Patent ID: 7150824

Claim:
A method for determining when to replace a filter element of a fluid filter assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a vertical housing having a fluid inlet adaptable to receive a fluid into said housing and a fluid outlet adaptable to communicate said fluid downstream of said housing; providing a filter element within said housing between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet for filtering said fluid; connecting a divider to said filter element and having said divider extend between a wall of said housing and an unfiltered side of said filter element to divide said housing into an outer region and an inner region, wherein said outer and inner regions are in communication at a lower portion of said housing; maintaining and relieving a predetermined level of pressure across said filter element; monitoring the fluid level in said outer region of said housing by viewing said fluid level through a transparent wall of said housing; and replacing said filter element when said fluid level reaches the top of said filter element in said outer region of said housing.