Maybe I don't want to work on my cars anymore.

[Rupert]

When everything goes right, I don't mind working on cars. But that never happens.

Today, I decided to change the oil and spark plugs (and filter and wires) on the Explorer. I looked under the hood, and immediately decided that I didn't want to bother with the plugs, since everything is well buried under the intake. (Which is familiar, because in order to change four of the Ranger's eight plugs-- dual spark, goddammit-- you have to remove the entire intake). So, oil. I got the oil and filter, drained the oil and... could not, for the ever loving life of me, get the filter off. What. The. Fuck. I tried my hands, a strap wrench, and then, out of frustration, a dead-blow mallet. That filter is not coming off. What dipshit screwed that filter on there that tight? I put the old oil back in there and am going to a Jiffy Lube or whatever tomorrow.  The first time I have ever taken a car to a place for a bloody oil change.

So with this (a failed oil change, the most basic thing you can do and still claim you're working on a car), and the MG that runs like butt, I'm just about ready to give up and start taking my cars to mechanics from now on. 

[Secret Chimp]

Dude, don a shitty T-shirt (prepare thee for oils) and stab that thing with a screwdriver. It'll come off that way. I had to do that once on my Accord.

[The Pirate]

I was just going to say the same thing as Chimp.  Also, invest in an oil filter wrench that is the pliers style.  You can get some pretty good leverage with those.

[Rupert]

Dude, don a shitty T-shirt (prepare thee for oils) and stab that thing with a screwdriver. It'll come off that way. I had to do that once on my Accord.

I almost did, until I realized that there would then be no room in which to turn the screwdriver.

[Rupert]

I was just going to say the same thing as Chimp.  Also, invest in an oil filter wrench that is the pliers style.  You can get some pretty good leverage with those.

Those might work. Again, though, there isn't a lot of room to maneuver around the filter. I bet I can make it work at an angle... Worth it too keep my never-pay-for-a-monkey-(sorry-Nick-:lol:)-to-change-my-oil streak.

[Byteme]

I once encountered a filter so tight all the screwdriver trick did was shread the case.  I have a wrench like someelse posted.  It did no good.  I wound up using a chisel and hammer on the rolled rim of the filter to turn it a fraction of a revolution with each blow.  If all else fails try that. 

[Rupert]

I once encountered a filter so tight all the screwdriver trick did was shread the case.  I have a wrench like someelse posted.  It did no good.  I wound up using a chisel and hammer on the rolled rim of the filter to turn it a fraction of a revolution with each blow.  If all else fails try that. 

Holy cow.

There's no way to get to the upper rim of the filter. It's on the bottom of the engine, and the front cross-member, transmission, etc. all make access impossible. I might just take it to a place so it's their problem if they fuck it up.

[JWC]

I believe it was KD Tools used to make a filter base remover tool.  It was for those situations where you've shredded the oil filter housing and the only piece left was the base.   It fit through the holes in the base and you turned it.  It was great for tight places.

Also, I have the best luck investing in an assortment of cap filter wrenches.  I've had some filter that were really stuck, but since using that style wrench I've not had a filter twist apart.

Edit:  I believe it was Lisle Tools and it appears they do not make it anymore.

[Laconian]

Do lube shops use air tools for tightening the filters? Whenever I try to do my own oil after a shop's had their way with it, I find it takes a Herculean feat to get the damn filter off. Stabbing it with a screwdriver worked for me when all else failed.

[JWC]

Do lube shops use air tools for tightening the filters? Whenever I try to do my own oil after a shop's had their way with it, I find it takes a Herculean feat to get the damn filter off. Stabbing it with a screwdriver worked for me when all else failed.

Naw, they tighten it more than the average Joe does, because if it comes back leaking...they catch hell. 

[Rupert]

Do lube shops use air tools for tightening the filters? Whenever I try to do my own oil after a shop's had their way with it, I find it takes a Herculean feat to get the damn filter off. Stabbing it with a screwdriver worked for me when all else failed.

Well, whatever they do, they can undo.

[Rupert]

Naw, they tighten it more than the average Joe does, because if it comes back leaking...they catch hell. 

It's not supposed to be very tight, dammit!

[Rupert]

I believe it was KD Tools used to make a filter base remover tool.  It was for those situations where you've shredded the oil filter housing and the only piece left was the base.   It fit through the holes in the base and you turned it.  It was great for tight places.

Also, I have the best luck investing in an assortment of cap filter wrenches.  I've had some filter that were really stuck, but since using that style wrench I've not had a filter twist apart.

Edit:  I believe it was Lisle Tools and it appears they do not make it anymore.

Haha, well, I guess I'd be out of luck then. 0_o

[Laconian]

I've also had cases where the filter wrench would slip if I applied too much force. Tapping the socket wrench handle repeatedly with a hammer did the trick. It took several dozen times but I guess the taps added up and the filter came loose. Make sure you don't hit it so hard that the filter slips.

[Rupert]

Again, no maneuvering room...

[SVT_Power]

i spent most of this afternoon working on the contour with my new toys (got my first set of tools  )

i was looking inside the explorer's engine bay while filling some coolant today and my gosh there's so much room in there. Your generation explorer's engine bay must be VERY different from ours...

