decided to cut open my oil filter too

[tonycarreon]

after reading Spinnakers Oil Filter Thread i decided to cut my filter open and see what it had.

77600 miles, 01 base+tip. That filter had 12k/1yr. on it, though I had changed the oil twice (I know, but I could never find a good filter wrench)

for those interested, bits of plastic and a few metal shavings...



you can see all of the photos on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7155723@N02/sets/72157624963658275/

[Spinnaker]

Well, what did I start here. Is this going to be "National Cut Your Filter Open Week"?
Looks like you have a lot more of those little black specks than I did. Either my tensioners aren't wearing as much as yours, or mine are worn out and there is nothing much left to wear off.

[Lobo1186]

if they are like dark blackish brown and kinda clear and glassy even from what I understand that is a normal byproduct.

[clickman]

Originally Posted by Lobo1186

if they are like dark blackish brown and kinda clear and glassy even from what I understand that is a normal byproduct.

Normal byproduct of what?

[JTP]

Originally Posted by Lobo1186

if they are like dark blackish brown and kinda clear and glassy even from what I understand that is a normal byproduct.

Changed the oil today and cut open the filter. 50k miles On engine and 5k since the last oil change.

I found little bits, 1-2mm in size, of hard brown glassy particles on the filter along with a few specks of bright red bits. No metal shavings but there was one piece of tan soft rubber, like a portion of a rubber diaphragm. Very soft and stretchy.

Are the brown pieces from the chain tensioners and is it "Normal" to find them on your filter? I probably had one or two pieces on every other pleat.

[schoir]

Originally Posted by JTP

Changed the oil today and cut open the filter. 50k miles On engine and 5k since the last oil change.

I found little bits, 1-2mm in size, of hard brown glassy particles on the filter along with a few specks of bright red bits. No metal shavings but there was one piece of tan soft rubber, like a portion of a rubber diaphragm. Very soft and stretchy.

Are the brown pieces from the chain tensioners and is it "Normal" to find them on your filter? I probably had one or two pieces on every other pleat.

JTP:

I don't want to alarm you, but I would rather err on the side of caution.

I'm not sure about the origin of that piece of "tan soft rubber, like a portion of a rubber diaphragm", but you should investigate whether that piece of material might possibly be part of the rubber seal on one side or the other on the IMS bearing.

Regards, Maurice.

[JTP]

Maurice,
thanks for the input. When I saw it I was really worried and thought of the IMS seals but this piece feels like latex, very soft. And from all the photos of the IMS I've seen the seals are black and the outer flange seal is orange. I'll try to take a photo and post it.
So you wouldn't worry about the hard brown specs?