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Hey everyone. I tried to change the oil on my vette yesterday, I could not get the filter off. I broke the filter socket I was using and dented the filter pretty good. I called my mechanic who said I could borrow whatever wrench I need to get it off or get the car towed to them. I do not feel like wasting more time trying to get the filter off myself but also don't want to waste money on a tow. I put fresh oil in the engine and have no leaks. Is there any danger to starting the car up and driving it a few miles to the mechanic? Could the damaged filter send any metal or glue into the engine? Any tips or insight would be appreciated. Thanks.
1994 base C4.
Last edited by CNJ Surveyor; Jun 23, 2016 at 12:14 PM.
Google a cut filter and you'll see how they seal on the bottom. Will it kill your engine idk, is it worth saving a few $ to maybe replace the engine? There is a bypass if the filter gets plug, so it should get oil. Now if it sends chunks of filter into the engine that would be devastation, had a friend who did that twice because of cheap filters and too much pump.
I had a filter stuck on once and I had to mangle it to get it off. By mangle I mean hammering in a screw driver and beating it around, it eventually came off. Worse case scenario if you had to cut most of it off, you just use that circle of holes to put a punch or w/e into and tap it loose.
When I get real tired of messing with a stuck filter, I drive a screwdriver through it and use that to rotate it off..I usually use a filter wrench that grabs the outside of the filter , that works 99% of the time... .. To answer your question, no, I wouldn't try to drive the car, or even start the car with a mangled filter.WW
Yes, it is just dented, not crushed. Guess I can get another type of wrench and try again. There is no room under there to get a screw driver into the side.
When I get real tired of messing with a stuck filter, I drive a screwdriver through it and use that to rotate it off..I use a filter wrench that grabs the outside of the filter , that work 99% of the time... .. To answer your question, no, I wouldn't try to drive the car, or even start the car with a mangled filter. WW
if that screwdriver trick worked for you, . when I tried that, all I managed to do was rip open the filter can like it was made of tin foil. I had a stuck filter about 30 years ago, and had to destroy it and get it down to the screw on base. a couple screws in the drain holes and a pry bar, and finally, after about 4 hours got the damn thing off. thank you quickie lube place -
I do agree with you on not driving or starting the car with a mangled filter. with my luck, all hell would break loose....
If all else fails you can remove the oil filter adapter with the oil filter on it (assuming the 94 and 95 designs are the same). A long-reach hex-head driver will make this pretty easy. You will have to get another oil filter adapter gasket before you reinstall it though.
I took off mine last weekend - struggled with it for 2 hours, crushed it pretty bad. I tried cups, straps and even using large hose-clamps around the filter base to get something to grip. Nothing budged it.
Finally went to Harbor Freight and picked up a Vise-Grip style Oil Filter wrench. It was super tight, but managed to get it turning with the Vise-Grip wrench.
Worth every penny of the $10 bucks I payed for it.
The tool I listed above will remove an oil filter that requires over 200 foot lbs of pressure to turn. I had to use a 6 foot cheater bar to remove the filter in question. I don't see anything else holding on when faced with that much torque.
Also it uses a standard ratchet wrench so applying the pressure is easy and you don't have any clearance issues what so ever because your applying the force to the dead center of the filter from below.
Ive used the tool since the nightmare job on the vette on other cars and its amazing how effortless it is to remove a filter with it.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I stopped by a Walmart last Friday and picked up the tool below. It worked perfectly, crushed the bottom of the filter and it spun off after some convincing. Happy motoring since!
Thanks for all the suggestions. I stopped by a Walmart last Friday and picked up the tool below. It worked perfectly, crushed the bottom of the filter and it spun off after some convincing. Happy motoring since!
Hmmmm..Im going to change the oil & filter on my 98 Coupe this weekend....it will be the first time since I bought it. It had fresh oil in it...I put 2500 miles on it in the last yr
Hoping for a quick oil change.....
I had one stuck on the block because the dealer likely didn't lube the gasket before tightening up.
I couldn't get it off using all sorts of filter wrenches, including the one Pictured in post #7. As a last resort, I tried the screwdriver truck, and just tore that sucker to pieces. Once that happened, I removed the outside filter tin, down to the top portion. I had to use a cold chiesel to best it off the block. This is what it looked like after I had it removed.
That was the first and last time the dealer changed the oil in my car. I now do all the oil changes, and never had any issues removing the filter.
Make sure the gasket came off with the filter and not still stuck on the engine. Glad you finally got the filter off. Lots of good recommendations listed here for you.
Dented Oil Filter Removal
.. To answer your question, no, I wouldn't try to drive the car, or even start the car with a mangled filter.WW
