Decent oil filter removal tool

kevin65

Can anyone recommend a decent oil filter removal tool, one that will get a good grip on the filter? Any that I have bought in the past in motor accessories stores turned out to be pieces of sh*t.

CJhaughey

kevin65 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a decent oil filter removal tool, one that will get a good grip on the filter? Any that I have bought in the past in motor accessories stores turned out to be pieces of sh*t.

I have a few but the one that I use the most is a nylon Sealey strap type that has a 3/8 and 1/2 drive.
Fits everything I have ever needed it to.

Nissan doctor

I use two types daily in work and between them they remove anything I come up against.

These types(although not Halfords)

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_525159_langId_-1_categoryId_212616

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_232619_langId_-1_categoryId_212616


Obviously these are only for metal screw on filter types.

Wheelnut

I was given a present of one like this a few years ago:





I thought it looked useless and I left it on the shelf for a year. Then one day I was stuck and I tried it. I've never used anything else since!

http://www.micksgarage.com/proddetails.aspx?pid=1197883&pk=11AAD

mawk

I bought a rubber strap wrench in tkmax of all places. really sticky and grips great

biko

I use the same as Wheelnut, got it in Aldi or similar and have had no problems with it.
Before that, the dreaded screwdriver method, very messy.

kevthegaff

biko wrote: »

I use the same as Wheelnut, got it in Aldi or similar and have had no problems with it.
Before that, the dreaded screwdriver method, very messy.

theres one on lidl every now and again, i use it for the tractor or jeep

kevin65

Thanks lads, I'll have a look around Galway for one of those strap type wrenches or that pliers type wrench. There isn't any problems getting access to the filter. I think Calbro sell Sealey stuff.

eringobragh

I got an oil filter cup wrech (see pic) for the MR2...have to say it was a pleasure to use...just stick it in the ratchet place it on the filter and turn...it works great so no slipping, messing etc..next car I get I'll be getting the cup wrench to match it :cool:

kevin65

That filter cup wrench looks very handy, but I still think nothing beats the oil filter on my old BMW. Take the lid off the filter housing on the side of the engine, old filter out, new filter in, refit lid, done. God bless German engineering.:)

Wheelnut

kevin65 wrote: »

... nothing beats the oil filter on my old BMW... God bless German engineering.:)

That was just a passing phase, you now need a filter cup wrench for the current models.

kevin65

Wheelnut wrote: »

That was just a passing phase, you now need a filter cup wrench for the current models.

Well, I'll be keeping my E30 then.:)

Viper_JB

Wheelnut wrote: »

That was just a passing phase, you now need a filter cup wrench for the current models.

I have an e60 and done the oil change there over the weekend, needed like a 32 mil socket to get the filter housing off ofc I didn't have one at the time, but got one in a panic at 5:30 in a local hardware store . The filters seem to be different types for the different engine variations though.

Ferris

I've used a pair of (yellow:p) marigolds for grip on the filter, its worked every time.

kevin65

Ferris wrote: »

I've used a pair of (yellow:p) marigolds for grip on the filter, its worked every time.

I hope you don't put them back in the kitchen sink when your finished?:D

Kencollins

The fabric strap with the 3/8 and 1/2 inch ratchet sockets are the business.

The metal strap ones are ok, but if you bend then to one side they will snap very easily.

I use the fabric strap one for stubborn deisel filters too.

The main advantage for me is the low clearance required to get it in. All you need is the 2mm to slip in the strap. This is especially important for toyota cars. A few that I have seen have the oil filter right up against the sump lip, and there is no hope of getting a wider one in there!

Ken.

kevin65

I was in Calbro this morning and they have all the types of filter removal tools people have mentioned here from Sealey, I went for the metal strap one. If it gives me problems, I'll get the fabric one.

Ferris

kevin65 wrote: »

I hope you don't put them back in the kitchen sink when your finished?:D

!

alias no.9

It depends very much on the car, I've a couple of chain and strap wrenches, one is a vice grips type, great for tightening it up. SWMBO has a scenic 1.5 dci, the only thing that sill budge it is one of the three prong units like Nissan man linked.

Hal1

It still make a mess unscrewing it though. Unless you have an access lift.

sebastianlieken

Heya, I thought i'd dredge up this old thread from the depths rather than making a new one.

I can't get my oil filter cap/housing off my 2008 Golf mk5 1.6fsi.



I've pretty much run out of non-destructive options and am thinking i'm gonna have to bore a hole through it an stick screwdriver through it. HOWEVER... where do I get a new one?! *scratches head*

... and don't say "go to the VW garage" I'd rather get bitten by a bullet ant

biko

Did you try spraying around the edges overnight with penetrative oil? Is your socket the right size?
Sometimes you need to hammer the spanner to get it to come loose *careful now*

fuerte1976

Pierce a hole in the filter with a short old screwdriver (obviously after all the oil is drained through the sump). Use the handle of the screwdriver as your lever.
Has worked several times for me

biko

I think sebastianlieken is referring to the plastic housing filter type that takes a paper cartridge, and not a filter where everything is swapped out.

Wheelnut

Presumably you've tried a big socket on that moulded nut in the centre? There is another tool that grips the flats around the outside edge, it looks like this:




You would have to measure your diameter and count the number of flats, then search e-bay.

PS: ignore everything fuerte1976 says, he's totally wrong.

MAJJ

In my VW which is a Tdi it too needed a 32mm bit and an extension bar like this did the job.


http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=2166108

Tropheus

I use one of these from Halfords. I find it good, but you do need a bit of room to get leverage.

fuerte1976

@ Wheelnut

Errrm no I'm not.. I've done it. So there .

Interslice

fuerte1976 wrote: »

@ Wheelnut

Errrm no I'm not.. I've done it. So there .

You have to reuse the housing. You replace the paper filter inside. Idealy you would use a proper tool(see wheelnuts post) that doesn't damage it.

sebastianlieken

Wheelnut wrote: »

Presumably you've tried a big socket on that moulded nut in the centre? There is another tool that grips the flats around the outside edge, it looks like this:

MAJJ wrote: »

In my VW which is a Tdi it too needed a 32mm bit and an extension bar like this did the job.


http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=2166108

I've tried a 32mm 6 point socket but it's just hopping off and rounding the edges of the hex extrusion. The corners are now too rounded to use any 32mm spaner or socket.

I've tried putting a vice grip on the nut and it grips really well, but i'm using an extention bar and the shear torque that i'm applying is bending the bar and just causing the teeth of the vice grip to destroy the nut

I've tried a chain tool aswell but the teeth of it are just sinking into the plastic and skimming the plastic away around the housing.

I'm thinking what i'll have to do is drill a hole through the hex extrusion, stick a long screwdriver through and twist it off that way...

I just had a thought actually.... I should try again on a cold morning when the plastic is much harder. When I tried last time, the engine was warm so it probably meant the the plastic was a bit more maleable... in the cold I might be able to break that death grip it has though... hmmmm

CJhaughey

sebastianlieken wrote: »

I've tried a 32mm 6 point socket but it's just hopping off and rounding the edges of the hex extrusion. The corners are now too rounded to use any 32mm spaner or socket.

I've tried putting a vice grip on the nut and it grips really well, but i'm using an extention bar and the shear torque that i'm applying is bending the bar and just causing the teeth of the vice grip to destroy the nut

I've tried a chain tool aswell but the teeth of it are just sinking into the plastic and skimming the plastic away around the housing.

I'm thinking what i'll have to do is drill a hole through the hex extrusion, stick a long screwdriver through and twist it off that way...

I just had a thought actually.... I should try again on a cold morning when the plastic is much harder. When I tried last time, the engine was warm so it probably meant the the plastic was a bit more maleable... in the cold I might be able to break that death grip it has though... hmmmm

Can you get a fabric type oil filter strap?
One of them should shift it, if it still slips, get a sheet of 400grit sandpaper and fold it so it fits over the strap then apply a good long bar to it. slow and steady force usually shifts these.
Use an extension to bring the ratchet up over the slam panel to make it easy to turn without being stuck for space.

Worst case scenario you may have to order a new one from VW.

dgt

Try one of these on that housing

Wheelnut

fuerte1976 wrote: »

@ Wheelnut

Errrm no I'm not.. I've done it. So there .

Oh yes you are!

The advice you gave is for removing the older spin-off canister filter. As others have pointed out, this is the newer type in which a paper element is inserted into a fixed housing and a cap screwed on. Hammering a screwdriver through this will cause damage and require replacement parts.

BTW (and slightly off topic) you are also wrong about the filter draining back into the sump when the engine stops. There is an anti-drain valve to prevent this.

biko

He was thinking of another type of oil filter, it's no biggie.
Let's get back to various ways to pop that lid

Wheelnut

biko wrote: »

He was thinking of another type of oil filter, it's no biggie.
Let's get back to various ways to pop that lid

Yeah, I knew I was pushing the boundaries with that post but I felt it should be emphasised in case someone tried what was suggested.

:cool:

Rovi

If there's space to turn it when it's on, it's hard to beat the chain Vise-Grip for this sort of thing:

jimgoose

I use a Sealey chain wrench, which works with a 22mm spanner or 1/2'' ratchet gear, so you can use extensions and so forth. It's quite good.

biko

Ok, this thread started back on '12 about spin-on filters and how to remove them. It was then brought back about removing the lid on a cartridge type filter and is now back again to spin-on.

As we've come full circle and have many good suggestions I think we'll stop here for now.
If someone has need, start a fresh thread on your specific type of filter and the issue you're having with it.

Spin-on


Cartridge