I just bought a new Stainless steel oil filter and was wondering how the oil gets pumped into the filter and out to the motor. I have always been putting the rubber seal towards to cover plate,and the spring towards the motor but after looking at the new filter it looks like this is how the oil gets either in or out of the filter. I was just wondering how exactly all this works, and if i have been putting the old paper filters in wrong. thanks for the help. I have always thought that the cover plate was to seal the oil filter up, and the oil came in from the back, and then came out all around the filter.

 

The stock filters are clearly marked which end goes which direction. I would take my cues from that! Don't get it in backwards! There have been more than a few post over the years where someone toasted their engine from getting a filter in backwards.

I think the dirty oil comes in from the outside (on the side), and exits out the hole in the cover (?????).