[vash]

i have yet in my relatively young life come across an oil filter i can take off easily after a visit to a shop. if i do the oil change, i can take it off by hand with a big square of that fabric i line my shelves with (anti skid stuff, under rugs).

i had to do the subaru oil change this past weekend. i looked and the last change was done by an indie shop when the car had to go in for major surgery. sure enough, the filter was unturnable by hand. i had to resort to a big pair of slip joint pliers.

do pro mechanics simply have stronger hands than me? or are they using a wrench? i kinda spin them on and do the 3/4 turn thing and look for leaks after a refill and motor start. i never leak at the filter.