You can rinse the strainer out on the little pan - that is probably what people have been talking about when mentioning the filter in some conversations - it is very different than the pan filter. You will need a gasket for the little pan which is sometimes hard to find. Good luck and I strongly recommend the drill driven pump, clear hose and a 2qt+ clear funnel with a helper to keep adding fluid for you while you watch under the car and power the drill.