Looking for Tips on Removing Overly Tight Oil Filter...

[Cj80cruiser]

The PO's lube shop must have tightened my oil filter with an impact wrench. I certainly wish I hadn't punched a screwdriver through the filter, else I'd have refilled it and driven it to a dealership to let them figure it out.

I have tried a strap filter wrench with an attached 1/2"x16" breaker bar. I have tried to punch it in a circular motion with a brass drift and a small sledge hammer. I'm planning my next move, and the only thing I can think of at the moment is to painstakingly disassemble the filter with the cutting wheel on my Dremel tool.

Penny for your thoughts?

What you're not supposed to use red loctite when installing an oil filter

 

[Nay]

I find that my hand tightened filters are practically impossible to remove with filter pliers. I will be getting some like that spider wrench for the future. The space is so tight on the 80, just not easy to do without the right tool.

 

[uabericm]

Well, personally I have found the easiest way to remove the oil filter on the 80 series is to first un-bolt the power-steering reservoir and just shove it out of the way. No need to un-hock any of the lines.

.....x2

 

[4xoddic]

Nobody snapped a pic of a small filter speared by crow bar & beat COUNTERCLOCKWISE w/3 lb. sledge?

Oil filter wrench like this one:

That's what finally worked for me, IN COMBINATION WITH A 3/8 UNIVERSAL JOINT & AN ASSORTMENT OF EXTENSIONS TO RATCHET (or was it the torque wrench?). It was such a pleasant first FJZ80 oil change, that I can't remember if I got it loose from above or below . . . .

I found that leaving the filter on overnight = no significant drips the next day.

 

[john_eckels]

A long time ago, I had one that was really stuck. I ended up using a chain wrench to take it off.

 

[jamisobe]

I find that my hand tightened filters are practically impossible to remove with filter pliers. I will be getting some like that spider wrench for the future. The space is so tight on the 80, just not easy to do without the right tool.

You must really use some serious effort to crank that puppy on. I hand tighten it to the point that I think the seal will work, which isn't very tight. It has never leaked and it comes off by hand with no trouble. Many years ago, the first time I did it without using alot of hand pressure, I monitored whether there was any leakage. It doesn't take alot of twist and it doesn't have to be very tight to avoid leakage.

 

[Cj80cruiser]

You must really use some serious effort to crank that puppy on. I hand tighten it to the point that I think the seal will work, which isn't very tight. It has never leaked and it comes off by hand with no trouble. Many years ago, the first time I did it without using alot of hand pressure, I monitored whether there was any leakage. It doesn't take alot of twist and it doesn't have to be very tight to avoid leakage.

I've always been told to hand tighten, then use a strap or the like to get it another 1/4-1/2 turn.

 

[Lka1988]

At work, we have a guy that INSISTS and will ALWAYS crank down oil filters until they won't go anymore. I'm talking like 80 ft/lbs.

This guy is an "experienced" retired mechanic...

I tighten my oil filter by hand. Never leaked a drop as far as I can tell.

 

[jamisobe]

I've always been told to hand tighten, then use a strap or the like to get it another 1/4-1/2 turn.

Its probably been 20 years since someone made it clear to me that there is low pressure inside of the O-rings on oil filters and that snug is sufficient. I still remember how it was originally explained to me that I should put it on snug but looser than I suspect. Then check to see if there is a leak soon after the first time I try it. If there is a slow leak then turn it a little more and remember how it feels. If it doesn't leak than remember how it felt. Regardless, oil will not gush out. If it isn't tight enough it will be slight seepage which I have never experienced. As tight as you can turn it is not necessary and will likely cause a need for a wrench of some type to undo.

A better rule is to hand tighten as much as you can and then back off a 1/4 to 1/3 turn.

 

[Ebag333]

At work, we have a guy that INSISTS and will ALWAYS crank down oil filters until they won't go anymore. I'm talking like 80 ft/lbs.

This guy is an "experienced" retired mechanic...

Tell him that some red loctite will work better.

 

[96r50]

Tell him that some red loctite will work better.

Nah, you can't take chances. Tack weld that sucker on

 

[lenross1]

i have had succes with the vice grips that have a chain that i wrap around the filter. i bought a set of cheapies and they work fine.

 

[80t0ylc]

I think that one of the biggest contributors to this problem is on the box that most filters come from off the shelf. The old: "Turn 1 turn after contact". Some say 3/4 and I remember even 1 turn and back off 1/4. I'm guilty of it: Oh, man I got to CRANK on that puppy and get that 1 complete turn so this sucker will never leak! 3000 miles later we're goin':"Who tightened this, Arnold Schwarzenegger?" I think jamisobe is right on. I'd like to add: If you're using a reasonably good quality oil filter, a good snug fit should be sufficient for a good seal. Remember, that it's coming off again in the not so distant future!

 

[jvazquez53]

That's what I love the 2F... accessible oil filter! After removing the filter, may want to consider a remote location.

 

[IdahoDoug]

So, what happened??

DougM

 

[psfpilot]

There was a bit of a delay due to deer hunting, butchering and then Thanksgiving travels, so I finally got back to it this evening...

Well, I bought Lowes' largest pair of channel-lock pliers. Then I removed the battery tray and pushed the PS reservoir off to the side. After crushing the cheapo filter into a grip-able shape it eventually came loose 1/16 of a turn at a time. The new filter is lubed and tightened per spec to contact plus 3/4 turn and the sump is brimming with 8 quarts of Rotella 5W-40.

Thank you for the assistance.

 

[jvazquez53]

There was a bit of a delay due to deer hunting, butchering and then Thanksgiving travels, so I finally got back to it this evening...

Well, I bought Lowes' largest pair of channel-lock pliers. Then I removed the battery tray and pushed the PS reservoir off to the side. After crushing the cheapo filter into a grip-able shape it eventually came loose 1/16 of a turn at a time. The new filter is lubed and tightened per spec to contact plus 3/4 turn and the sump is brimming with 8 quarts of Rotella 5W-40.

Thank you for the assistance.

Remember... don't get it too tight. Hand tight and then use the wrench 1/4 turn for final tightening.

 

[Ebag333]

Remember... don't get it too tight. Hand tight and then use the wrench 1/4 turn for final tightening.

Dan's magic filters say:

Tighten filter until the gasket contacts the seal of the filter mounting. Then using SST, give it additional 3/4 turn to seat the filter.

That sounds like a lot less tight than even "hand tight".

 

[JerseyCruiser]

Have you tried an oil filter socket? You can attach your socket wrench on the other end. I picked mine up at Advance Auto.

Oh, and ummm, just stating the obvious but lefty-loosy righty-tighty!

Does anyone know where I can buy a filter wrench like this? They work great I just bought a 15 piece set on Ebay assuming that there would be one in there to fit a OEM Cruiser filter but no luck, at least it can be used with my other cars. My bad just saw Advanced Auto above duh!

 

[IdahoDoug]

IMO, hand tight is WAY too tight. I can crank them on with my manly hands such that you'll need tools to get it off after it's baked the seal onto the block. I spin them on until the seal touches and then less than a half rotation with my hand. For about 5 years I've been using only a quarter turn and never a leak. That's 20 filters worth of quarter turns. When I go to take them off 6 months later, it's about all I can do to hand remove them with those same manly hands.

If you're needing a tool to tighten on the oil filter, you're WAY overtightening it.