an oil filter relief valve having a tension spring housing with oil inlets and a first end and a second end , the first end being located adjacent the mounting plate of the filter , a base being fixedly connected to the second end of the spring housing and tension abutting and extending into the centertube of the filter element , a valve seat having a pointed surface and being located in the base with a channel formed therein for conducting oil therethrough , a resilient piston normally abutting the valve seat in sealing relation , a relatively rigid piston support on the piston , and a tension spring positioned between the first end of the tension spring housing and the piston support to urge the piston into sealing relation against the valve seat . this relief valve opens when the pressure of the oil entering the oil inlets and the channel in the valve seat exceed a particular threshold amount , thus exerting a force on the piston greater than the downward force naturally exerted by the spring . the piston is then lifted from the valve seat and the oil is allowed to flow through the relief valve and by - pass the filter element to immediately re - enter the motor .