Ok - maybe a dumb question - but how do you cut open an oil filter without getting metal particles all over (it seems like that would defeat the purpose of cutting it open to look for metal particles). A tin snips?

Thanks

the nasty stuuf from the engine will be on the inside of the element, not on the outside...

Summit Racing sells a filter cutter. Simply attach the filter, turn the crank handle & it cuts it in half. About $35. A friend who turned wrenches on a top fuel team, said they would cut the filter open & put a torch to it. Any metal particles would burn differently, depending on their what kind of metal it was. Aluminum would burn differently than steel, etc. That way, they could identify pretty much what part of the motor it came from. Don't think we have to go that far, but it will tell you if metal is in the oil.

i work for a heavy equipment dealer where we cut filters as a way of trouble shooting some problems. cat has a filter cutter but i don't know the cost. it's a good way to tell if you have an engine starting to fail. cut open the filter and remove the paper element. cut out a section of the element and wrap it a few paper towels. squeeze that in a vice to get the oil out of the element paper. any metal in the system will show in on the paper.

the metal filter canister cutters
are just larger versions of the
tubing cutters you see for copper pipe

if you have a large bench vise
and a tubing cutter you are willing to cut in two
you can mount the cutting wheel on one jaw
and the little rollers on the opposite jaw of the vice
and make yourself a oil filter cutter
that will open to larger diameters

a large C-clamp can be used to do the same
but it is not as stiff as a vice

Here's my home made filter cutter patterned after the commercial aircraft unit. Cutter wheel is from a common pipe cutter.

I only cut the filters on my classic cars not the everyday vehicles...I'm cheap and use the tin snips... ...

I have been using one that belongs to a friend. Works great and we all don't have to have the investments in everything by sharing. It is a good idea to periodically check them out but have yet to see one where in the right light that there isn't mini mini sparklies almost as if it isn't metallic content of the oil itself. No way can you feel them or anything.

Anybody tried an exhaust tubing cutter?
They look like they'd work.

Here's one for $40.

Oli filter Cutter