...WW
Any tricks to remove oil filter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,456
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From: MichAgain
Somewhere, years ago I bought an oil filter wrench that has 3 'fingers' that is used with a ratchet. The fingers are cammed and decrease in size (grip tighter) upon counter-clockwise torque application. This thing has served me for half a dozen (at least) vehicles over the the past many years.
It's easier than the strap-type wrenches because it's straight access over the end of the can, and you can attach an extension to the ratchet if needed, and have room to actually turn the wrench!
It's easier than the strap-type wrenches because it's straight access over the end of the can, and you can attach an extension to the ratchet if needed, and have room to actually turn the wrench!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
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They sell different ones, so you have to match it up to what filter you use.
Then just break the filter loose. Then set your drain pan under the filter. I recommend the Wedco W77 drain pain. Then take a poker and push into the bottom of the oil filter to poke a hole. And let it drain for a little bit. Then finish unscrewing the filter by hand and set filter in the drain pan. No mess.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
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Michael S. Palmer
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Slidell Louisiana
On my 95 Vette I use my HAND....
Sometimes if the filter is really hot I wrap a rag around it and then use my hand...
I have two sizes of the bottom off the filter adapters and a couple of other filter wrenches but 99.2% of the time my hand or hand and rag methods work.
The upside down filters on the BMWs are pretty easy to do too....
On a C4 I don't see the point of putting a hole in the filter...
But what do I know I've been working on cars since the late 1970s and have never paid for an oil change....
Mike
once again it looks like a little time in the weight room would alleviate a lot of trouble....
Sometimes if the filter is really hot I wrap a rag around it and then use my hand...
I have two sizes of the bottom off the filter adapters and a couple of other filter wrenches but 99.2% of the time my hand or hand and rag methods work.
The upside down filters on the BMWs are pretty easy to do too....
On a C4 I don't see the point of putting a hole in the filter...
But what do I know I've been working on cars since the late 1970s and have never paid for an oil change....
Mike
once again it looks like a little time in the weight room would alleviate a lot of trouble....
Last edited by aboatguy; Jul 2, 2010 at 04:52 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
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It made since on the Jeep. I wouldn't want to be on some trail and knock the thing off.
I do have a motorcycle where the shop manual calls for the new filter to be put on hand tight and then turned a full turn with the filter wrench. I suppose my version of hand tight is a bit further than theirs because I've only ever felt safe turning it a half turn at most with the wrench after I've gotten it as tight as I can by hand.
Of course, fresh oil on the threads and seal help them go on without messing up the seal.
I do have a motorcycle where the shop manual calls for the new filter to be put on hand tight and then turned a full turn with the filter wrench. I suppose my version of hand tight is a bit further than theirs because I've only ever felt safe turning it a half turn at most with the wrench after I've gotten it as tight as I can by hand.
Of course, fresh oil on the threads and seal help them go on without messing up the seal.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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True story. I had a friend that was about 5'8" and weighed in at 110 pounds. He was so skinny, he looked starved.
He would not work on his car when I watched him, and I could never figure out why. Turns out, no strength. He would tighten a sparkplug by hand, then slip a 9 inch piece of pipe over the ratchet handle so he could torque the plug.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
Here's another trick for getting off a tight filter... Take a piece of sandpaper, any grit, fold it in half, then use it to loosen the filter..Most times the filter won't come off by hand because you can't get a good grip on it. Using the sandpaper lets you use all your strenght to turn the filter instead of using your strength to try to grip it..Im serious try this it really works.. Its the same principle as those rubber pads they use to open jars.....WW
..WW
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
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Here's another trick for getting off a tight filter... Take a piece of sandpaper, any grit, fold it in half, then use it to loosen the filter..Most times the filter won't come off by hand because you can't get a good grip on it. Using the sandpaper lets you use all your strenght to turn the filter instead of using your strength to try to grip it..Im serious try this it really works.. Its the same principle as those rubber pads they use to open jars.....WW
..WW
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,241
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If you ever find yourself w/ a filter that's torn down to nothing, you can use a 1/2'' allen socket to loosen the base. If you look inside the threaded stud of the filter mount you'll see the allen. Then remove whats left over, then screw the stud back in. I'd do this before any air hammerin'.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: WV
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
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I've used that filter before. Last time I went with Napa Gold. With the filter wrench adapter thing, it's no problem removing and installing a filter. You'll have the wrench out anyways for the drain plug.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Corinth TX