Cardboard (actually fiber) from the oil filter would need to get through the center tube,.....and through the center hole.....and out into the motor.
It would have been good to open that filter up and see what was happening in there.....without that.....one can only make speculation.
While I can understand the oil filter coming to mind.....I am trying to picture how much of the cardboard like material was being seen in the motor.....where in the motor......and how much cardboard like material there is inside that particular filter to start with.
Might some of it have looked like filter media?
If it was maintained as you indicate....maybe there was some sludge action.....maybe coolant in oil action......or clogged PCV?......and suddely something let loose....clogged up the filter and..............
We are left with more questions than answers without a filter disection.
In all fairness.....country of origin is less of a factor than the "no name filter"......if he did as you indicate....got the cheapest oil and oil filter, then went for an extended Oil Change Interval with it in a old, poorly maintained vehicle.
It would have been good to open that filter up and see what was happening in there.....without that.....one can only make speculation.
While I can understand the oil filter coming to mind.....I am trying to picture how much of the cardboard like material was being seen in the motor.....where in the motor......and how much cardboard like material there is inside that particular filter to start with.
Might some of it have looked like filter media?
If it was maintained as you indicate....maybe there was some sludge action.....maybe coolant in oil action......or clogged PCV?......and suddely something let loose....clogged up the filter and..............
We are left with more questions than answers without a filter disection.
In all fairness.....country of origin is less of a factor than the "no name filter"......if he did as you indicate....got the cheapest oil and oil filter, then went for an extended Oil Change Interval with it in a old, poorly maintained vehicle.