Must VENT - cannot get engine oil filter off no matter what I try

[ard]

Hi,

Sorry, I am usually more of a "lurker", given the immense knowledge on these forums, but I just haveto vent over my futile efforts to remove the engine oil filter on my 1995 C2 over a total of probably 4 hours now. It will NOT budge no matter what I try. I followed the instructions on p-car to the T (i.e. remove oil return line). I also took off the clutch vent hose to gain additional clearance.

Here are the tools I tried:

* Porsche OEM oil filter wrench (lent by a very generous fellow p-car enthusiast) - it SLIPS, even with 2 layers of aluminum foil lining it
* Lisle "strap-type" filter wrench - I can't seem to gain the leverage to tighten the strap fully

I checked to make sure that the currently installed filter was the correct p/n - it is the OEM Porsche part.

I double and triple-checked to make sure I am attempting to LOOSEN, not tighten the filter.

That filter is on SOMETHING CRAZY TIGHT. :banghead:

The PO had been kind enough to give me an apparently complete set of service records, and I see that the oil was last changed by an independent specializing in P-cars - they should know not to overtighten, right?

At this point what do you think are my options? From (limited) past experience I have learned that nothing good comes (for me) when I get destructive with car parts trying to solve the problem.

Has anybody had any success with HEATING the filter with a heat gun. I guess I don't know why that would help, but I thought it might worth asking.

Many thanks

/alex

[hdemas]

Alex:

If you've been at it for 4 hours, this would be the time you want to get medieval with it. After all, it is just an old oil filter that you are going to throw out.

I had this problem on my 993 with an oil filter that someone else installed. Had all the right tools, including both you mentioned, but they would just slip and/or distort the outside of the filter. Then started getting medieval on it, first using the old screwdriver through the oil filter. This trick has always worked with other cars for me when this situation arose, but this time the oil filter would get sliced apart by the screwdriver and the filter core wouldn't budge. Finally resorted to getting out the metal cutters and cutting the filter apart until all that was left was the ring at the very top of the oil filter that screws onto the car. Had to improvise a tool to remove this by grabbing two of the large hold in that top right with a set of needle-nose locking pliers and then running a screwdriver through the pliers and using it to spin the pliers and in turn the top part of the oil filter.

Was very messy and the total oil change took 6.5 hours, so I was not a happy mechanic. This is not something to rush, though, as there is a lot of sharp metal in the oil filter that requires considerable caution in handling and removing to avoid cutting oneself.

[krauthead]

Does the filter have flats on it on the closed end. If so you might try the oil filter tool that looks like a giant socket. You also might try a very large pair of slip joint pliers. Mine open up to about 5 inches. I would try this before I drove a screwdriver through it.

[Bill Verburg]

I have resorted to a large pair of waterpump pliers to crush and twist the can. It can be very frustrating.

[AFJuvat]

This seems to be a newer problem with the OE Porsche filters - the correct filter wrench slips off.

Do not overtighten and use Mahle filters - those do not seem to slip.

Screwdriver or waterpump pliers are about your only options.

AFJ

[Rick Lee]

I have a special tool that looks sort of like a flower and tightens as you turn it CCW. This has never failed me with any car. I recently saw them for sale at Sears Craftsman Hardware for around $12. I have never had a problem getting 993 filters off with this tool. I don't remove any oil lines or clutch dust tube either - just that heat x-ger boot.

[krauthead]

One thing that might console you is that there is a special place in Hell for people that overtighten oil filters, drainplugs, and refill plugs on any machine.

[kang]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
I have a special tool that looks sort of like a flower and tightens as you turn it CCW. This has never failed me with any car. I recently saw them for sale at Sears Craftsman Hardware for around $12. I have never had a problem getting 993 filters off with this tool. I don't remove any oil lines or clutch dust tube either - just that heat x-ger boot.

You mean this one?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00947064000

I have the same wrench. Best oil filter wrench I've ever used. It easily fits on the engine oil filter on a 993 without removing the oil line.

[Rick Lee]

Yes, that's the one I saw at Craftsman, but mine is a little different and cost $7 at some car parts place in NJ long ago.

[Eli at Pelican Parts]

I've used the chain type in the past when it was a do or die situation: I squeezed so tight it looked like an hourglass.....

-Eli

http://store.yahoo.com/bostonindustrial/5choilfiwr.html

[LPDandrea]

I go with the channel locks or chain wrench suggestions. It'll come.

[kang]

That chain type and the channel lock suggestion work great if there is room for the handle. The engine oil filter on a 993 is in kind of a hole. You need something that fits over the top of the filter. There is no room for a handle of any kind. Take a look at the pictures of it here: http://p-car.com/diy/changeoil/

[ard]

Hi,

many thanks for the suggestions - I was away from my machine all day today, but the problem was very much on my mind.

I haven't yet clicked through all the links (just wanted to squeeze a "thank you" in first), but the Sears tool sound promising.

It is _somewhat_ comforting to hear that others had had the "special" Porsche wrench slip. I felt like an idiot explaining it to the friend who had lent it to me, over the phone - the silence on the other end of the line when I said that had me cringing ...

I will keep you posted.

/alex

[kang]

Originally posted by ard
Hi,

many thanks for the suggestions - I was away from my machine all day today, but the problem was very much on my mind.

I haven't yet clicked through all the links (just wanted to squeeze a "thank you" in first), but the Sears tool sound promising.

It is _somewhat_ comforting to hear that others had had the "special" Porsche wrench slip. I felt like an idiot explaining it to the friend who had lent it to me, over the phone - the silence on the other end of the line when I said that had me cringing ...

I will keep you posted.

/alex

Be sure to let us know what finally does the trick for you.

[ard]

Hi,

I finally got the filter off using the Craftsman tool suggested here (see link below).

With the tool and an 18" breaker bar the filter came off without much drama. What a relief!

Thanks to _everyone_ who responded and said "yes it can be done - keep trying". That was key.

/alex

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1308783211.1129263260@ @@@&BV_EngineID=ccgiaddfmfiljkfcegecegjdghldgfk.0&pid=00947064000&vertical=TOOL

[stevepaa]

And I thought the 964 oil filter was in an awkward place.

Wow.

[Porscheologist]

A bit late to t he party but had to comment. I too use the craftsman tool on all my cars and it works great!! I bought it because I spent 3 hours trying get an oil fileter off my old SC one weekend. Glad you bought one too it's the last oil filter tool you will ever need!!

[Sonic dB]

Use some Channel Lock Pliers on it....lock them in and turn the son of a ***** to the left until it comes out.

[ChinSCoupe]

ok, the link to the sears tool does not bring me to a tool. What is it called?

[kang]

Originally posted by ChinSCoupe
ok, the link to the sears tool does not bring me to a tool. What is it called?

Don't know why the link went bad. Follow the link and then search for "oil filter wrench." It looks like this: