I will changing my own oil for the first time next weekend and I am excited! I think I have all the tools I need and know what I am doing, but one question lingers: do I need a special tool to get the filter off, and if so, how do I know which tool is the right size for my Mobil 1 filter? Thanks!!
First Oil Change!
- Thread starter Oily_McOilenson
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what kind of vehicle is it?
Go to Wal-mart and take the correct filter for your car and then find the strap wrench that will fit it.
One of those rubber band strap wrenches MIGHT work if the filter isn't on too tight.
There are cup style wrenches that use a socket wrench that will work too.
Depends on the location of the filter on the engine.
Don't use milk jugs for drain oil; they will leak.
Use windshield, anti-freeze, old oil, or other thicker jugs.
One of those rubber band strap wrenches MIGHT work if the filter isn't on too tight.
There are cup style wrenches that use a socket wrench that will work too.
Depends on the location of the filter on the engine.
Don't use milk jugs for drain oil; they will leak.
Use windshield, anti-freeze, old oil, or other thicker jugs.
A sheet of sandpaper is all you need for that oil filter.
I would go to AutoZone and buy a cup-style filter wrench. That way you can take the appropriate M1 filter out of the box, to see which filter wrench fits it.
Originally Posted By: jldcol
If you have enough clearance room around filter, I would always try my hands first to remove filter, may not need tool at all.
+1 try loosening with your hand first. If it won't budge, get a tool.
If you have enough clearance room around filter, I would always try my hands first to remove filter, may not need tool at all.
+1 try loosening with your hand first. If it won't budge, get a tool.
Congrats!!
Have fun!
BUT BE CAREFUL!! DON'T GET ANY OIL ON YOU!! Look what it's done to some of the people on here!!
Personally, I don't use a filter wrench. I don't believe the filter is supposed to be on that tight. If you can get the first one off by hand, you may not need to buy one.
BUT BE CAREFUL!! DON'T GET ANY OIL ON YOU!! Look what it's done to some of the people on here!!
Personally, I don't use a filter wrench. I don't believe the filter is supposed to be on that tight. If you can get the first one off by hand, you may not need to buy one.
Factory filters always seem to be extra tight. You will most probably need a good filter wrench.
Ok great!! This is one of those tiny Toyota Yaris haha...still fun to drive though, so I am thinking the filter must be pretty tiny..I think the car only holds 3 quarts of oil or something like that
Just to make sure:
1. Unscrew darin plug and remove to let oil drain.
2. Remove filter.
3. Put on new filter after oil drains.
4. Replace darin plug with a fresh washer.
5. Fill oil in fill hole on engine block.
Yes? I guess one last question...do I have to pre-oil the new filter before putting it on, or is that only a motorcycle thing?
1. Unscrew darin plug and remove to let oil drain.
2. Remove filter.
3. Put on new filter after oil drains.
4. Replace darin plug with a fresh washer.
5. Fill oil in fill hole on engine block.
Yes? I guess one last question...do I have to pre-oil the new filter before putting it on, or is that only a motorcycle thing?
Oil the O-ring, and if the filter is mounted vertically (hole points up), then you can fill it with new oil before you mount it. If it's mounted sideways, you won't get much into it before you mount it, so don't sweat it. Don't forget to make sure the old O-ring is still with the old filter and not stuck to the engine, or it will not be good.
Last edited:
Kestas
Staff member
Prefilling the filter is optional - don't worry about this detail for your first oil change.
I'm still worried about what kind of filter wrench you should get. First take a look at the oil filter on the car. That'll tell you how difficult it'll be to remove it what type of filter wrench would be most appropriate. Sometimes you don't have enough room to put a strap wrench on it or to turn it. That means you'll have to get a cap wrench that's the right size.
I'm still worried about what kind of filter wrench you should get. First take a look at the oil filter on the car. That'll tell you how difficult it'll be to remove it what type of filter wrench would be most appropriate. Sometimes you don't have enough room to put a strap wrench on it or to turn it. That means you'll have to get a cap wrench that's the right size.
Ok thanks for all this great advice I appreciate it! The filter is Mobil 1's smallest one they make, and it is a tight squeeze, so I will probably havre to drive the front wheels up on ramps.
Welcome, sir,
My recommendation is twofold:
1) Buy some latex or nitrile gloves -- they sell 'em at Sino-Mart, or AutoZone has some blue ones. That'll allow you to touch hot surfaces for longer without getting burned, and your hands will stay cleaner;
2) Get a cheap open drain pan, then drain the old oil into another container, as dwendt44 suggested above, for transport to recycling. You know those combo pans with a big yellow lid for the oil to go in, and a little yellow cap that comes off to pour the old oil into the recycling bin? In my painful experience, they can leak.
And have fun!
My recommendation is twofold:
1) Buy some latex or nitrile gloves -- they sell 'em at Sino-Mart, or AutoZone has some blue ones. That'll allow you to touch hot surfaces for longer without getting burned, and your hands will stay cleaner;
2) Get a cheap open drain pan, then drain the old oil into another container, as dwendt44 suggested above, for transport to recycling. You know those combo pans with a big yellow lid for the oil to go in, and a little yellow cap that comes off to pour the old oil into the recycling bin? In my painful experience, they can leak.
And have fun!
If we are going with tips loosen the filter and the pan drain bolt on a cold engine and retighten just enough not to leak out. I would not drain oil hot, and hot exhaust and other metals in the work area make this even less of a good idea, especially on a first time job. A diy basic idium is to save money, and to miss work/pay for a ER visit is not saving money. If you can hold the filter and it's comfortably warm, that's hot enough to change the oil.
Don't rush it. You want to take your time so you can enjoy the experience. May want to clean up the garage a bit for this special occasion. Photographs are nice too. I wish I had done that, as I can't remember my first oil change, but think it was on my minibike.
Haha I shall take photographs! Brilliant!
+1 on the gloves. They make clean up time next to zero for the hands...and they are dirt cheap.
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