[bimmerisalwaysbroken]

So my oil filter cage detached from the oil filter cap, and the filter itself twisted out of place. I couldn’t get the cage to snap back onto the housing properly. I was about half an hour from home, so I decided to drive it back with just the cap installed no oil filter or cage.

Do you think I might’ve caused any damage? I kept the RPMs low the whole way, and the engine sounded fine when I got back. After thinking about it my main concern is now is that, without the cage installed, the centre port on the oil filter housing wasn’t blocked off. From what I understand, that port is just a bypass to the oil pan to help with draining during oil changes but I’m worried that might’ve prevented the engine from building proper oil pressure.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

I wouldn't worry about it. Filtration is a continues process and there's a bypass anyway so sometimes even during normal operations some oil goes unfiltered. Put on a proper filter and you're good to go.

[bimmerisalwaysbroken]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I wouldn't worry about it. Filtration is a continues process and there's a bypass anyway so sometimes even during normal operations some oil goes unfiltered. Put on a proper filter and you're good to go.

What about the oil pressure though? the centre drain port wasnt blocked as there was no cage

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by bimmerisalwaysbroken

What about the oil pressure though?

Pressure is provided by the oil pump, not by any obstruction in the oil filter housing. Did you get a low oil pressure light? If not, I wouldn't worry about it.

[bimmerisalwaysbroken]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

Pressure is provided by the oil pump, not by any obstruction in the oil filter housing. Did you get a low oil pressure light? If not, I wouldn't worry about it.

No oil pressure warning or light came on and I didn't push that car, I'm just concered, From reading online that central hole is back into the oil pan and my thinking is that without that central hole being blocked any oil pressure would not be flowing through back into the block but be free to flow back into the oil pan through that hole and thus not have proper oil pressure.

[kkasson]

People often find that their center cage was accidentally thrown about by an oil change place. So they end up driving for a while without the cage, and while those people do have a filter the set up with the holes is going to be the same as your situation. It can cause weird symptoms and the VANOS solenoids and things might not work quite right, but it's not a huge deal. Just put in the new filter and cage and you should be fine.