Date:         Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:32:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      A simple way to peace of mind ...About the condition of your
              motor..
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

Many Racing parts suppliers sell oil filter cutters.  Try, off hand, a Google for Pegasus (sp?) Racing not a recommendation, just a name that came to mind easily..

 These are rather simple inexpensive devices that are similar to a large tubing cutter.  A post that fits into the threaded center of your used oil filter and a small cutter wheel that you tighten as you rotate around the filter.  It cuts the outer shell of the filter without creating a bunch of it's own metal filings..

  I cut open my used filters, about every other oil/filter change, and check the pleated paper insides for metal bits.  If you look carefully, and you have some bearing issues or something, you will see bits of metal trapped on the element of the cut-open filter..I've saved deteriorating engines from catastrophic failure using this procedure..On those times when I don't bother to cut the filter open, I do carefully look at the discarded oil before I re-cycle it and see if it "glitters" metallically...

  Don Hanson