Only a small percentage of
oil goes through the filter on any "pass" depending on viscosity and temperature so a small leak there will make no difference!!
The filter has a pressure "bypass" built into it for the purpose of letting most of the
oil bypass the element......
If all the
oil had to go through the filter element you wouldn't have enough flow to lubricate the engine and the pressure due to the restriction of the element would be sky high!!
