cfiiman

Hey all,

Just changed the oil on my 996TT and had a question about inspecting the filter. I know a lot of people cut these open and stretch them out but I'm trying to understand why with the direction of the oil flow into the pleats? If the oil comes up into the housing and then through the pleats to be filtered and the clean oil travels on to the engine through the center of the filter why cut it open? My logic is saying that looking at the outside of the filter is where I should be looking, but I'm sure my logic could be incorrect but would like to learn why. Thanks for any clarification.

"02996ttx50

I've always just inspected inside the pleats while turning it over. just did it the other day. not a flake to be found

Dock

I cut mine to flatten it out, making it easier to inspect the outside surface.

pfbz

Unless you stretch out the pleats, you won't be able to easily spot small metal particles that might be buried in the creases. It takes a just few seconds with a utility knife to slice the top and the bottom of the pleats off the holder, one slice down any pleat, and it stretches out to like three feet...

cfiiman

Ah, I see, that makes complete sense. So the cutting and stretching is still to see the "outside" just easier. For some reason I had it in my head that people were cutting and stretching to look at the inside which is why I was confused. Thanks for clearing it up