Cat 3126 oil filter change

Brett has the right answer of course. I always do mine dry with no known issues.

Caterpillar's recommendation is install dry. Their reasoning is that the oil on the bearings will lube for well more than the few seconds it takes to fill the oil filter. And any oil you pour into the filter will do directly to the bearings without ever being filtered.

Now, if this really goes against your grain, take a few more minutes and fill the small outer holes of the filter (the inlets), not the center large hole (outlet).

azdryheat wrote:
Can't speak for a CAT but any engine I've ever owned that has a near-vertical filter I will pre-fill it.

Yep.

Can't speak for a CAT but any engine I've ever owned that has a near-vertical filter I will pre-fill it.