today i was changing my oil. And when i went to take the oil filter off, i couldnt get it off and dented it pretty badly in the process ! I just filled my car back up with oil and left the filter alone. I have never had this problem changing my oil in the past. Could this be bad for my motor and any advice for what to do would be greatlt appreciatted thanks.

 

get an oil filter wrench to get it off....next time dont put the filter on so tight, its only supposed to be snug

 

 

ok thanks. I used my oil filter wrench to get it off but it is kind of a piece. ill go and get a new one and try again. But will it be ok to drive on with the filter like that?

 

I personally wouldn't want to drive it if it's really f'd up. Get some filter pliers (pic) or a pair of channel locks and twist that ***** off. And next time, make sure you put a thin film of oil on the gasket and only turn it about 3/4 of a turn after the gasket touches the block.

 

OK, it's messy, but if you want to get it off, drive a large screw driver through the middle of the filter (from the bottom of the car to the top). Once it's all the way through, use the screw driver's handle to twist the filter off. This has worked for me on several occasions in the past. I've even used a small tube placed over the screw driver's handle to gain leverage. Good luck

 

u can drive around with it but heres what its gonna do...

once the oil is circulating ur engine, they first pass through your oil filter, and when its full with **** so all ur oil dats not being filtered will travel all over ur head and everything else,...and if u keep doing this..itll cause gunk every where and itll be hard to lube ur engine system, so i would say u just go down to a jiffy lube and get it handled.

 

For a small price, you could get the Matco Tools OF10 ($48.00). I have the Snap On set with the universal claw wrench, but it's twice as much. With the Matco set, the cups are still metal, which is an absolute must. The plastic ones (like the Mac Tools set) like to flex and slip off the butt of the filter.

I have a set of oil filter pliers as well for quick and easy jobs, but for stuck filters, I have to use the cups. There are rare occasions, however, where it's stuck on so tight that the only solution is a screwdriver and hammer.


Modified by IN VTEC at 6:28 PM 7/28/2008

 

well the poor mans filter wrench is a leather belt, just make sure its not one your going to be using lol... when you put it back on just past snug with your hand is more then tight enough.

 

i like the mac tools oil filter wrench should check that out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Circusraven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">OK, it's messy, but if you want to get it off, drive a large screw driver through the middle of the filter (from the bottom of the car to the top). Once it's all the way through, use the screw driver's handle to twist the filter off. This has worked for me on several occasions in the past. I've even used a small tube placed over the screw driver's handle to gain leverage. Good luck </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is the way I do it. Really messy though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00ls1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">today i was changing my oil. And when i went to take the oil filter off, i couldnt get it off and dented it pretty badly in the process ! I just filled my car back up with oil and left the filter alone. I have never had this problem changing my oil in the past. Could this be bad for my motor and any advice for what to do would be greatlt appreciatted thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

dude, man up and get it off. never put or leave dented/ damaged filter on a engine and run it(its kinda like trying to run on half collapsed lungs). filter wrench. if need be stab a long screwdriver through it near the end.

 

i hope ur not driving around with it dented

 

Thanks everyone i got it taken care of! The screwdriver method lol it was messy but it worked. thanks for all of the tips and advice and sorry it took so long for me to get back to you