Dealer = What's a Torque Wrench

[hkeller]

Man oh man, last time I had our LX in the dealer for AHC services, I asked them to do an oil change (it was due for one and very cold out, so I figured what the heck). Well, today I changed the oil on the LX. It took a 3 foot breaker bar to get the drain plug loose! How they didn't strip it is beyond me. That damn thing was in there tight!

Oh, and the filter, I had to destroy it to get it off. I tapped it around a full turn with a chisel and it was still too tight to turn by hand. Needless to say, I had a few choice words for them while laying on my back in
the driveway.

What kind of monkeys are they hiring to do this work? Ay kid with a high school shop class under his belt would know better.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Did out the reciept and go back down to the service manager and raise Hell. Probably won't do you any good, but it MAY help the next victim. John

 

[anthonycds]

Whoa, you broke out the chisel for the oil filter? That's a pretty serious death grip. You think a strap wrench would've helped any? That's what I normally use on my cars. But yeah, that's ridiculous of the dealer. I wonder what they would've used to break them both loose if you had them do the work again.

 

[inkpot]

Whoa, you broke out the chisel for the oil filter? That's a pretty serious death grip. You think a strap wrench would've helped any? That's what I normally use on my cars. But yeah, that's ridiculous of the dealer. I wonder what they would've used to break them both loose if you had them do the work again.

Howdy! It was probably done by one of those "new math" mechanics, you know, the ones that think that the air ratched he used on lug nuts is good for everything else! John

 

[boombapslappy]

I was out of town on business so the wife took it to the dealer back in Feb. Two weeks ago when I tried to change the filter, I couldn't get it off to save my life. (didn't try a chisel) Had to leave it on, refill with new oil, drive to dealer. They had to break it apart to get it off. I got four free oil changes out of it.

 

[e9999]

I got myself a filter pliers affair from HF. Large curved pliers with sharp teeth. Only $6 or so. That thing will crush any filter and for sure remove it. (May result in oil leaks if tear into filter.)
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

There are also some visegrip type. Have not used those.

The rubber straps don't work so well with oily stuff.

Of course, now, I'm experimenting with hand tightening the filters. Down to 1/2 turn from 3/4" on the 80 and all is well...

 

[Travis351]

I have been hand tightening and loosening mine for around 50k without issue.

 

[mudlover]

I warned a quicky place not to overtighten (BMW) in Fl. He comes up from the pit and tells me he will give me $8 off if I dont need a receipt. I drive back to Colorado and find he had collapsed the plug by overtightening then put some sort of sealer in there to keep the oil in. Miracle it made it 3000 miles. Beware

 

[newbee mechanic]

I have a 06 Lexus GS300, the new cars have this release valve to let the oil out first via a drain cock. I did the oil change on it myself for the first time and it was fused. I had to just unscrew the filter cartrige canister and oil spilled all over. The oil filter access lid was missing too.

 

[hkeller]

10-4 on the missing fill plate. I had the dealer change the oil when we first got the LX. A few weeks later I realized the drain cover was missing on the under engine shield. When I called them about it, they said, "Oh yeah, most mechanics leave those off as they are not needed." Well, who asked me!? When I explained that we live on a farm and drive through hay fields often, with all of the hay ends getting stuck up in there, they said well something like, "Wll most of our customers aren't farmers." NICE!

 

[Dandon]

I have been hand tightening and loosening mine for around 50k without issue.

I also tighten it by hand, and I've never seen a drop of oil leaking. But the FSM says to tighten it by hand and then "give it an additional 3/4 turn to seat the filter".

Perhaps some "mechanics" understand that 3/4 turn means 3 or 4 turns...

I use this type of filter wrench to loosen it. It's cheap and works well.

 

[e9999]

I also tighten it by hand, and I've never seen a drop of oil leaking. But the FSM says to tighten it by hand and then "give it an additional 3/4 turn to seat the filter".

Perhaps some "mechanics" understand that 3/4 turn means 3 or 4 turns...

I use this type of filter wrench to loosen it. It's cheap and works well.

I hope you didn't mean to say that you only tighten yours to contact, cuz that might not be enough from what I understand.
Normally, IIANM, you'd screw it in until you achieve contact with the seal surface then do 3/4 (three quarters) turns more. I have found that do the 3/4 I need to finish off with a strap. Can't do it by hand. So now I do contact plus about 1/2 turn which I can do comfortably by hand. Main difference is that when I did the 3/4 I could not unscrew the filter by hand later on and had to struggle even with a strap, whereas with the 1/2 it comes off very easily.

(I doubt you could do an extra 3 turns.)
(Don't forget to oil the Oring.)

 

[Dandon]

I hope you didn't mean to say that you only tighten yours to contact, cuz that might not be enough from what I understand.
Normally, IIANM, you'd screw it in until you achieve contact with the seal surface then do 3/4 (three quarters) turns more. I have found that do the 3/4 I need to finish off with a strap. Can't do it by hand. So now I do contact plus about 1/2 turn which I can do comfortably by hand. Main difference is that when I did the 3/4 I could not unscrew the filter by hand later on and had to struggle even with a strap, whereas with the 1/2 it comes off very easily.

(I doubt you could do an extra 3 turns.)
(Don't forget to oil the Oring.)

No, I meant I do the same as you. Tighten it as far as I can by hand, using e.g. a rag to hold the filter firmly. But I never use another tool.

The extra 3 turns was obviously a joke

 

[LandCruisers4Life]

I put a little oil on the new filter gasket, and screw on..... hand tight. Then wipe down with a rag and grip with both hands and give it some additional snugness. Done.

 

[slimbuddha]

I was out of town on business so the wife took it to the dealer back in Feb. Two weeks ago when I tried to change the filter, I couldn't get it off to save my life. (didn't try a chisel) Had to leave it on, refill with new oil, drive to dealer. They had to break it apart to get it off. I got four free oil changes out of it.

I had to do this on a vehicle a few years back that had it's previous oil changes done at the quickie places. Ever since then, I have developed a good habit of by loosening the filter before draining, to make sure I can get it off. This way, I know if there is going to be a problem before I get too committed to changing it.

 

[hoser]

As always, if you want it done right, you gotta do it yourself.

 

[boombapslappy]

As always, if you want it done right, you gotta do it yourself.

True enough...

 

[EdsCruisin]

I picked up one of those form fitting cups that fits like a socket on the end of the filter. With a 3/8" rachet, it will loosen or tighten the filter very easily, with no mess. I typically oil the threads and o-ring then tighten by hand and finish off the 3/4 turn with the socket wrench. Works like a charm!

 

[inkpot]

I picked up one of those form fitting cups that fits like a socket on the end of the filter. With a 3/8" rachet, it will loosen or tighten the filter very easily, with no mess. I typically oil the threads and o-ring then tighten by hand and finish off the 3/4 turn with the socket wrench. Works like a charm!

Howdy! Over the years I have accumulated over 1/2 dozen different "oil filter tools", including just about everything that has been mentioned so far. I also have one that resembles the "cup" wrench, but it is just two fingers that clamp onto the base of the filter and as you turn it with a 3/8 ratchet, it tightens down. I rarely have any problems with the filters I have installed, but if it is someone else's junk, watch out! I had one that I destroyed so bad, that I ended up tapping it off with a cold chisel against the face plate, cause that's all that was left. Fun. John

 

[Abe Nitro]

Howdy! It was probably done by one of those "new math" mechanics, you know, the ones that think that the air ratched he used on lug nuts is good for everything else! John

"New meth" mechanics is more like it. A curious result considering the image the brand protrays. Certainly the corporate office would show an interest in resolving the issue.