Well I just changed the oil on my Volvo for the first time and found a collapsed oil filter. (It's an '01 2.4turbo w/160k, bought a few months / few thousand miles ago and the seller had fresh oil in it).

The filter reminded me of a beer can you would collapse by squeezing the side in with your hand, and the top/bottom being slanted as a result. It was dirty, but not filled with crud I would say.

So, question is: Any thoughts to cause? Poor previous installation? Excessive pressure? Cheap filter? In other words, what can I worry about next?

I replaced it with a Bosch filter and Synthetic Pennsoil, was certain it was correctly over both bosses.

 

I would say the last person used the wrong filter wrench and tighten toooo much.

Cb

 

Assuming you're talking about a cartridge type filter, I would guess that the previous mechanic who did the oil change didn't have the filter centered on the "bosses" (not sure what the correct name is) and when he tightened the filter housing it crushed the filter. That would mean that your engine was getting poorly filtered oil at best, and at worst may have been oil starved if that filter was causing a blockage.