What Is The Best Oil Filter Wrench?

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel

Ever try Sand Paper?

I have found that sand paper works the best. Great for tight spots and really gives you a super grip!

Used this same trick many times over the years and it hardly ever fails.

[tim21391]

this is my thing i use to take my old filters off.. they are goin to the trash so oh well what they look like...

[mdwilf]

Thanks for all the replies, keep 'em coming - I haven't seen anyone submit what I have in mind.

Thanks!!

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by mdwilf

I haven't seen anyone submit what I have in mind.

Well... what is it you have in mind?

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q...og&sa=N&tab=wi

[scott's69]

I use the one PalfStep is showing on all my stuff except the 69. Ive always had problems getting the filters off of it. So I switched to K&N filters. They have a nut on the bottom of filter. Makes a world of difference when removing the filter. I just use a closed end wrench and she comes right off!! They cost a little more but, the cost makes up for the pain in the a@# that other filters cause.

[Crazyz28]

The one I use at work the most is this one (I have 2 sizes of this style, one for older big style filters or duramax filters, and one for the smaller filters like the PF 46-48's):

For those hard to get off filters, I use:

[my70chevyc10]

I havent used a filter wrench in maby 5 years i spend the extera money and get the K&N oil filter. It has a 1in bolt head welded to the bottom so all you need is a 1in socket or wrench

[BossHogg69]

Been using this beast for over ten years - got it off a Matco tool dealer back in college when I worked at Firestone. I have yet to find an oil filter it couldn't fit onto or break loose. Works on any 3/8" ratchet, but really works well with a swivel head ratchet like in the pics.

[toddtheodd]

I've got the ZY3401 from this picture.
It's worked on everything so far.



Though it looks like now I'm going to be getting the K&N filters. That bolt head on the end is worth it to me.

[truckdude239]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I have owned steel and plastic end cap wrenches like this, and do not like them. They slip quite easily if the filter is tight.... and you only need a wrench if the filter is tight.




I have had much better luck with a nylon strap wrench.



Last, I have never used one of these, but have heard great things about them.

i have the last one for work and love it

[truckdude239]

i also have this one worst money i ever spent

[bigsnookmaster]

OK, I've got the best one I've ever seen! I've had it about 25 years. It is a flat,wound spring. You turn it clockwise to fit over the filter, then turn counterclockwise with a 3/4 wrench, and it tightens around the full height of the filter, compressing the complete outside of the filter. It has a little burr on the open end that keeps a bite to keep it from spinning on the filter. I have never crushed, or had a filter that I couldn't get off. Sad part about it is it's made in the USA, but has no name on it, and I haven't seen another one ever again.

[kcfirstbuild]

lisle tool is starting to add little nubs on their oil filter wrenches for grip.

[mdwilf]

Originally Posted by bigsnookmaster

OK, I've got the best one I've ever seen! I've had it about 25 years. It is a flat,wound spring. You turn it clockwise to fit over the filter, then turn counterclockwise with a 3/4 wrench, and it tightens around the full height of the filter, compressing the complete outside of the filter. It has a little burr on the open end that keeps a bite to keep it from spinning on the filter. I have never crushed, or had a filter that I couldn't get off. Sad part about it is it's made in the USA, but has no name on it, and I haven't seen another one ever again.

That sounds really interesting, and similar in principle to what I had in mind. Could you post a pic?

Thanks!

[Hair]

When you do the long screw driver method, take the screw driver and drive it into the bottom of the filter and drain the old oil out of it first, before you drive it thru the side. That makes things a lot less messy.

Those plastic socket type wrenches SUCK!!!!! Bad thing is, I knew it would suck while I was standing in the store, but I bought it anyway. I hate it when I do that!!

Instead of wasting time putting that stupid black rubber stuff on the bottom of the Fram filters, they should stick a socket on there like K&N does!

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel

Ever try Sand Paper?

I have found that sand paper works the best. Great for tight spots and really gives you a super grip!

I have had to slide a piece of sandpaper between the strap wrench and oil filter housing in order for the wrench to grip. Like most of you, I have an assortment of Channle Lock 460's, various end cap wrenches, metal strap wrenches and a nylon strap wrench. I also picked up a set of the pilers like shown above to use on my wife's car (PRIUS)

[WIDESIDE72]

Not to be too obvious, but everyone knows that a filter wrench isn't needed to INSTALL a filter, correct? I always lube the o ring with a little oil nad ighten the filter as tight as I can BY HAND only. I have never had a problem with leaks.

