Topic: Do you cut open oil filter at oil change ?

[Scootch]

Used to do it with aircraft at every oil change. Haven't done it with my other vehicles but I am going to start. Just did it with first oil change with CB. If you cut open bike filters what do you find?

[Don R]

 Hopefully nothing, but I've found gasket sealer and bits of rubber from the tensioner.
 In my race car I found needle bearings once and another time a mysterious black fiber material. It was from the stroker crank hitting the overhang of the pan gasket.

[TwoTired]

Always inspect the filter element on my SOHC4s.  I don't use spin-ons, the stock canister reveals the element easily so you can check for sparkles and magnetic particles.

Cheers,

[Kevin D]

I have used a painters screen when draining oil for cause. I have flushed the oil tank one time. Dropped the oil pan and cleaned the pan and screen a couple times. I check the filter housing every time. I think the inside of the filter is the clean side…… but, yes, I have opened a filter before, and didn’t find anything of note.

[Bodi]

Using stock filter. I look at it but don't unfold it. I have a hard drive magnet stuck to one end plate, so far it hasn't picked up more than a slight stain of iron/steel dust. Clutch steels maybe?

[rotortiller]

Just spread the pleats apart like you might do at home. A quick view to make sure it's clean, lubed and ready for action is always prudent lol.

[carnivorous chicken]

I think the inside of the filter is the clean side...

Isn't the inside of the filter the dirty side?

[slikwilli420]

I think the inside of the filter is the clean side...

No, the outside is where the oil passes through the element.
Isn't the inside of the filter the dirty side?

[Bodi]

"Isn't the inside of the filter the dirty side?"
All pleated filters flow from outside to inside. There's a support structure inside the pleated media that keeps it from collapsing. I've seen water filters hooked up backwards, the media just blows outwards and pretty much stops any flow, it can rupture too.
The "bolt" holding our bike filter housings on has a pressure relief valve inside. The cross holes near the bolt head are outside of the filter, past its outer end plate. A really dirty filter gets clogged up increasing the pressure needed to force oil through it. At some pressure the piston inside the bolt will push in against the internal spring, uncovering a second set of cross holes opening inside the filter letting "dirty" oil bypass the filter. Not good but better than not having any oil get through to the engine.