A particle collector includes a housing within an internal chamber having inlet and outlet ports. The housing can comprise two joined-together housing members. A collector element is disposed in the internal chamber and includes a particulate passage extending axially therethrough. A gas passageway is disposed within the chamber between a housing inside diameter and a collector element outside diameter, and is sized to produce a minimal pressure drop through the particle collector. The collector element is connected to the housing. A collection port is connected with the collector element and extends from the particulate passage to a location outside of the internal chamber for removing collected particulate matter from within the housing when the particle collector is placed into operation within an exhaust gas flow stream.