Removing extremely tight oil filter

[Texel]

Might be useful for someone in the same boat.

Tonight I go to remove the old filter fitted by someone else a while ago.

Grab a leather strap wrench, put it on, does a bit of crushing of the filter but no movement.

Okay, better go and find my proper oil filter strap wrench, put that on, more crushing, no turny.

Hmmm, find screw driver, bang it through both sides and away we go, never fails, except it did, these filters are so light in the wall, that the screw driver just opens it up like tin foil. Wasn't expecting that, seems like filters made a few years back had much thicker walls.

Now its all looking a bit embarrassing, filter appears to have been attacked by a titanium clawed beaver on speed.

Only thing now is to cut away the body with snips, pull out the filter part. The bottom of the filter has the 6 holes for oil flow. Before any of my mates turn up, I quickly make up a tool with two 5.5mm pins set 41mm apart on a piece 50x25mm aluminium solid, pins poke out about 15mm. Now the pins locate on the oil flow holes in the bottom of filter, spanner on the end of the 25x50 and it all simply turns out now that I can get a proper connection with the filter (or what remains of it).

Might be a handy trick if someone else manages to make a horses arse out of a straight forward job!

[bryvincent]

maybe try using this next time:

[froggert]

i usually use a big set of channel locks.

[schumicat]

they make strap wrenches like the one you show but, instead of a handle, they have a 3/8" square opening so you can use a ratchet/extension to turn it. I would get one of those as they're very handy. i don't like those end cap wrenches because they won't fit all filters for same car and you need one for each car you have (i have several from cars I sold over the years and am not even sure what they fit).

[IROC]

Originally Posted by froggert

i usually use a big set of channel locks.

+1. Exactly what I use.

[McLaren-TAG]

glad this has never happened to me. do we all just love those five minute jobs that turn into a few hours worth of work?

[gptom]

I always place the strap wrench at one end or the other of the filter. The ends are stronger then the middle & tend not to crush

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by IROC

+1. Exactly what I use.

And I thought I was the only one!

One of my best purchases...
(Well actually, found them in the middle of an intersection!)
They also work great for retracting caliper pistons in a second. (Grip the old pad so as to not mar the piston...

[Chrisdmm]

This thing has never failed me...and its cheap

Locking Oil Filter Wrench

[blucille]

Heat works wonders. I'd guess that most of these stuck oil filters are more likely caused by the rubber gasket getting stuck to the mating surface (not oiled properly when installed) than being over tightened when installed. One more reason why a thorough warm up before the oil change will help out.

The very last thing you want to do is bend up the filter, then it will deform, tear and be much harder to remove. One reason why I would save the 'poke screwdriver thru filter' as the absolute last resort.