Yes, its the unfiltered side.

Oil enters outer, flows to inner, flows to block. Hence why inner metal reinforcement tube to prevent media collapse.

 

Yep the debris is after the oil has passed thru the filter so its going directly back into the engine.


-- Chuck

 

I noticed no variations on packaging. All made in Thailand by Mahle, who is the current manufacturer. I have some of the stickers left so I will check them for date codes when I get home from work. These filters were not purchased at the same time either.

 

Is it made in Taiwan or Thailand? Maybe, we are dealing with fake knock-offs?

 

Some I found were free/loose in the filter, and some could be lightly touched and would break away. Regardless if they are “stuck”, oil flow is more than capable of breaking the ones I found to be clinging on, free. Like I mentioned before I found 2 pieces in my VTEC screen after finding them in several new filters. The one pictured on the blue shop towel was out of the VTEC screen. I didnt find any in the oil pan. I still have 2 used filters I need to cut open to see if any of these slag pieces made a trip back to the filter. It made me feel sick when I realized that some had gone through my engine. Likely through several other owners engines as well.

 

Youre correct! Thailand! My mistake!

 

I looked at my batch closely this morning. I have two left in the box out of the original four. They are Mahle but NOT made in Taiwan but in Thailand. Lots of engine stuff/auto stuff is made in Thailand. Previous older Honda filters I purchased at the dealership were made in Thailand. That is where Honda also makes a ton of small engines for motor bikes and landscaping equipment. My gas trimmer's 4 stroke engine, made by Honda, came from Thailand. Last year I ordered an OEM carburetor for it and it was made in Thailand.

Mine looked better with good glasses and flashlight. I fished around with a couple of probes, wooden and material but picked up nothing to mention other than some light discoloration running over the welds. I have not looked at the VTEC screen.

After looking at the pictures, I noticed something that looked a thread of metal. Pic #2 at 11 o'clock on the brown sealant around the bottom. I went in with a Q tip and snagged it. I put on an eye loupe but what ever it was lost the shape (I twirled the tip to capture it) and had an extremely small smudge. It did not look like metal anymore. No idea.

 

Glad to see you didnt find any!! Yes it is Thailand! My mistake. Like I mentioned before some of them were partially stuck on the metallic base, and some slag were found loose inside. I found some stuck to the red epoxy, as well as some just inside the perforated core holes. I really hope this was a bad run and doesnt continue. I dont mean to have people freaking out over previous filters they used, but I thought It would be good for everyone to be aware of for the future. I still use the filters but I just go through them with a fine tooth comb and a tiny mirror to see in around that spring and base.

 

I made some edits between your post and this one. I wonder if some pieces might come from the punching of holes on the inner tube. In my pictures the edges look kinda rough and with the volume of production I would not be surprised to see small pieces of debris. If there is a positive side to this it would be the metal is soft and would be recaptured by the media on the round trip!

 

Maybe like this? I also removed this one but it was not metallic.

I have found one or two on the lip/crimp. Though I wasnt too concerned because this piece if broken off would have to go through the inlet side of the filter, thus getting stuck in the media.