For the first time I decided to change the oil in my 2010 Mercedes GLK 350 4MATIC myself. I bought a Wix 57078 oil filter cartridge and on it there is this yellow plastic spiral. None of the videos I watched on YouTube showed a plastic spiral on the filter, and there were no instructions in the box, so I started to remove. As I pulled it off I realized it was attached more strongly that I had anticipated and was slightly tearing some of the filter fibers. I cut the 1/3 of it I had already removed and installed the filter with the remainder on, per my neighbor’s advice who works on his car regularly.
I then got home after a 15 minute drive and Grok told me I am supposed to remove it.. so I went out and removed it. But now I am second guessing since it frayed the filter pretty decently..
Can anyone who has more knowledge than me tell me if the outer yellow spiral is supposed to stay on or be removed?