emergency oil filter removal help

[crm318]

im having the hardest time ever trying to remove my oil filter. i bought a brand new filter wrench (the metal band type) and on the first try, it broke two spot welds on it and broke. i then tried a toothed adjustable wrench (that surounds the filter) and crunched the filter and i almost broke that wrench as well. i stuck a big screwdriver though it and all it did was shred the filter. now i have a cunched oily mess and it will not budge. and yes, im turning it the correct way (left). what is the damn deal. im at wits end on this. is there any tips to deal with impossible oil filters? what do yall think?

[OARNGESI]

Jiffy lube 25 dollars LOL

[lts70]

I had all these ideas but as I read your post you have used most them all. If there is enough of your filter left, Try the filter wrench that is made out of reinforced rubber belting, it is the same principle as the chain wrench but much stronger. It for sure will not break on you even if you use some serious leverage.

Or if it is torn all to heck try taking a big flat head and hammer an try getting the piece that is screwed on to spin out by tapping it at an angle that will cause a gouge for the screwdriver to bite into for leverage to spin it out by tapping. I don’t know if you have room for that or if it even makes sense the way I wrote it.

[71swb4x4]

You could try wedging a screwdriver between the filter and the adapter and prying the filter off. Worst case scenario, you mess up the adapter, but that is a piece that is easily replaced.

[leddzepp]

I had this happen to me on an old Jeep. I tried everything as you did, and ended up crushing and wasting the filter. I finally got it off by using a dremel tool to cut thru the threads very very carefully

[pilotj]

I just had the same problem. And my oil filter was only on for 3 months and was hand tightened! I even tried useing a chisle on the top plate (the only part that was left of the fiter) to loosen it up. I finally took a long pair of needle nose pliers and stuck the tips in the drainback holes and used a pipe wrench on the pliers to turn it. Finally got it off. I've never had any problems with a Purolater filter that I usually use, but I got a Fram filter free with the oil so I used it. Every time I've used a Fram, it's a real pain in the butt getting it off! Good luck.

[leddzepp]

x2 on the Fram...they are junk nowadays. I use only K and N now.

[mekdad]

Put a little oil on the seal before you spin the new filter on.

[cparman]

we see this from time to time. A little patience, and a rubber belt type strap wrench might work. apply some pressure to the filter, and do not let up!! IF you get to move a bit, do not let up, and it will eventually come off. i have had to do the screwdriver thing, and then get my air chisel, and vibrate the remaining piece of the oil filter to get it to come loose. A drop of oil to the gasket on the oil filter would have prevented this

[va_tlc]

just a suggestion for next time, buy one of those cup type ,that fits on your ratchet. the kind that fits onto the bottom of the filter, they work pretty slick.

[El Jay]

There has been a time, or 2 (not on my own stuff, thank God!), that I've had to rip the canister & filter material off the base plate and then work from there.

I have GENTLY heated the base plate (YOU HAVE TOO BE REAL CAREFUL!! WE'RE TALKING FIRE & OIL HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) @ the pipe nipple that the filter spins on to, and then attacking the base plate with a hammer & cold chisel.

PITA? Oh you betcha!! But they finally came free.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by va_tlc

just a suggestion for next time, buy one of those cup type ,that fits on your ratchet. the kind that fits onto the bottom of the filter, they work pretty slick.

Agree, those usually work great. But in my case, even this did not work. I had to put so much pressure on it, it would just slip off.

[vectorit]

I don't know how much of the metal canister is left in your case, but if it still there just all beat up then you can try this.
I have had success using a nylon strap, large screw driver, and wrench. The strap I used was the type you would use to tie down a motorcycle in a pick up bed.
Take the strap and wrap it around the filter a couple of times, then take the screw driver (the type I use is a large blade type that has a square shaft). If you don't have one like that, see about useing a smaller crow bar.
Get the screw driver bound up in the strap against the filter can, then use your hands to turn it till it binds tight. Now start using a pipe wrench or something else to get leverage, and start turning it in a direction that will put pressure in the left hand direction.
If the can is to beat to hell to do this, then try putting knots in the strap that contact the can.
It's all about getting good leverage in a pressure that won't bind the filters threads against the engine filter threads.

Just thought I would chime in with my trick to getting my past stubborn filters off, not sure it will work for your case but either way good luck!

[crm318]

the filter is also not that old and i also put oil on the seal before it was installed (i used to work a an oil change place). it is also a fram filter. i will never be using them again. i bought an ac delco this time.

[Indyuke]

Yikes! This happened to me just a few weeks ago on a friends truck. I just ended up crushing the oil filter down with a pair of channel locks until the rubber seal was pulled away from the adapter, then unscrewed it. In my case the rubber seal provided the resistance to removal.

[Cunit69]

Get a screw driver and on the main seam at top , place the screw driver on the seam the way you want it to go and hit the screw driver with a hammer tapping it left.

[72swbcamo]

What Cunit69 said. I've done it that way and it worked for me.

[big_al_71]

Been in similar situations before specially when I had my suzuki hayabusa so a friend told me about this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a

No filter, pipe or anything will ever beat me.....

[straitnate14]

I dont think anyone said this but you could do what I'v done quiet a few times and that is to tap a punch all the way through the filter and grap on to both ends and unscrew it off or just hit it left a few times

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by big_al_71

Been in similar situations before specially when I had my suzuki hayabusa so a friend told me about this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a

No filter, pipe or anything will ever beat me.....

I have a set of these, and they usually work great...but again, i could not get the oil filter off even with a strap wrench!

[Cunit69]

Get it off yet , if not try a bigger hammer....

[70clone]

i had this happen before i took a phillips head screwdriver and beat it threw in the top of the oil filter from the bottom up into one of the holes thats in the top and spun it until i could twist with my hand

[mr48chev]

I used to and may still have one of the Cal Van style units that is pictured in the bottom of the add that Big al 71 showed from sears. They work pretty well most of the time but will crush a filter if it is too tight. You use a half inch ratchet and extension with it or a crescent wrench. Worse thing with it is that the belt on it gets oil soaked and you have to be careful where you store it.

[crm318]

well i finally got it off. i had to get a flat head screw driver long enough to clear the fame and i just tapped the filter around around untill it came off. thanks for the advice guys.