Cut Open Your Oil Filter Every Time You Change It

Most pilots change their oil filter and throw it away without ever looking inside -- and that's a habit that can hide a developing engine problem until it's expensive. John and Jeff walk through why opening up a used oil filter is part of the real maintenance process, not an optional extra. They cover how the filter's internal relief valve works (both on Tempest and Champion filters), why that matters when the filter media starts to clog, and why FAA guidance and the engine OEMs -- Continental and Lycoming -- expect the filter to actually be cut open and examined, not just swapped. They also get into what a healthy filter looks like inside versus one that's telling you something is wrong. The practical takeaway: a $16 filter cutter and two minutes with a magnet and a baking tray will tell you more about your engine's health than just watching the oil drain out ever will. In this episode, we cover: Why oil screens and twist-on filters both need to be opened and inspected, not just replaced How the bypass/relief valve inside a filter protects the engine -- and why that's not a free pass to skip inspection The 30-50 hour rule of thumb for how often to change your filter A cheap, effective tool (an Amazon filter cutter) for opening filters safely What to look for in the pleated media: metal, slivers, or chunks Why Lycoming owners should also be pulling and inspecting the finger screen in the sump How to log and compare what you find oil change to oil change, including taking photos and bagging particulate for later comparison Get in touch! Web - SignatureEngines.com Email - Podcast@SignatureEngines.com YouTube -    / @signatureenginesinc