Stuck oil filter...

[Ihatetochangeoil]

Had to be installed either by a guerilla or a stealership flunkie with an air impact. I got on it with a cap type wrench and it laughed at me. Got my curiosity, so I slapped a torque wrench on it an it went "click" with 50 ft. lbs torque. This intimidated me, figured if I went much higher, I'm going to twist, buckle and collapse the can, I'm in for a fight....
One of BITOG's greatest assets, Trav; has previously mentioned the Talon filter removal tool, https://bogertaviation.com/search?type=product&q=talon+oil+filter+tool so I ordered one and while I'm waiting 3-4 days for the Fedex or UPS guy, I'm searching Youtube for "stuck oil filter" and found a few good videos. Few days later with my talon sitting on the workbench, I'm ready to do battle, but now I'm in the mood to play. I have very little faith in a sheet metal screw, but what about 4 to 6 of them? I started with a paper template, used a good center punch (drilling on a sloped surface and NOT at 90 degrees), a 1/4" drill bit (pilot holes thru the cap wrench) and #10 Tek screws with a 5/16" hex head. Due to restricted access (under the vehicle) I couldn't get a screw in the top hole but it still worked. Ended up needing a 1/2" breaker bar, but I feel much better this a.m. Hope this may help someone else, think outside the box....

 

[PontiacHO]

Yep they go on easy and those additional twists are so easy. We had a lube tech that would tighten oil filters too tight. We made sure he had to remove the filters he had put on even when another tech drew a job previously done by that tech. After being called on to remove his filters he began to get the message….

 

[Marcozi]

I bet whomever install the filter forgot to lube the rubber gasket. My dad di that years ago. We had to remove the oil filter mounting (GM 350CI engine), place it in a vise and cut the filter off.

 

[KrisZ]

Nice and a pretty clever method. Thanks for sharing 👍

 

[Ihatetochangeoil]

Yep they go on easy and those additional twists are so easy. We had a lube tech that would tighten oil filters too tight. We made sure he had to remove the filters he had put on even when another tech drew a job previously done by that tech. After being called on to remove his filters he began to get the message….

I'm now questioning myself. After this fight, which may very well have been caused by the last guy who did this DIDN'T lube the gasket, I DID oil the gasket, and, normally, I put an orientation mark on the bottom of the filter so when the gasket makes contact I can "eyeball" another 1/2 to 2/3 turn. This one went sooo easy that after gasket contact, I got another full turn using nothing but a clean hand on a dry filter. Since I WILL be the next bloke to remove the filter I installed, I'll see if I've gotten my own message...

 

[PontiacHO]

Usually hand tight isn’t too tight. You’ll be fine but will need the filter wrench for the next removal. They seem to tighten with age and heat cycles.

 

[KrisZ]

If you hand tightened it, it will be fine.

 

[CharBaby]

I don't just hand tighten the filter, I hand tighten it with one hand as tight as I possibly have the strength for.
Then at the next OCI, I use the cup style filter remover to get it off and it removes easily. However, I can never remove the filter by hand no matter how much protein I've eaten. 😅

 

[hrv]

Once the gasket sets...I do 2/3 rd of a turn......never had one leak yet...

 

[Rand]

filter ive seen 5/8 turn and 1 turn before.. on the side of the filter.
Usually good hand tight is somewhere around 3/4 turn for me.

 

[Number_35]

Some years ago I drove a long screwdriver through a stuck-on oil filter for better leverage. It worked - the filter did come off, but I was obviously desperate. There was no turning back at that point.

 

[AZjeff]

That's a great idea. No leaks out of the screw holes?

 

[dbias]

When I’m past the point of asking I have a large set of channel lock pliers I use

 

[Rod Knock]

I go around 8 to 10 ft-lb on oil filters with an in-lb torque wrench, depending on vehicle and filter size. On the RAM 1500 I go 8 ft-lb because that seems tight enough. I don't want it too tight, neither do I want a loose oil filter.

 

[Number_35]

That's a great idea. No leaks out of the screw holes?

Yes, it was very messy. There were likely better ways, like buying a proper OF wrench, but I had to improvise.

 

[Donald]

I hand tighten as tight as a 70 year old guy can get it. Always lube the gasket the proper way using index finger not pinky

 

[Rand]

I hand tighten as tight as a 70 year old guy can get it. Always lube the gasket the proper way using index finger not pinky

I lube it with oil drain pan no oily fingers involved. its the enclosed style so the top has just the used oil on it not crud one dab and twist ...good to go.

 

[Foreman04]

I know a guy who would drive a screwdriver into the filter and twist it off. But then again, that’s the same guy that stepped on a lawn rake with the teeth facing up while working in the yard barefoot so I guess that’s a bad idea. A real character.
Good luck with it.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

The members around here that use the same oil filter for multiple changes will be mad at you. They were rooting that you would never remove it and become one of THEM.
😁
BTW, good idea on how you removed it.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Honda overtightens from the factory.
The Toyletta cannister(?) filters seal on the o-ring, but apparantly they have to be screwed on pretty good just to make sure. I left a composite one on a little Corolla because I was afraid I would break it. I asked the owner to take it to a shop who could deal with it if it broke.