Super Tech bad experience

[Richin Chicago]

quote:

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Originally posted by labman:

quote:

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Originally posted by ElectroKen:
I always tighten filters by hand but I always need a wrench to get them off. Am I that much stronger in the clockwise direction?

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Right, I am not sure what is happening. I oil my gaskets and turn the filter less than the maximum full turn by hand after it contacts the filter head, and still need my Channelocks or something to get it off. I have also had to get a wrench many time to loosen a nut I tightened by hand. The difference between static and dynamic friction could be part of it. Distortion of the gasket comes into play on the oil filter. The surface of the gasket in contact with the filter head is stretched counterclockwise to the other surface.

It makes no difference why. The 3 minutes or less it takes me to grab the Channelocks and break the filter loose is time well spent, giving me 3 months of knowing I tightened the filter the way it should be, and it won't be leaking or removing itself some inconvenient time and place. I am sick of arrogant accusations of over tightening my filters.

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Heat and chemicals cause the gasket to swell. I had a Mitsubishi turbo that had really tough filter access. I could turn the filter off by hand if the engine was cold but no chance when it was hot.

 

[Al]

quote:

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Originally posted by labman:

Originally posted by ElectroKen:
[qb] I always tighten filters by hand but I always need a wrench to get them off.

I am sick of arrogant accusations of over tightening my filters.

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My experience is like yours. I never go beyond one turn after contact during the tightening process. I thoroughly clean the gasket surface and lub the gasket. I can almost never get it off by hand.

I have been changing filters in cars for almost 40 years. I have had only one filter leak in probably over 200 applications (probably its higher than that). So I kind of agree-those that will say that putting it on just lightly and then it will come right off...well... I'll stop there

. I know better.

 

[VaderSS]

Always depends on the car. Most of mine have come off with enough grunt, but a few require the wrench.

 

[jthorner]

I have an use the KD type shown above. Works great on the filters it is sized for.

John

 

[DSteven]

Thanks for the great advice! I think one thing is a filter tightened by hand seems to do the trick. I will try that this next time. And those filter wrenches for 3/8" drive look fascinating. I think we all read and gave good tips, here.

 

[Ray H]

A full turn? I "only" turn my oil filters about 5/8 a turn after the gasket contacts the mounting base by hand. They always seal, and none have ever loosened over my customary OCI. They've always been removable without wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and/or diety invoking oaths.

 

[T-Keith]

For what it's worth. I worked changing oil for a year and a half when I was going to school. I changed the oil of hundreds of cars, probably 20-40 cars a day, 3-5 days a week. I can only recall one time when a customer back with a leaking filter, which was on a very loud and rough Cummins diesel. I was ALWAYS able to remove the filters I had put on, and really only needed a wrench for cars done at other places or by their owners. So I guess I fail to see how it can happen.

I did see ALOT of overtightened filters, so I like to remind people that they really don't have to be that tight. If you need a wrench to remove your filter, that's fine. Just letting people know of a possible reason.

-T

 

[pacers1994]

I use a piece of sandpaper for grip. Workd every time.