[WIDESIDE72]

This brings up a horror story I experienced about a year ago. I had a friend who has a 68 swb that he bought a Ramjet 350 crate engine. I oversaw the install. The engine came with an AC Delco ilter installed, but no oil. We dropped the engine in, I primed the engine using my home made tool made from a stock distributor with the top cut off to fit in a drill. No problems so far. We fired the engine and broke it in as normal (fairly uneventful, as it has a factory roller cam.) the trouble came when he went to change the filter. He could not get it off, with any tool, even th never fail screwdriver through the side. Eventually there was nothing left but the steel mounting pad. We ended up having to take an old socket and tack weld it to the pad in order to get leverage on it. Not too easy, considering it was overhead, and having to reach up through the header, etc. He had to make a call to the GMPP tech support # on an unrelated tuning issue and mentioned filter problem to the tech support person, and they mentioned that the had had several people mention this. My friend asked them if they ever considered telling people to be sure that the filter would come off BEFORE dropping the engine in. He said he was told by "higher ups" that they wanted to be sure that there were no oil leaks, due to liability issues....NICE...

My friend has an acquaintance that works at a local Chevy dealer in the service department. He had inquired about getting them to install the engine, but couldn't justify the $1,200 they quoted him. I was betweeen jobs and said I would do it for $600 if he would help. Afterward, he mentioned our fiasco, and his acquaintance replied " that is the kind of thing you could have avoided if you had gotten us to do the install" or words to that effect. Reason #34 to NOT take anything to a dealer for service EVER.

Moral of the story, if you buy a crate engine of any type, be sure you can get the filter off BEFORE installing the engine.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

Not to be too obvious, but everyone knows that a filter wrench isn't needed to INSTALL a filter, correct? I always lube the o ring with a little oil nad ighten the filter as tight as I can BY HAND only. I have never had a problem with leaks.

Good point, and I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it already. I don't tighten mine as much as you do -- I just snug it by hand and then tighten it a wee bit more. No leaks ever (lubing the o-ring or gasket helps). I learned long ago that filters become tighter all by themselves (no, they don't turn themselves, they just tighten up ), and are always somewhat tighter when you remove them than they were when you installed them.

Your second post above mentions filters that are over-tightened to prevent leaks. I don't know if all new Toyotas leave the factory with filters that are way too tight, but I know that Tacomas with 4.0L V6 engines do. They are very easy to change, being at the top front of the engine, but I had a terrible time getting ours off, which is why I now own a strap wrench -- which I have only used that one time...

[HOGDADDY]

Originally Posted by my70chevyc10

i havent used a filter wrench in maby 5 years i spend the extera money and get the k&n oil filter. It has a 1in bolt head welded to the bottom so all you need is a 1in socket or wrench

^+1

[SweetandLong68]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Your second post above mentions filters that are over-tightened to prevent leaks. I don't know if all new Toyotas leave the factory with filters that are way too tight, but I know that Tacomas with 4.0L V6 engines do. They are very easy to change, being at the top front of the engine, but I had a terrible time getting ours off, which is why I now own a strap wrench -- which I have only used that one time...

Don't feel too bad. Ford does the exact same thing. From the factory the drain plugs little over handtight and oil filter so tight you crush it getting them off. I do this everyday ...working at a Ford dealership... So I now own some version of every oil filters removal device known to man! This is because we work on all makes all models. So undoubtly I have ran across ALOT of SUPERTIGHT filters. On most Ford products if I cant get it off with my hand I go straight to the 3 jaw adjustable style that LISLE makes with a swivel, 10 inch extension and floppy head 3/8"s rachet or the Channel Lock plier type on the smaller filters. This gets them all off. Now other makes like LS Chevys I use a metal strap wrench... Never let me down. I have bent a few but always gotten them off.

I think the hardest filters to get off are the FRAM filters that Wal-Mart puts on. SHESH that is some work and maybe a few fowl words too. hahah

But I do this everyday so I see lots of cars, trucks, gas, diesel, etc etc etc...Hopefully this will help some of you guys.

lata
CHRIS

[SweetandLong68]

If you really want a challenge in changing an oil filter you should try a Suzuki Grand Vitara V6 or even better the new Suzuki Grand Vitara 4 cylinder... Dont even get me started on that! hahah ENJOY! These old trucks are EASYYYY to change oil on compared to these monstrosities!!!!

lata
CHRIS

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by SweetandLong68

If you really want a challenge in changing an oil filter you should try a Suzuki Grand Vitara V6 or even better the new Suzuki Grand Vitara 4 cylinder... Dont even get me started on that! hahah

Haven't had the pleasure.... but we used to own a Miata.

[SweetandLong68]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Haven't had the pleasure.... but we used to own a Miata.

Yeah....Those suck too! Gotta get them bad boys from the top if I remember correctly...Then it makes a mess! But I only did that once! hahah

lata
CHRIS

[bigsnookmaster]

Originally Posted by mdwilf

That sounds really interesting, and similar in principle to what I had in mind. Could you post a pic?

Thanks!

Yeah, No problem! Give me a day or so. Greg