Crushed oil filter?

[jimany]

Well I'm trying to change my mom's oil, but the filter won't budge. I was using one of these, but since I can't reach the top of the filter(And because the shop that changed the oil over winter are asses) I just crushed it. I'm walking over to crappy tire now to see if another type of filter wrench will grip the filter still, but if that doesn't work, what can I do?

[MunkeyQ]

Whack an old screwdriver or really big spike through it and use that as a lever to unscrew the thing. It's a bit messy but it works a treat.

[The Explanation]

Suuucckkss.

Happened to me, and auto-zone hooked me up with a wrench that has a strap and a metal rod that it wraps around with a hole in it for a ratchet. Kinda hard to explain, but it worked for me.

EDIT:
Found a link.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&brandName=OEM

[InToXiCoLoGisT]

Try changing it when it's warm. Also, crush it into a shape that you can get channel locks on , than use a blunt object to "Impact" it loose. I know some spots are really tight, but you must turn it square with the threads or it will be much harder. Good luck.

[jimany]

Well I'm back with pretty much the same thing, but it has a strap.

I sort of tried the screwdriver method, but I couldn't get a good whack at it... I'll see if maybe a shorter one will do it if this doesn't work. And it shouldn't be messier than it is now, it already leaked all over the place...

I might try finding one of those wrenches pictured tomorrow if this and the screwdriver doesn't work, I only have less than an hour of sun I'd guess.

Finally, the engine was warm before I wrenched on the filter for an hour, and got my brother to do the same...

[HLC]

Originally Posted by Intoxicologist

... channel locks ...

Get a big channel lock and there is no need to deform it.
That's what I use.

MunkeyQ's ideas with spiking it can't fail.
You guise must be turning it the wrong way.

I've been confused by which way to turn it before.
It seems simple, but being on my back under a car versus reaching it from above seems to alter my thread awareness.
I now mark new filters with arrows saying " off ----> off --->" , (magic marker) , to guide me..

[jimany]

I'm turning it the right way, I checked the new filter to be sure

I tried again with the screwdriver, but there is no room at all.

I guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow now, it's getting pretty cold and I can't see...Is truckfixer still around to give me some super secret angle of attack for a 2000 b4000?

[Vargus]

Originally Posted by Intoxicologist

Also, crush it into a shape that you can get channel locks on , than use a blunt object to "Impact" it loose.

This.

[that_guy]

A good pair of vice grips might work better than channel locks if you have room to get them in there....

[jimany]

Woot, got it. I reached down from the top and my brother fed me the handle and got the wrench on, then we both gave 'r at the same time.

I'll be looking into a giant pair of channel locks, I don't think there's enough room to maneuver from the bottom, but since I don't have to wrap them around the filter it should be easy from above.

Edit: Forgot to add thanks for the suggestions.

[Vargus]

And for God's sake put some oil on the O-ring. You'll never have another stuck filter again.

[jimany]

I do when I change it, but there was snow on the ground last time and I don't have cover

[Dr rocker]

I allways used to use the screwdriver and hammer method until I got one of these



never failed me.

[ratfrink]

^ yeah I've got one of them. Although I've never had an oil filter stuck on tight enough to use it.

When I was working in the garage one of the apprentices had a stuck filter and I explained the screwdriver method. He came in a few mintes later covered in oil - we had to send him home for the day. Same lad jacked up a car on the fuel tank, and took a zip gun to the reverse thread on the bottom bracket of a customer's racing bike. Ruined a £250 frame and it took me half a day to re-frame it. Apparently since I left he got fired.

[HLC]

Originally Posted by that_guy

A good pair of vice grips might work better than channel locks if you have room to get them in there....

While I love vice grips, unless it's a pair designed to hold parts together for welding, like big ones below, they won't open wide enough to grip an oil filter.

[¤Tømmÿ Ver¢ettî¤]

Channel Locks


Depending on how much room you have. They work wonders on oil filters.
Fuck those little oil filter clamp things, I HATE them!! With a horrible fiery passion!

[not me]

Vise Grip also makes these. But they're not as easy to use as a filter wrench.
screwdriver/hammer works fine.