Can’t remove oil filter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3,440
Likes: 2,455
Can’t remove oil filter
What a pain in the ***. Dealer did last oil change. I changed my oil this time but I can’t for the life of me get the oil filter removed. I even went to the dealer and got their own oil filter removal tool. The thing is so damn tight in there that when I crank on it, the whole tool skips over the filter.
What are my options? I would really hate to poke a hole and do the screw driver thing.
I mean, there is nothing else to? Righty tighty, leftie loosie…..correct?
This is crazy!
What are my options? I would really hate to poke a hole and do the screw driver thing.
I mean, there is nothing else to? Righty tighty, leftie loosie…..correct?
This is crazy!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 279
Likes: 315
From: Southern Vancouver Island
Likely whoever did the last oil change used a wrench to tighten filter after they replaced it. Snug by hand only because if you tighten it with a wrench, you are facing exactly what you are dealing with now....
If socket style wrench is slipping on the end of the filter when you attempt to loosen it (yes, lefty loosey...) take a shop rag or piece of shop towel and place it over socket and then force it onto the end of the filter. The shop towel should tighten up the fit enough that it won't slip without considerable effort and hopefully that will allow you to crack the filter loose. I've dealt with this same issue in the past and it's worked for me.
Good luck!
If socket style wrench is slipping on the end of the filter when you attempt to loosen it (yes, lefty loosey...) take a shop rag or piece of shop towel and place it over socket and then force it onto the end of the filter. The shop towel should tighten up the fit enough that it won't slip without considerable effort and hopefully that will allow you to crack the filter loose. I've dealt with this same issue in the past and it's worked for me.
Good luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 399
From: Vancouver, BC
sorry to say but if a proper filter wrench won't loosen the filter you don't have many options. The screwdriver is likely your next best option. I've actually torn the filter using a screwdriver and had to resort to using a pair of needle-nose vice-grips. If that hadn't of worked I'm not sure what my next step might have been. There is no need to tighten a properly lubed filter on installation more than a 1/4 turn by hand. The dealer should be doing this filter removal for you at no charge IMO
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1,822
From: Omaha
Get one of these, they work great for stuck filters.
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=...BAgBEBk&adurl=
They have different sizes for what ever filter you need for it.
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=...BAgBEBk&adurl=
They have different sizes for what ever filter you need for it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,029
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From: South Carolina
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Get you a CAL-VAN 789 CUP WRENCH. It's 14 flats X 2 15/16 (2.937)
If that's what you got from the dealership and it still slips. Careful, put 3/4" wide masking tape on apx 7 of the flats. Now tap it on.
My 789 if I tap it on since it is less then 2.937 gets tight.
Mine always comes off tight. I don't overtighten it.
That big face on the gasket ring sticks. I seriously doubt the can is bottomed.
If that's what you got from the dealership and it still slips. Careful, put 3/4" wide masking tape on apx 7 of the flats. Now tap it on.
My 789 if I tap it on since it is less then 2.937 gets tight.
Mine always comes off tight. I don't overtighten it.
That big face on the gasket ring sticks. I seriously doubt the can is bottomed.
