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I have one that looks like the Longacre cutter, but didn't cost nearly as much. The Summit looks like it works the same and is cheaper. I got a real filter cutter because I cut open all my oil filters and fuel filters on different engines, so I open a lot of filters every year.
Same here. I bought the Longacre. I don't think mine cost that much either.
A hammer and a flat tipped screwdriver just opened my old filter. It was my 5th coolant filter change. I was pleasantly surprised no sand or debris was found. I assume the previous 4 filters did their job (I never thought to open those).
I had debris during the first filter on three motors, nothing to speak of on the remainder. However even with clean filters I’ve inspected the innards of my oil cooler and it was a better filter, keeping the bypass filter clean.
From my old post in the beginning of this thread, I like my home made and handy filter kit. Bought everything at NAPA and used the push on Aeroquip hoses, still working today. As mentioned above, if you race you have a filter cutter around the shop somewhere.
I did driver's side only, for just dropping the coolant I don't see a need to mess with the starter and the passenger side plug. I pulled the paper gasket and sealed with an o-ring.
I had debris during the first filter on three motors, nothing to speak of on the remainder. However even with clean filters I’ve inspected the innards of my oil cooler and it was a better filter, keeping the bypass filter clean.
Was this also true on your 7.3L? (IOW, did you ever take apart the oil cooler of your 7.3L, or did you trade into your 6.0l before it was necessary to dig that deep?)
BTW, back about 18 years ago, Jack was one of the first to write up doing a DIY coolant filter, and he weathered all kinds of flack for mounting his filter behind the front bumper, accessible through the wheel well. This was long before another DIY'r came up with the idea to top mount filters by bending a piece of flat bar and using the two offset holes on the upper rad mount... that all of the forum founded internet based diesel aftermarket parts sellers copied and market as their own innovation nowadays.
Yep, the picture above and here was the first 7.3L filter cut open at around 25k miles.
I traded the 7.3 at ~52k before the need of checking that oil cooler, picking up this 6.0. The 7.3L is still running around in the Vineland NJ area. Considering my garage right now .......
Although now I've had the opportunity to cut open two 6.0 oil coolers.
