spewing out. I use a ziploc bag around it to catch most of it. I lay some cardboard down for the bit that gets out of the bag. It's been working pretty damn well for the past 5 or so oil changes.

Thanks for the input. Like I said, I haven't done it, I actually don't have much of an issue when I do mine. I always just put a grocery bag under it, and actually, just the other day when I did the oil in my Escort, didn't get a single drop on the floor. Not even the cardboard I put down. I was just curious because this friend of mine is saying that's what the dealerships are doing, and it sounded crazy to me.