M816/NHC250 Oil Filter Installation

Hello all,

I apologize if this has been covered but I couldn’t find anything in the search bar, or in the TM’s for this.
Today I was trying to change the oil filter on my XM816 and when I went to install the new filter from Napa, I found that unlike the old Fleetguard filter, the Napa/Wix filter has a plate in the inner bore, about 2 inches from one end.
The problem is, if I install the filter with the stamped “ENGINE END” toward the engine, the plate inside hits the small clip/pin on the filter housing bolt and the filter won’t go in.
So, naturally, I put the filter in backwards and installed it just to cover the opening.
At this point, what do I do? I can either:
1. Leave it in “backwards” and run it
2. Take it apart, take the clip/pin off of the housing bolt and put the filter in the “right” way
3. Buy a different brand of filter and hope it’s built without that inner plate.
Let me know what you all have experienced on this. I apologize that I don’t have pictures. I also don’t understand why there’s a direction of installation when the filter appears symmetrical.

Thank you,
Peter

Update:
After talking with my friend who has done a lot with old Cummins engines, I will be removing the clip (which, as I suspected, just holds the bolt in the housing) and installing the filter correctly.

Well worth the investment to change the canister set up to a spin on.

juanprado said:

Well worth the investment to change the canister set up to a spin on.

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A few minor headaches during (infrequent) oil changes definitely do not justify spending $650 on a spin-on conversion to me. Maybe the fuel filter, but not the engine oil filter.