Oil change trick--Punch a hole in the oil filter

[dravnx]

I'm pretty sure that nobody cares about punching a hole in the filter... It's the transfer of stress to the mounting threads that may bother some. And if it's over-tightened, some of that stress may make it to the finely-machined mating surface on the bottom of the oil pickup.

Place an old oil filter on your bench. Place an awl, punch or even a 10 penny nail on the end of the filter and lightly tap it with a hammer. You now know how little force is required to punch a hole in an oil filter. It's a non issue, only takes a moment and makes for a neater filter change. If you're nervous, crack the filter first to make sure it can be removed. We've been doing this on aircraft engines since forever. And there is nothing finely machined on the oil filter fitting.

 

[mjfink420]

Place an old oil filter on your bench. Place an awl, punch or even a 10 penny nail on the end of the filter and lightly tap it with a hammer. You now know how little force is required to punch a hole in an oil filter. It's a non issue, only takes a moment and makes for a neater filter change. If you're nervous, crack the filter first to make sure it can be removed. We've been doing this on aircraft engines since forever.

Guy who works on my tractor has a special tool, kind of like a captive bolt gun, that punctures the filter. As you said, it takes almost no force, the tool barely makes a noise beyond the "pop" of the air moving around in it.