Help on overtightened oil filter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 1
From: Insane Diego Kalifonya Baby
Originally Posted by T.J.
This happened to me last time I changed my oil. I took the black cap wrench (from Wal-Mart) and drilled two holes into it and placed in onto the filter. I used metal screws and drilled those into the filter and cinched the screws all the way in and placed my socket wrench on the bottom and it came off. I've heard of the screwdriver working, but also when it too tore off the bottom. The black wrench from Wal-Mart trick worked for me.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
It's off!
After considering all of the suggestions, I decided that I would go with the screws on the filter. But...after securing the Wal-Mart tool around the filter, I could not get enough torque because the darn plastic cold flowed both with the hex drive and 3/8 square drive. I went down to Kragen and found a channel lock type oil filter tool (curved jaws)with a decent lengh extension. Came back and barely had enough room to grip the screwed in tool and cranked and gripped like hell and it finally came loose. Without the screws the channel lock would not have had enough clearance for the jaws to grip the filter.
Wow! What a scare. Hopefully, I can resist the fear of leaking and just tighten the thing 1.5 turns this time. Hmmm, is there a torque setting for the filter?
I thank all of the members for your suggestions. Hopefully, what I did will help someone else. The forum has a great bunch guys. Thanks again.
Wow! What a scare. Hopefully, I can resist the fear of leaking and just tighten the thing 1.5 turns this time. Hmmm, is there a torque setting for the filter?
I thank all of the members for your suggestions. Hopefully, what I did will help someone else. The forum has a great bunch guys. Thanks again.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 0
From: Spring Branch Texas
Originally Posted by Setpoint
After considering all of the suggestions, I decided that I would go with the screws on the filter. But...after securing the Wal-Mart tool around the filter, I could not get enough torque because the darn plastic cold flowed both with the hex drive and 3/8 square drive. I went down to Kragen and found a channel lock type oil filter tool (curved jaws)with a decent lengh extension. Came back and barely had enough room to grip the screwed in tool and cranked and gripped like hell and it finally came loose. Without the screws the channel lock would not have had enough clearance for the jaws to grip the filter.
Wow! What a scare. Hopefully, I can resist the fear of leaking and just tighten the thing 1.5 turns this time. Hmmm, is there a torque setting for the filter?
I thank all of the members for your suggestions. Hopefully, what I did will help someone else. The forum has a great bunch guys. Thanks again.
Wow! What a scare. Hopefully, I can resist the fear of leaking and just tighten the thing 1.5 turns this time. Hmmm, is there a torque setting for the filter?
I thank all of the members for your suggestions. Hopefully, what I did will help someone else. The forum has a great bunch guys. Thanks again.
Congratulations, and what a relief. In answer to your torque question: YES. The drain plug spec. is 18 ft. lbs. and the filter is 22 ft. lbs.
First time I did my oil the filter was on "hand-tight" and the plug seemed welded on (it was so tight). No better reason to do it yourself!
Now go have yourself a cold one "on the forum"! Put it on one of the moderator's tabs!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
St. Jude Donor '10
re
my first profession was an automotive tech.. I just use a LARGE pair of channel locks. All other filter wrenches are made poorly. Think about it- smooth gripping sides on the wrenches, painted oil filters, plastic filter grip wrenches, and oil. All this does is set you up for skinned hands and a lot of swearing.
the channel locks should be around $20
the channel locks should be around $20
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 2
From: Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Congrats... on the filter removel.
If your using the strap, keep it to the bottom of the filter. The middle is structurely hollow and will collapse it. The bottom has the support of the bottom of the filter.
Also... you could use multiple options at the same time. Use a socket and a strap at the same time. Get another hand of the filter.
If your using the strap, keep it to the bottom of the filter. The middle is structurely hollow and will collapse it. The bottom has the support of the bottom of the filter.
Also... you could use multiple options at the same time. Use a socket and a strap at the same time. Get another hand of the filter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Discovery Bay...of Sunny CA
Originally Posted by Patches
When all else fails, I drive a rather large screwdriver through it and turn. Never fails althouugh it is a bit messy.
works for me...but it should never be that tight 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
On the few times that I had to resort to the screwdriver method on other vehicles, I found that making a single piercing hole at the bottom of the filter first worked very well to drain it in a controlled manner. It's a better approach than simply punching through and draining everywhere. After the filter drains you can do whatever you need to do to get it off. And since the filter is no longer functional, you will be very committed to removing it!
- Wisdom
- Wisdom
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
Originally Posted by countslav
works for me...but it should never be that tight
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,004
Likes: 250
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I changed the oil last weekend and I couldnt get the filter off. The dealer did the last oil change. I tried two differant oil filter wrenchs and couldnt get it off. I had 3000 miles on the filter so I left it on and just changed the oil. I know it's not the best thing to do, but I was pissed at it. The oil in the car gets changed once a year at 3000 miles.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Thanks. Using the torque setting is better than the "do not over tighten" spec. I bet there are as many tightness as there are individuals with different physical strength. In my case when I installed the filter, (seal was oil coated) I simply used my own judgement of feel and it was too tight. On the other hand, maybe it wasn't really on that tight...I just couldn't get a good grip. I think I will switch to the K&N filter with the metal welded nut, rather than the Fram which has some funny grit coating at the end of the filter which hinders the filter tool.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
damn..what a PITA...BTDT...made a helluva mess....I do like the screws in the filter idea..I will keep that in mind just in case...
