I took the oil filter off last night. What a mess! I wanted to cut the oil filter to have a look, but when I removed the filter (it was TIGHT), the threaded adapter came out of the housing instead of the filter. I wasn’t able to get the threaded adapter out so I could use the oil filter cutter that I got for Christmas, so I used a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel and did it that way. I then took the base plate over to the band saw and cut the plate on either side of the stuck insert and split it in half. The insert fell right out and it was in perfect shape. Anytime I look at engine parts now I see them as $20 bills, so I’m REAL careful when I work with them. The oil filter was in pretty sad shape and inside had quite a bit of rust on one side due to moisture and the oil inside was a goopy mess. It’s been sitting a long time. I was able to flush the pleats with solvent. I showed some “color” in the rag, but not very much at all. Just very tiny flecks amongst the rust particles. No matter, going for a complete overhaul anyway. After cutting apart that oil filter, I’m convinced aircraft filters aren’t “just” car filters with a safety wire tab. That filter was built like a tank. The housing was easily twice as thick as a car filter and the base plate had to be at least 3/16ths thick.
