Oil filter change (alone)?

barry181091

Hey guys,

Went to change the oil and filters on my Fiat Bravo yesterday but the filter in the end wouldn't come off. It's in the most awkward of places and is an inline-type with a woeful plastic casing :mad:

Unfortunately now I have fresh oil but an old filter on the car. At the same time, I couldn't actually get off the air filter casing so I have one of those too.

Would a mechanic change the two filters for me? The real question is, is it even possible to change the oil filter as the car is filled with oil? Is it worth it?

Thanks

sogood

I'm sure a mechanic would change your filters for you, but he/she would most likely suggest that the oil be changed also (again). Unfortunately, your new oil would be a tad contaminated by the old filter and it's contents. But it really depends on the condition of the "new" oil.

If it were me, I'd opt for new oil while I was at it. Chalk it up to experience and take some consolation from the fact that your last oil change will help to flush the block clean, removing impurities etc. on it's way.

I don't know what your set up is, but on the usual canister type oil filter, they just screw on, hand tight and then about 1/4 to 1/2 turn more and it's good. A little motor oil smeared on the rubber seal on the canister improves the seal and helps removal in the future.

I've had occasion to drive a very large screwdriver through an old oil filter in order to get it off. The screwdriver gives you good grip and leverage, when all else fails.

Jeff2

If you put a screwdriver through it make sure it's not close to the engine end or you may hit the part it screws on to on the engine.

1874

barry181091 wrote: »

Hey guys,

Went to change the oil and filters on my Fiat Bravo yesterday but the filter in the end wouldn't come off. It's in the most awkward of places and is an inline-type with a woeful plastic casing :mad:

Unfortunately now I have fresh oil but an old filter on the car. At the same time, I couldn't actually get off the air filter casing so I have one of those too.

Would a mechanic change the two filters for me? The real question is, is it even possible to change the oil filter as the car is filled with oil? Is it worth it?

Thanks

In a manner of speaking all filters will be inline, the flow in one side, across the filter and out the other. I just had a quick google for Fiat Bravo oil filter without specifying diesel,petrol or engine size and I see what might be typically considered a conventional canister filter and the type where you just replace the filter only in a fixed casing, Im guessing this is what you have and mean this when you say inline? if inline is what its called it doesnt seem to be named well as it does exactly the same thing as a canister? a bit more looking does seem to suggest the diesel oil filter are in a bad position, is yours diesel?
pictures show a hexagon shape on the top of the plastic casing, not that I think Id rely on that, can you get one of the metal banded filter straps that you can tighten to get grip, but around the whole casing? that might help, there are other filter tools that go over the top of the filter, Im sure they could go over the cap of a filter and not just on canister types, I wouldnt recommend putting a screwdriver through it even if it was a canister type as if you cant get it off, you now have 2 holes, is it possible the cap is cross threaded? does it look square on the filter bowl?

miketheDIYman

where are you based I may be able to assist

Atlantic Dawn

If you have it will become partially contaminated with the dirty oil from the filter, could be bad could be ok depending on how long the filter is in the car and gunk it has inside it. If it was me and your going to a mechanic to change the filter I would get him to rechange the oil also.

Esel

Back in the day the oil filter was often only replaced every second oil change.

Jeff2

Esel wrote: »

Back in the day the oil filter was often only replaced every second oil change.

Yeah,that's what the manual would say in load of motorbikes that also have the gearbox using the engine oil.

Motorbikes take more oil in oil change so the op should just get it changed aswell as filter.

Jeff2

Jeff2 wrote: »

If you put a screwdriver through it make sure it's not close to the engine end or you may hit the part it screws on to on the engine.

Anyone who can't change an air filter shouldn't attempt this IMO.

biko

This is process to get air filter out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u4HnvFRuWo

Oil filter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxEbWm5mZ_Y

Melodeon

biko wrote: »

Oil filter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxEbWm5mZ_Y

Short of having the engine out on the workshop floor, that looks like the easiest engine oil filter change in the world!
Most car manufacturers appear to start by placing an oil filter on the production line and then building the car around it

9935452

Esel wrote: »

Back in the day the oil filter was often only replaced every second oil change.

The other thing though, was back in the day the recommended interval for an oil change was 3000 miles. so the filter would be done at 6k miles.

blackbox

Melodeon wrote: »

Short of having the engine out on the workshop floor, that looks like the easiest engine oil filter change in the world!
Most car manufacturers appear to start by placing an oil filter on the production line and then building the car around it

Not so easy on all models. Access is genuinely very difficult on the 1.6 diesel.

JohnBoy26

Melodeon wrote: »

Short of having the engine out on the workshop floor, that looks like the easiest engine oil filter change in the world!
Most car manufacturers appear to start by placing an oil filter on the production line and then building the car around it

The easiest one I came across was on the mk1 imprezza 1.6. It was on the bottom of the engine with plenty of access and easily changeable with the car on the ground.

CJhaughey

Easiest for me is the Accord N22 engines, open bonnet the filter housing is at your left hand side facing up at the front of the engine.
Unscrew, remove cartridge and replace, hard to make a mess even if you have greasy hands.

barry181091

Totally forgot about this post! I haven't changed the filter yet.

Unfortunately, it is not a metal canister type filter at all (Unlike some of the other engine variants). It is a plastic housing wherein the filter lies. The plastic filter housing is behind the drivers side wheel and you have about an inch of room to play with. On the top of the housing, there is a 32mm cutout for a socket. Actually, it won't take a socket as there isn't enough room, it will only take a 32mm spanner I feel. Its incredibly awkward to get at.



I think I will buy a 32mm spanner and give it another go!

punisher5112

They are designed for a socket though and a spanner can cause stress on the plastic as it's not gripping all around.

barry181091

punisher5112 wrote: »

They are designed for a socket though and a spanner can cause stress on the plastic as it's not gripping all around.

I get you alright, I just don't know how they could get much of a socket into this space at all :pac:

Someone on the FiatForum happened to post a picture of where it is, its all very cramped and I would almost say this picture seems to give the impression of more space than there is.

https://www.fiatforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=183165&d=1502203327

punisher5112

Use a chain or the metal strap type to spin it off. Don't use huge amounts of pressure.

HappyAsLarE

I would be using a large adjustable spanner for that job.

extra-ordinary_

You'd get that off with a chain wrench as a said.
You could realistically drain the oil into a clean container and see how contaminated it really is from the old filter, and put it back in if it's OK.

Unlike that video, I like to have my filter and dipstick out before I drain the oil.

Stoolbend

There's shallow oil filter sockets available.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/en_ie/oil-filter-sockets

peter barrins

This post has been deleted.

Cee-Jay-Cee

barry181091 wrote: »

I get you alright, I just don't know how they could get much of a socket into this space at all :pac:

[/url]

Put the socket on an extension bar. If there is room for the filter to come out then there is plenty of room to get a socket on a bar in to loosen it. Then remove it by hand but be careful as oil is going to puss out as soon as you undo the filter so if you don’t plan on changing the oil at the same time you will need to have the new filter ready to drop into the housing and screw it back on again as quickly as possible.

How long was the old filter on the car? If it was less than 8k miles I’d leave it on and change the oil again in 3/4K miles and put the new filter on then otherwise it’s going to be very messy.