Super stuck oil filter! WTF! I've now crushed the end down 2 wrench sizes.

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

Apr 13, 2007

#1

• Apr 13, 2007

• #1

I did not change the filter on the last hurried oilchange and the oil change intervals were higher than I usuually go for....

and now, I go to change the filter and it wont budge. I mean this thing is stuck. The s8a wrench crushed the end. No problem, I think, pull out my import wrench. That crushed it down to 1/4! I screwdrivered it and now it's 1/4 size and leaking.

What do you guys do when the oil filter doesnt cooperate? I was thinking of burning the rubber off with a torch but.....I dont even want to think of the unholy smoking stench that would produce!

 

Nibbie

New Member

Mar 10, 2007

127

0

0

Apr 13, 2007

#2

• Apr 13, 2007

• #2

just keep trying to turn it with an oil filter strap wrench or an (claw wrench-mostly import oil filters). I wouldt try to burn anything off, it seems to me that that could lead to a fire hazard and potentialy burn you car to the ground. Your just going to have to keep trying to remove it. It will come off eventualy. seems like the rubber gasket got to hot and got itself stuck.

 

J

jake_1977_77

Member

Nov 9, 2005

33

1

6

Columbus, Georgia

Apr 13, 2007

#3

• Apr 13, 2007

• #3

I had this problem with a Jeep, I ended up taking the whole housing off, strip the filter all the way down to just the face, put the face in a vise, put a big ass breaker bar in the housing and heat the threads and loosen slowly, try that out, it will come off then!!!!

 

BK_CAULEY

it's built for speed not longevity, woman

Dec 26, 2006

0

10

49

Thomasville, ga

Apr 13, 2007

#4

• Apr 13, 2007

• #4

you said you used a screwdriver and it made it 1/4? what does that mean? just stab the screw driver threw it and start prying.

 

B

Boss 351

Here sthhhhhhhheeeve take a picthh of my man flowe

Jul 13, 2003

2,433

23

48

Canada

Apr 13, 2007

#5

• Apr 13, 2007

• #5

that's what I do when I encounter a bad filter, long screw driver thru the damn thing...

I also have one of these things so it's RARE I need to use the screw driver trick:

 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

8,914

1,332

204

a van down by the river

Apr 13, 2007

#6

• Apr 13, 2007

• #6

screwdriver method works well!!

 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

Apr 13, 2007

#7

• Apr 13, 2007

• #7

Screwdriver method didnt work.... I cant get enough leverage to make a difference. I cant wrench because the end of the filter has been squeezed down to such a small surface than all my wrenches freeturn.

I was almost done with the project too!

 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

8,914

1,332

204

a van down by the river

Apr 13, 2007

#8

• Apr 13, 2007

• #8

holy shoot the prick that overtightened that one!!

 

B

Boss 351

Here sthhhhhhhheeeve take a picthh of my man flowe

Jul 13, 2003

2,433

23

48

Canada

Apr 13, 2007

#9

• Apr 13, 2007

• #9

I wonder if you can knock it so that the lip of the can comes off the block (without hurting the block surface). I bet the previous owner didn't lube the seal before putting on the filter.

 

BK_CAULEY

it's built for speed not longevity, woman

Dec 26, 2006

0

10

49

Thomasville, ga

Apr 13, 2007

#10

• Apr 13, 2007

• #10

this is on a mustang right? if so why cant you get enough leverage? you should have plenty of room.

 

Busted07

I need my gorilla to be about an inch longer.

Nov 15, 2005

0

3

0

Apr 13, 2007

#11

• Apr 13, 2007

• #11

View attachment 390080



Im not kidding. I helped a friend get one off that was stuck with my air hammer. He bought a 2001 chevy truck. went to change the oil and couldnt get it off. I brought over the compressor and air hammer, just hit it a few times towards the top of the filter, and it came loose.

