poking holes in filter, during oil change

[hansj3]

At the shop I work at someone got into the habit of popping small holes in some filters( think Toyota 2.2 and Subaru fa/fb) so that don't make a mess.

Anyone else do it? My thought was it may shard into the oil sys, but he has never had an issue

 

[eljefino]

I wonder if a spring loaded center punch would do it. The cheap steel in filter cans isn't brittle enough to make shards.

 

[Umibozu]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I wonder if a spring loaded center punch would do it. The cheap steel in filter cans isn't brittle enough to make shards.


Agreed. Using a punch or even a stubby screw driver with hammer won't cause any significant particulates to matter. Even if it did, it would be drained immediately through the newly created hole.

I like the idea of this but I've gotten good at predicting where the oil will drain once the filter is removed.

 

[OneEyeJack]

It's a good idea. In my case with the Honda I really like the feel of warm oil running down my arm into my armpit while I'm reaching up behind the engine as I lay on my back at an angle where I can't see the filter and can just get my hand around it.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
It's a good idea. In my case with the Honda I really like the feel of warm oil running down my arm into my armpit while I'm reaching up behind the engine as I lay on my back at an angle where I can't see the filter and can just get my hand around it.
I had hot oil running down my arm changing oil on Hondas for twenty years. As Sheriff Bart says in Blazing Saddles, "I hate it."

 

[Chris142]

I always drain the one on my truck by poking a hole in the bottom before i remove it.way too awkward to try to weasel a 5inch x 12inch filter full of oil.there's no way this could allow anything to get into the passages.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I wonder if a spring loaded center punch would do it. The cheap steel in filter cans isn't brittle enough to make shards.
no. I must hammer mine pretty hard with a hammer and screwdriver.

 

[stchman]

When I used to work in lube shop the older Mazda RX-7 had a filter on the top of the engine. After loosening the filter we would poke a small hole and this would allow the filter to drain. It worked very well. We would use a small nail and hammer ONLY after the filter was loosened.

 

[KGMtech]

I do this. I don't cut open my old filters for viewing, but the holes do help drain oil before the filter goes in the trash.

Yes, old hot oil in the armpit is awesome!

 

[CT8]

Study the oil flow and how a filters works there will be no problems.