[Rupert]

i spent most of this afternoon working on the contour with my new toys (got my first set of tools  )

i was looking inside the explorer's engine bay while filling some coolant today and my gosh there's so much room in there. Your generation explorer's engine bay must be VERY different from ours...

It's fairly cramped, but the oil filter is in an especially ridiculous spot...

[VTEC_Inside]

I have a Vise grip type version of the pliers shown above. Its great cause you can clamp the bugger on there tight and then worry about turning it. Easier then gripping and turning in one action, especially if you are short on room. Only ever HAD to use them once though.


I had a walk away moment of my own this past Sunday trying to get the leftover mid-pipe flange off the cat of my Accord. Spent 2hrs on the f'in thing before I gave up.

Ended up putting the new midpipe and muffler back in the trunk, tying the cat up off the ground with some speaker wire and paying $100 to have the muffler shop cut the fucking thing off and re-assemble the exhaust system for me.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I recall doing the plugs on my 4.0 Ranger without much trouble. Is your motor different?

[The_Joker]

I hear you. I spent 2 hours the first time changing the Miata's Oil. The idiot who engineered it must've had some skinny arms. Not to mention the person who changed it last before I got it had it tightened way too much.  I changed the Protege's oil immediately after, and that was a cinch. More room to work with and loosened it up with my hand.

[Rupert]

I recall doing the plugs on my 4.0 Ranger without much trouble. Is your motor different?

They're not too terribly sucky, but the wiring it routed under part of the intake. I guess I'm used to the MG, where it's all right there.

[Rupert]

I hear you. I spent 2 hours the first time changing the Miata's Oil. The idiot who engineered it must've had some skinny arms. Not to mention the person who changed it last before I got it had it tightened way too much.  I changed the Protege's oil immediately after, and that was a cinch. More room to work with and loosened it up with my hand.

Haha, yeah, I remember how buried the oil filter is on those engines. I recall a similar situation when I changed my ex-Miata's oil for the first time, too.

[S204STi]

Naw, they tighten it more than the average Joe does, because if it comes back leaking...they catch hell. 

+1

Also, we tend to have a kung fu grip, so the average guy isn't quite as strong.  So for us something that feels snug is probably way too tight.

[S204STi]

They're not too terribly sucky, but the wiring it routed under part of the intake. I guess I'm used to the MG, where it's all right there.

It is a tedious process, but it can be done without removing the intake.  The only area I had trouble with was around the EGR pipe on the driver's side.

[SVT_Power]

+1

Also, we tend to have a kung fu grip, so the average guy isn't quite as strong.  So for us something that feels snug is probably way too tight.

doesn't it say on the box to turn 1/4 way after the filter touches or something?

[JWC]

doesn't it say on the box to turn 1/4 way after the filter touches or something?

Yes, but even so, leaks tend to happen.   A shop only has two choices; really, really tighten it or pay to clean someone's driveway or garage floor.  The obvious choice is to really really tighten the filter.  The reality is, anyone who goes to a shop to have their oil changed isn't going to suddenly start changing their own oil.  Since garages seldom use band wrenches, there is little risk of twisting a filter body apart trying to remove it.

[S204STi]

doesn't it say on the box to turn 1/4 way after the filter touches or something?

All of mine say 3/4-1 full turn.  I don't know who has a 1/4 turn on their filters.  Even then, I have to really grab hold of that sucker and twist to get it to that mark most the time.

[S204STi]

Yes, but even so, leaks tend to happen.   A shop only has two choices; really, really tighten it or pay to clean someone's driveway or garage floor.  The obvious choice is to really really tighten the filter.  The reality is, anyone who goes to a shop to have their oil changed isn't going to suddenly start changing their own oil.  Since garages seldom use band wrenches, there is little risk of twisting a filter body apart trying to remove it.

Fun anecdote: The new Acadia and Enclave (and the Chevy and Saturn cousins) have the filter mounted in such a way that you have to remove it before lifting the vehicle.  It's over the subframe and a large engine mount.  This can throw you off if you are used to getting at it from beneath.  So I pulled the filter, lifted the car, drained the oil, and then started to refill the oil before reinstalling the filter.  Naturally oil comes shooting out of the filter fitting and hits the radiator shroud, subframe, and engine mount to the sum of probably 3 quarts or so before I realized what I was doing. 45mins of cleaning later I thought I had it all, but some oil had pooled in the subframe and didn't show up till the guy got home and parked it, at which time it seeped out onto his driveway.  So I had a nice little comeback on that one, plus probably another 45mins wasted cleaning the darn thing again...

The only thing that makes me not feel like a total dumbass is that like 3 or 4 other guys in the shop have done it too.

[sportyaccordy]

Yea I absolutely hate working on my car as well. But I hate driving a car w/o a stereo or shitty suspension or w/e. Big lesson learned: just get a better car to begin with.

[GoCougs]

I gave up working on my cars some time ago - I did so much of it I got completely burned out, and yes - things rarely ever to as planned.

I haven't changed oil in some time, and use the local touchless car wash even.

Do you have oil change receipts? A stuck filter can be an indication that it was on there entirely too long (implying poor maintenance).