Crimped in paper filter

JDgreen227 · Jun 23, 2014

Just changed the oil and filter in a 2013 Equinox, the filter housing for the GM 2.4 engine is cast into the block and you remove a large cap to access the paper element. For some reason, the element I removed was in a partly hourglass shape, with the center of the element about 1/2" narrower than the ends. I have never seen this happen on any other paper element filter...not sure if it is something to be concerned about or not.

Diamondpilot · Jun 23, 2014

Could it have been a cheaper filter or installed improperly?

Chris

Winmac · Jun 23, 2014

One possibility is the filter was clogged and the oil flow deformed it, was it changed per the service interval?
Could be anything caused it I suppose, related story. Uncle buys a used mc for good measure he dose a oil and filter change, calls me up cause he's having trouble putting the cover on the new filter element and the old one was crushed.
I had to think for a second then asked if the gasket came out with the old element, well no gasket. In the end there was not one but three gaskets stacked up in the bottom of the filter housing.....

Z71 · Jun 29, 2014

My CTS has a cartridge style filter as well.

This is what an AC Delco filter looks like after just 5,000 miles in my 3.6L although never 1/2 inch.

More proof IMO that oem parts are not always the best quality.

JDgreen227 · Jun 29, 2014

Z71 said:
My CTS has a cartridge style filter as well.

This is what an AC Delco filter looks like after just 5,000 miles in my 3.6L although never 1/2 inch.

More proof IMO that oem parts are not always the best quality.

THANK YOU for that information and the picture...the filter I took out was a Delco....it was deformed more than your picture shows. Would have uploaded mine but my phone refuses to upload to pictures to my laptop, instead it uploads every one of them.

I don't like Delco oil filters...prefer Wix brand instead. And no, there were no extra gaskets on the filter I removed.

HHR · Jul 1, 2014

The same thing has happened over the last couple years with the filter in our 2.4L Chevy HHR. Brand of filter has made no difference as they all collapse to a point. The filter housing has a pretty stiff spring that applies downward pressure on the element. I think that the pressure along with the hot saturated element and oil pressure cause the element to become deformed.