Irony

[GMFan]

Here is an interesting take on things...I love changing oil but here is an interesting scenario...

Today I changed the oil on my Saturn...a thing I look forward to. Everything went smoothly until it came time to remove the oil filter. For some reason, the filter was a bear to get off and in the process I manged to blister my hands and remove the first layer of skin off my palm getting it off.

After the oil change, I drove to Advance Auto to buy a filter wrench to never experience that again with my hand bandaged up. Lo and behold I happen to stop at the red light alongside a Valvoline quick lube, and there is a customer getting his car serviced and there he is sitting in the shade eating a bag of popcorn as the guys do his oil change.

Now, who is the fool?

Will I stop changing my own oil?......no way.

 

[StevieC]

Never a fool if you have the proper tool!

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

In some applications, those oil filter end cap sockets are worth their weight in gold.

I used to think mechanics gloves were for girly-men. Not anymore. I won't change oil without them. Got tired of losing fingernails (not the ends, the whole thing) and burning the you-know-what out of myself trying to remove filters mounted near exhaust manifolds.

With age comes wisdom. Except when it comes to lawnmowers (speaking of fools), but that's another story.

 

[StevieC]

I prefer the band style oil wrench versus the cup that goes on the end. I like the band because it tightens as you are pulling/pushing on it to release the filter making it effortless to brake it loose.

I have both though...

 

[huffmuds9320]

I was waiting in line at Kragen holding 5 quarts of oil and a oil filter. Then I see the oil filter wrenches on the shelf near the cashier and I though to myself I don't think I need it. After trying to fight the oil filter lose for half an hour I walk back to Kragen and bought the oil filter wrench.

Did you get some popcorn when you were done with the oil change to celebrate? You could get like 6 pack of microwave popcorn for like $5.

 

[Johnny248]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
I prefer the band style oil wrench versus the cup that goes on the end. I like the band because it tightens as you are pulling/pushing on it to release the filter making it effortless to brake it loose.

I have both though...

The thing is, some applications you can't get a band wrench in there, therefore if you almost need bands, plier style, and end wrenches if say worked at a shop that serviced all sorts of vehicles.

My mitus makes it pretty darn hard if possible at all to get a band wrench in there, and pliers are out of the question unless you grab it from the top with pliers facing down (does that make sense)

 

[StevieC]

I don't buy cars that are hard to service.

 

[labman]

Who really looks at the oil filter before you buy?

Band wrenches? I bought one when I was young and foolish. You have to turn it to take the slack out. By the time it is tight,the handle is hitting something. The sad part is I already had my 16'' Channellocks when I bought that useless band wrench.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: labman
Who really looks at the oil filter before you buy?

Band wrenches? I bought one when I was young and foolish. You have to turn it to take the slack out. By the time it is tight,the handle is hitting something.

not a problem if you know how to pre load it correctly. changing the filter on a saturn S series is a snap; turn the wheels to the left, remove the dust shield, and its right there. simple.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
I don't buy cars that are hard to service.

+1

 

[Dave Hess]

A sheet of sand paper helps if the wrench slips.

 

[tomcat27]

I've had way too many filters collapse with band filters. actually, (I'm probably the only one) but I used to really like the K car variants because the filter was right out front with nothing in the way. also, of the 3 I owned (2 Shadows and 1 lebaron) the darn things ran well over 100k with NO problems! now if only Dodge could match that reliability now! oh, sorry. oil filter wrenches.... and the problem with the end cap wrenches is that they are sometimes very specific to the brand filter they fit.

 

[MCompact]

I love the cartridge filters on the ti and X3; they are simple to change and you only have to crawl under the car to R&R the drain plug.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
For some reason, the filter was a bear to get off and in the process I manged to blister my hands and remove the first layer of skin off my palm getting it off.
Must have been one of those shure grip filters with the gritty material glued to it for grip. When one of those slips it will cause some scrapes.

I find the big filter pliers work the best.

 

[GMFan]

Nope, the filter I removed was a purolator. I ended up using a screwdriver and hammer.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

The next car I purchase I will look at how easy it is to remove the oil filter and how easy it is to get to the drain plug. I'm thinking Fumoto valve on the drain plug and an oil filter that I can easily get to on top. Don't get me wrong, I like to change my oil. But with age, comes wisdom (sometimes) and an achy body.

 

[StevieC]

I requested them to lift one of my model trucks up in a service bay so I could see under neath it and I looked how hard it was to service it before I bought it. Should be part of the buying experience for a DIY-er IMO!

Had the truck been a nightmare to service I would have purchased something else. I settled for hard to get at rear spark plugs when I learned that they were 100K KM (60K Mile) change intervals. All else is a piece of cake to get at. Timing belt is 1 hour to do, really simple.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
Here is an interesting take on things...I love changing oil but here is an interesting scenario...

Today I changed the oil on my Saturn...a thing I look forward to. Everything went smoothly until it came time to remove the oil filter. For some reason, the filter was a bear to get off and in the process I manged to blister my hands and remove the first layer of skin off my palm getting it off.

After the oil change, I drove to Advance Auto to buy a filter wrench to never experience that again with my hand bandaged up. Lo and behold I happen to stop at the red light alongside a Valvoline quick lube, and there is a customer getting his car serviced and there he is sitting in the shade eating a bag of popcorn as the guys do his oil change.

Now, who is the fool?

Will I stop changing my own oil?......no way.

How do you normally remove your oil filters? Without a wrench?

 

[addyguy]

More often than not, when working on my vehicle or when I was at Walmart, I just used my bare hands to remove filters. Some were very tough to remove, but with some work, most will come off with just your hands.

 

[mstrjon32]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
More often than not, when working on my vehicle or when I was at Walmart, I just used my bare hands to remove filters. Some were very tough to remove, but with some work, most will come off with just your hands.


I typically take the filter off my Jeep with just my hands, but have had to use a band wrench in the past. On the Chevy I always use a cup wrench. Oil changes on the Chevy are a snap, the filter and the drain plug are right next to each other.