[Dean]

Again, I am not trying to tell people not to replace it, I am just trying to understand the logic or fallacy in doing so.

Given the screen on the pickup is in front of it in flow and the filter is after it, unless there is another path I am missing, I am just suggesting there are failures that are being attributed to this not being replaced that are actually something else.

This is important IMHO. If we are replacing this blindly when the culprit is really something else that should be replaced or something wrong in the process, we need to know.

In terms of process, I could also understand people cleaning it with solvent and then not drying it being an issue. Any solvent would get pushed through the motor first and wash any assembly lube right away.

After flushing my non blow up '04, and blowing it mostly dry, I ran a heat gun through it until it was about 200 degrees.

It would be interesting to cut one from a bearing failure open, but the cutting would introduce all sorts of new metal filings.

I am going to take a look at the '04 block when I get a chance to make sure I have the flow correct.

More on process... .

I wonder if pre filling the filter helps or hinders the pump from priming.

I was planning on running the starter with plugs out to get oil flowing before first spark, but wonder if that is actually bad as oil will wash lube away and will then drain before I can get it started for initial warm up run.