Fit a oil filter with hadn force only?

[twvenezuela]

Can i install a oil filter by hand only? or need a filter tool.

Planing to make my own oil change, but this keep me thinking, buy or not to buy the tool.


Thanks

Alvaro

 

[T-Keith]

No 3/4-1 turn after the gasket touches, no wrench should be needed. You may need one to remove the old filter, if the previous person over tightened it.

[ November 17, 2005, 06:46 AM: Message edited by: T-Keith ]

 

[twvenezuela]

well my filter case says 3/4 turn after touch on rubber, can´t remember if previous service guy used a wrench or not, thinking on una a belt (from pants) and use it like a wrench, thikk gonna work

Thanks

Alvaro

 

[reyjay1]

Service guys tend to overtighten everything , those that do earn the well deserved label as monkey's . Oil filters , drain plugs , almost anything that they put a wrench to you will find has been over tightend, that way they are sure of no leaks or pieces falling off and customers coming back complaining. I curse the monkeys whenever I have to do an oil change on a vehicle that was done at a quick lube place prior.

 

[jmacmaster]

I've always hand-tightened the filter and have never had one leak. Just make sure the filter and your hand are oil free so you get a good grip, and hand-tighten it until its real snug. You don't need to get it as tight as you possibly can. You should be checking anyway to see if it leaks. You CAN overtighten and thereby cause a problem. Wipe of the part of the engine block that the filter gasket touches to make sure its clean. Before you screw the filter on, oil the part of rubber gasket that will fit against the engine block.

 

[yugrus]

I do oil the gasket and I tighten the filter by hand. Although 3/4 turn rule does not work for me. Even if I use the cap-type wrench that goes over the filter's top (it gives some more grip and a little of leverage) I can only make it 1/2 turn. I even mark the filter with permanent marker at the very point when the gasket touches the block. Never goes above 1/2 turn. No oil dripping though, and the filter unscrews quite easily with the same wrench when the time comes...

 

[clutchless]

And if you have never done this before, make sure the old oil filter rubber gasket did not stick to the engine when removing the filter.

 

[Mr. Boston]

"And if you have never done this before, make sure the old oil filter rubber gasket did not stick to the engine when removing the filter."

Oh man did I learn this the hard way... I dumped five quarts of fresh oil all over the ground! Fortunately I caught it before it hurt the wifes 4.0 Jeep!

 

[tdi-rick]

Well, I'm going to buck the trend here.
I've always used a band tool to tighten the filter. I've found a couple loose over the years when fitted by the dealer, and as Doug Hillary posted in another thread a little while back, Donaldson filters almost demand it due to the durometer of the gasket they use.
I've never had a problem removing one I've tightened.

FWIW, I'd rather have a tight filter than one spinning itself off.
Ever wondered why everything an an aircraft or race car is tie wired or loctited in place ?
Vibration can do some weird things.
With race cars, we'd always use a very large worm drive hose clamp around the filter and tie wire it. Guaranteed not to move.

I'm generally anal with fasteners, nearly always using a tension wrench and a degree wheel (when called for), including wheel nuts, and the correct grade loctite when needed, yet I'll continue to tighten the filter a little more snuggly than 'hand' tight, at least a full turn after that gasket touches.

 

[sxg6]

i'd be worried about crusing my new oil filter's can with a tool or a belt. as long as you lube the new filters gasket, you will be fine with no leaking. hand tight until it feels snug

 

[Filter guy]

twvenezuela ..

What brand are you using... CarO?

Just curious, as I know the owners of Venezolana De Filtros CA.

 

[T-Keith]

A filter will NOT loosen if you tighten it properly by hand. In no way will tightening it with a wrench do you any good. It's possibly to damage the gasket and/or stud by tightening it with a wrench, not worth the non-gain.

I will exclude diesel filters because the severe vibrations can sometimes loosen a filter.

