oil filter tightning

[mechtech]

I've done a jillion oil changes.
Make sure the surface is clean, and the old gasket isn't stuck there.
Lightly oil the new filter on the gasket area, then tighten it down 3/4 turn past contact.

 

[therealdeal770]

how tight does everybody put there filter on.i always tighten mine as much as i can bare handed and call it good.is that enough.i always need a wrench to get them off though.i guess the rubber gasket kind of melts to the block

 

[Gotrek]

Hand tight nothing more or you may end up regretting it.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

I always put mine on hand tight, then use a filter wrench to go 1/4 turn more. Never had an issue removing. Nissan put my filter on at the factory so tight, my wrench put a dent and twisted the filter case before it broke free. Now THATS overkill.

 

[cousincletus]

FWIW on some applications it helps to put a mark on the filter with a Sharpie or paint to use as a reference.

 

[GMorg]

If it doesn't leak and it comes off at next oil change, it was just right.

 

[mechtech]

I use grease/dirt that is found under the car, to mark it.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

quote:

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Originally posted by therealdeal770:
how tight does everybody put there filter on.i always tighten mine as much as i can bare handed and call it good.is that enough.i always need a wrench to get them off though.i guess the rubber gasket kind of melts to the block

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Hand-tighten .. then use the wrench for another 1/4 turn. Been doing this for years. Even reuse the same filters after draining the old contents & never had any gasket leaks if you wipe down both seals before reinstalling.

 

[grbr95]

Is it really necessarry to fill the oil filter with oil before putting it on. MY Mechanic says that in the 30+ years he's been chaning oil, he has never done that and never had a car witha problem as a result.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

If you have OHV engines, you're less likely to hear it

 

[Volvohead]

While I wouldn't expect a mechanic to ever do it, I'll prefill filters if they won't leak in putting them on. I only do it because I hate seeing the oil light on any longer than necessary.

But unless you have a gigantic filter, it really makes very little if any real difference.

 

[BlazerLT]

Just hand tighten it with one hand.

You should be able to remove it when warm during the next oil change.

Tighter doesn't mean better.

 

[surfstar]

quote:

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Originally posted by BlazerLT:

You should be able to remove it when warm during the next oil change.

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That makes me feel better, b/c my last change on my Mom's car was with the engine cold and the filter was hard as **** to remove. I've never had that problem when removing my hand-tightened filters before, but this was probably my first change on a cold engine.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Who said it was necessary? If my car has a vertically-placed filter, I fill it up before putting it on, but not doing so will only cause a dry startup after the oil change. That clattering gets on my nerves, so I take steps to minimize it....but it's not 'necessary'.

 

[grbr95]

ONe of my cars has a vertically mounted filter
and my moms as well. With both I never fill the oil filter with oil, and never hear that clattering sound you describe from a dry startup.