I think a good way to test if the oil filter is installed properly is by testing first how you can hand tight the cap without the filter. I think you should be able to hand tight the cap without resistance up to the point you can barely see the seal. If I snap the oil filter to the cap first, I can never hand tight the cap completely. I just took a look at my oil filter after 2 weeks and it still doesn't look crushed at all. I also has cleaned the engine cover with a surface prep and then I applied plegde citrus with a micro fiber, looks pretty good. I also show what it looks like before I hand tight the cap:

 

Good clean engine bay!

 

Oil filter 5 weeks after installation. I drive about 500 miles a week. You can see the oil filter is still not crushed. Crushed oil filter is the result of this widely improper installation procedure that everyone follow. Installing the oil filter to the cap first is guarantee to shorten the life of the engine. But good news is even with a sludged engine I still was able to drive my first HHR for 225 000 miles before the engine dies. Which is not bad at all. If that information is validate I think it would be a good idea to delete the oil change thread in the sticky section (maintenance and upkeep) and teach HHR owners how to do it the right way instead. You can see everywhere on youtube and on pictures, HHR owners changing the oil filter themselves have a crushed oil filter.

 

Odd... Mine has never looked "crushed" when I changed it.

 

It seems to be a common mistake that even dealerships make https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/main...-filter-45795/

I don't think the filter should looks collapsed at all when you change it...

 

I’ve never had the crushed filter problem, either.

If you’d like to make a how to video or thread , post it up and I’ll make it a sticky.

 

Every one I've ever seen was collapsed.

 

Upon obtaining the HHR several years ago, I immediately changed the oil a couple of times within 500 miles just because.
I ended up with the twisted filter both times.
Of course I did not use genuine Delco filters.

Ever since I have continually used the filter that comes installed in the cap (ACDelco GM Original Equipment PF458G) and guess what, have never had a twisted filter since.
That filter and cap costs me $10.29 shipped from Amazon.
The Delco filter alone (ACDelco GM Original Equipment PF457G) costs $7.08 shipped from Amazon
I did try the Delco filter alone on my 3rd ever oil change and again, no twisting.
That pretty much leaves the culprit as the off brand filters whether they are WIX or KMart brand or whatever.

The Delco filters are cellulose and very stout, the aftermarket filters not so much.
You can rest assured the workers on the engine assembly line were not installing the caps and filter elements separately. That's not how manufacturing assembly works.
The plant received the assembled filters from the supplier as a unit for as quick and easy installation as possible.

Another issue besides strength is possibly the length.
I'm sure if you measured with a decent pair of Vernier calipers the length of the twisted filter with a new Delco filter you will find they are the same.
Contrary to what was posted in the linked thread, the twisting does shorten the overall length and a slightly longer length can cause the twisting.
Toyota uses a very similar filter setup, however the end seal is spring loaded to prevent any twisting from slightly different filter lengths, GM just opted to not add the spring assembly cost to that engine.
Here is a pic Quite probably GM took into account filter length and quality variations and concluded it was not a serious issue.

Don't overthink this
Bottom line is that the twisted filter still seals and works, just does not retain it's shape as well as the OEM. Nothing at all to do with install methods.
The extra $3.00 for the assembly is worth it for me and not a deal breaker, I think I'm probably getting a better filter anyway and a no fuss no mess install.

 

You folks are over thinking this and some of your conclusions are wrong.
1st, it doesn't matter which way you install the filter. That's NOT when it gets crushed, twisted or whatever you want to call it. The filter gets twisted when you take it out after being used. That's because it has been soaked with oil and is "soft". So, when you unscrew the cap, the "soft" wet filter gets twisted as the cap rotates.
Yes, some of the better made filters may not twist (as it was stated above.)

I've used the cheap Fram filters before(twice they came out twisted)
Used the AC Delco's (one came out twisted, the other 2 or 3 didn't)

 

Wix makes almost all of the store and no name brands. And some of the name brands.