Star pleating with inside out flow having water drainage through the center

A filter cartridge, comprising:

• a housing with an open end, and a partially open end opposite the open end;
• an annular filter element supported in the housing and defining an annular peripheral region between an outer periphery of the filter element and a side wall of the housing, and a lower water collection region between a lower end of the filter element and a lower wall of the housing, the filter element including pleated media surrounding an axially-extending central area, with the media having pleats of different radial heights arranged circumferentially around the central area;
• an annular end plate sealingly bonded to an upper end of the filter element and preventing fluid flow through axial upper ends of the pleats, with a first passage defined through a central opening of the end plate into the central area, and a second passage defined between or through the end plate, and the peripheral region;
• the filter element being freely supported without a center tube;
• and
• a seal between an axial lower periphery of the filter element, and the housing, preventing fluid bypass of the filter element;
• wherein a flow path is defined between the first and second passages, where fluid passes radially through the pleats, and water in the fluid coalesces on the media and drains down into the collection region;
• and
• wherein the housing is cylindrical and the partially open end of the cylindrical housing includes an annular end wall attached to, and perpendicular to, a side wall of the housing, such that the annular end wall abuts and supports a perimeter portion of the annular filter element.