-T

 

[chenobylite]

Just as point of referenece the spin-on Champions used on both my aircraft are required to be tightened to 18 ft/lbs. There is no way most people could do that by hand. They're then required to be safety wired.

That said, I've never used a tool of any kind on the cars/bike and have never had one loosen. Nor have I ever needed a tool to remove them. I also use DC-4 on filter gaskets instead of oil.

 

[labman]

quote posted November 17, 2005 06:28 AM
Can i install a oil filter by hand only? or need a filter tool.

Planing to make my own oil change, but this keep me thinking, buy or not to buy the tool. end quote

The directions on the filters once said hand tighten only. With the variation of human grip, they have gone to the 2/3, 3/4-full turn directions. They also say oil the gasket. It takes a certain amount of force to tighten a filter according to those directions. Despite some of the posts in this thread, most people need a wrench to remove a properly tightened filter. Some may use a wrench to tighten it. People lacking the grip to hand tighten to spec may have the intelligence to stop at no more than a full turn using a wrench.

I usually tighten filters by hand to the lower end of the range. that is about as far as I can. I use my 16'' Channellocks to break them loose when I take them off. I have never had a problem with filters leaking, coming off, or getting them off. I am sick of flat statements that if you need a wrench to get a filter off, you over tightened it.

I didn't buy the Channellocks to remove filters. In fact, I had them for years while I struggled with other things I had bought for the job. One day, I realized they would would better than what I had. If you don't have anything that you think will work, maybe buy a cup style wrench. Of course, the strap types are more likely to fit the filter on your next car.

My next oil change, I may try wrapping a length of old dog chain around it. I redid my furnace vent this fall. The type ''B'' pipe twists together and its 6'' OD was a little big for my hands. I found the chain gave me just a little edge over my hands. Maybe all I will need for a properly tightened filter.

I fail to see how tightening a filter with a wrench can damage anything if you stop at a full turn or less.

 

[Gary Allan]

I'm a hand tightener. I rarely get to the recommended rotation on the filter. I go as far as I reasonably can. I'm not weak. My need for a wrench to remove the filter depends on the angle/access to it and how much of a mood I'm in to "grunt".

 

[JohnnyO]

A filter wrench should be used only to remove the filter. My filters go on as tight as a greasy hand will make them. Often I can get a filter off by hand too, and that's Motorcrafts and not crinkle-grip Fram. Yes I have a strong grip.

 

[michael harris]

The hand tight method works fine in most situations. however, on my sprint engine, with a 4 stage barnes dry sump and semi close clearances, especially when newer they will blow the ring out unless a filter wrench is used. and you arent blowing 3 or 4 quarts out either, try closer to 9 or 10 and if you are using a synthetic you've just spewed 50 to 70 bucks on the ground. Not good. I use the HP4 on the racecar from day 1 and had no issues with itcept I have spit the ring out on 2 separate occasions one was my fault in a thrash and the 1st time I just didnt get it tight enough. in fact when an engine is new I unhook the pressure gauge but leave the dummy light installed as it has a tendency to over spring a 100psi gauge. have 2 now that say 15 to 20 while on blocks which is no biggie, the light comes on under 20psi so the gauge is just a range thing anyway. and no its not too feasible to pinpoint a needle at 130 mph enterin the corner. ive glanced and have 2 yellow marks on the dash that show acceptable areas at wfo if its close its all good..
44H

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I hand-tighten - then use a wrench for a quarter-turn more (12 to 3). Done hundreds of OCs with 15-20 vehicles owned over the years & never had any seized filters, leaks or maimed/destroyed gaskets.

It's difficult to get the same filter grip hand-tightening due to variances involving oily hands & filter locations that may be in tight-reaching spots. A quarter-turn with a wrench afterwards takes the 2nd-guessing out of play.

 

[labman]

Turn it 3/4 of a turn after the gasket contacts the base. Hand, wrench, or the Force.

 

[tom slick]

hand tight, never ever had a problem.