well its my first time changing oil, i got the oil out fine now im having a really tough time taking off the oil filter, if you guys got some tips on taking it off that's be great. It seems that there's very little room to move your hands around. Thanks in advance

 

Buy the oil filter wrench from A&H Motorsports or your dealer. It makes it extremely easy to take off the filter. Even though some people here like to just hand tighten the new filter, I like to use the wrench and torque it down to factory spec.

 

well no matter how hard i tried WITH the wrench, the filter will NOT come off. Should i just go ahead and leave the filter and replace the oil for now?

 

It depends if you are in a hurry or not. You're using the trusty torque wrench with the oil filter wrench right? It give you way more leverage to get that filter off.

At last resort, you can do the "poke the filter with a screwdriver" and turn to take the filter off. Although I tried it one time and wasn't able to poke a hole through the filter. Was the engine cold or warm when you tried to remove the filter? Usually when parts are warm it makes it easier to remove.

Try and use the torque wrench though.. If it still doesn't want to budge, be careful about taking it off. It should just take 17 ft-lbs to take it off.


[Modified by arren123, 10:19 PM 6/30/2001]

 

It cant possibly be that tight, especially with the wrench. This may sound a dumb question, but are you sure you are turning it the proper way? It can be confusing if you are positioned "differently" than like in front of you. Remember....turn "lefty loosey" and "right tight"

 

I thought when it's cooler when it's easier to take off. Just about all things, expands when temperature increases, which may cause it to be tighter.

 

If you go to your local automotive store there should be this tool called the oil filter end cap wrench. Its basically a cap you can put on the filter and then you can stick your rachet into the cap and turn the oil filter off. Heres a picture of it :

If you don't want t get that, you can take a long nail and nail it to the side of the filter. Then you have more leveage to turn it. Goodluck

 

I was doing an analogy in my head... Like with a cap on a coke bottle thats been sitting in a fridge and its hard to open.. Run it under hot water for a while and it comes off with ease.

Also another example is using a torch to heat up a bolt if it doesn't come out.

 

I had the same problem. I had to drive my car the next morning and I really did not want to use the old filter with new oil. I had to find an auto parts store at midnight to get an oil filter wrench in my beater Isuzu pickup. I have not found any oil filter sockets at an auto parts store for the filter. But I'm sure the dealer has one. I ended up finding an open sotre that night and got one of the ones with the metal belt with the cheap little teeth stamped into them, shaped like a "9." It's awkward trying to get it in an usable position, but just keep trying. What you need to get is either the factory socket or get one from Griots Garage. They are really expensive but they have the best quality products available. They sell a couple wrenches: one is like the one above, only dramatically higher quality and so compact you could use it anywhere, made by FACOM tools (the best, even better than Snap-On); or the one that is basically an long pair of pliers with a few sets of sharp teeth that actually puncture into and grip the filter aggressively. Check them out at http://www.griotsgarage.com
Just my suggestion. I have also had problems with filters I put on by hand, hand-tight, that were too tight to untighten by hand. You can (well, I have long arms) reach the filter from the top of the car or the bottom. When you put a new filter on, fill it up with oil and let it soak into the filter to pre-charge it, and put some along the gasket. I use the Fram X2 because it has an anti-drainback valve, and the grippy stuff on the back. I think that they purposely over-tighten it from the factory so you have to take it in or buy a part. Good luck

 

Okay I see your point. Hell, I do it with jelly. Run warm water around the cover. I guess your point is to dissolve or further liquify whatever it is in the grooves of the thread. My bad.
But in reality, metal expand when heated.

 

Kinda like a jar of pickles...hit it gently with a hammer or the handle of a screwdriver...knock it somewhat loose, then go from there.

 

is it bad to run new oil with an old filter for one night? Im gonna have it fixed tomorrow. I dont really want to risk anything. I tried taking it off with a wrench, without the wrench but with rubber bands and everything but stab the filter. Well thanks for all the tips guys.

 

Are you guys under the car while you're trying to remove the filter???

When I change my oil, I go under the car twice. Once to remove the drain plug and once to put it back on.
The filter can be removed from the top. Get yourself a cap oil filter wrench $5.00 a 3/8 ratchet and small extension, lean over the driverside and remove. Very easy, and you have more torque since youre actually standing. Hand tightening the filter is good enough. No need to torque the filter.

When my R wasnt lowered, I didnt even have to jack it up..

 

the cap ones are kinda weak in my opinion. They just don't work when the filters on crazy tight. I use a another kind of oil filter tool. It goes on like handcuffs. And u turn it to loosen or tighten. The only downside of this one is, it grips like crazy so sometimes it crushes the filter. But hey we're not gonna re-use the filter anyway.

 

I use a claw kind of oil filter wrench. It's way better than the plastic cap type b/c it won't deform or melt and it's a lot easier to use than those band/handcuff-type wrenches b/c you have so little space to work with.

Maybe I can go steal a pic with my roommate's digicam.

 

Yeah samething happen to me on my first oil change as well. I left the old filter on for about a week with the new oil. None of the wrenches work on the filter. So I bought the oil filter plier(I have no idea what its really called) at autozone for like 10 bucks. Just get that and get under the car to remove the filter. Should come out really easy.