Oil Filters - Newer Style With Replaceable Elements - Curious . . . Educate Me, Please!

We have two GM cars with the new style oil filters. Aside from the somewhat crowded access to the cover hex, they are otherwise easy to live with. There is no need to reach past hot engine parts or crawl underneath to get at the filter and the housing drains empty in a short time after the engine is stopped. Without the sheet steel housing, the new filters should cost much less but instead cost much more. I recently paid about 8 dollars for one. I got a Fram at WM. The “O” ring for the cover was included but I was lazy and used the old one again; twice now. Make sure that the “O” ring has a little oil on it to ensure slipping while the plastic cover is snugged up.

BMW uses cartridge type oil filters.

My dad’s Caddy STS has one of these. The lid threads into the canister and has a hex protrusion in the center. It is right there at the top where you can get at it and I can change the filter in about 30 seconds with a socket and ratchet.