Or get a strap wrench on it, apply pressure and tap the top of the filter with a hammer while applying pressure.

 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

Apr 13, 2007

#12

• Apr 13, 2007

• #12

I have an almost 150 degree arc to attach the filter wrench and turn it.

However.....

I attach the wrench and pull it into place and lose 40 degrees of movement. Then the filter crushes so the handle is now folded over the filter, eating 90 degrees and a lot of leverage possibility. Then it's an oily filter too so the wrench slides over the remaining 20 degrees.

Plus it's crushed at a slight angle so I am not applying pressure at the exact head on angle.

Thank God this isnt the daily driver anymore. I can play with this as long as I want now

 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

Apr 13, 2007

#13

• Apr 13, 2007

• #13

Tap as in smash down on the side of the cannister or on the "face" to push it torwards the block?

 

BK_CAULEY

it's built for speed not longevity, woman

Dec 26, 2006

0

10

49

Thomasville, ga

Apr 13, 2007

#14

• Apr 13, 2007

• #14

crazypete said:

I have an almost 150 degree arc to attach the filter wrench and turn it.

However.....

I attach the wrench and pull it into place and lose 40 degrees of movement. Then the filter crushes so the handle is now folded over the filter, eating 90 degrees and a lot of leverage possibility. Then it's an oily filter too so the wrench slides over the remaining 20 degrees.

Plus it's crushed at a slight angle so I am not applying pressure at the exact head on angle.

Thank God this isnt the daily driver anymore. I can play with this as long as I want now

Click to expand...

WHAT!! dude just shove a big screw driver through the middle of it and pull hard. thats all it takes. there is plenty of room under the front of the car to get to it.

 

millhouse

Founding Member

May 14, 2002

1,985

0

46

Simpsonville, SC

Apr 13, 2007

#15

• Apr 13, 2007

• #15

BK_CAULEY said:

WHAT!! dude just shove a big screw driver through the middle of it and pull hard. thats all it takes. there is plenty of room under the front of the car to get to it.

Click to expand...

 

stangjunkie

New Member

Nov 15, 2004

381

0

0

Apr 13, 2007

#16

• Apr 13, 2007

• #16

I think you might have misunderstood screwdriver method..... see above

 

4G-KDMP

10 Year Member

Jul 23, 2005

935

19

39

CA

Apr 13, 2007

#17

• Apr 13, 2007

• #17

it's real hard to crush the filter where it screws in into the engine [the very top] the sides and top come together so it's find of like it's reinforced ther. might give that a try

 

93Stang5oh

Founding Member

Jul 8, 1999

266

3

19

Manchester, Iowa

Apr 13, 2007

#18

• Apr 13, 2007

• #18

I agree with Boss 351. Notch the base of the oil filter(where the filter meets the block) then use a chisel or large screwdriver and hammer and tap it counter clockwise until it breaks free. I worked at Sears for 7 years and this method always worked for me on the most stubborn filters!

 

stangjunkie

New Member

Nov 15, 2004

381

0

0

Apr 13, 2007

#19

• Apr 13, 2007

• #19

BTW in the future this is why you put oil on the rubber ring when you install the filter. Otherwise the heat melts the ring to the block so put oil on it next time

 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy

5 Year Member

Jul 1, 2005

314

281

134

Apache Junction, AZ

Apr 13, 2007

#20

• Apr 13, 2007

• #20

If nothing else, post pics of the current state of your oil filter. Even with an A/C compressor and everything OEM still in place above, there's plenty of room to even reach the thing from above and grab it with both hands.

Ye Olde Screwdryver Method has saved my arse a time or two. Just be sure to use a big, fat, flathead screwdriver and not a skinny little phillips-head, as it'll be a little less apt to just tear the filter apart. Stab that sucker in through the upper-front side all the way through, then push DOWN (turning it counter-clockwise). Get above it and bop it a few times with a rubber mallet or deadblow hammer, if you need a little extra oomph.