I'm sure that paper and cloth fibers have some amount of abrasiveness when introduced into the engine, but we're talking about tiny quantities, and more importantly, they're little wussy fibers when compared to sintered/shaved metal of ANY type. Like others on this board, I've seen on many occasions steel filings and splinters on the threaded end of brand new filters (sloppy quality control). So I spin an old toothbrush around the hole before installing the filter. And there's plenty of photos of wear metals entrapped in oil filter media as well on this board. With hazards such as these steel splinters/shavings, a few paper towel fibers seem completely inconsequential. One could wipe their dipstick with a dried corn cob, but most anything introduced into the sump will be removed by the oil filter prior to engine circulation.
[ May 17, 2004, 04:11 PM: Message edited by: TC ]