Stuck/broken oil filter 2008 Mondeo zetec, 1.6 petrol

carzony

Hey Lads,

I'm in desperate need of help and advice on this one, as I'm basically stuck with no car

Today I decided to fully service the car, everything was going to plan and I was able to have the service completed in 10-15 minutes. However, when I got to the Oil Filter I just could not get it off the car. I had oil filter wrenches, sockets, cups,chains ect.. and nothing would budge it. Eventually, I got a screwdriver and hammered it into the middle of the filter but as I tried to turn, the filter was just breaking apart and still not unscrewing.

The problem now is that i have a broken, leaking oil filter that I cannot remove from the car. It's one of those steel filters.

Could anyone offer any advice for me here? I need the car for work on Monday so I'd love to be able to get it back on the road by then.

Cheers.

Alanstrainor

Does the oil filter wrench still fit on? Does the wrench just eventually spin loose around the filter? Or is it just stuck? If stuck could you get a hollow bar to attach on to the filter wrench to increase the length of the lever to help pry it off?

I absolutely hate when ****e like this happens... so frustrating. Hopefully you find a resolution.

carzony

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Does the oil filter wrench still fit on? Does the wrench just eventually spin loose around the filter? Or is it just stuck? If stuck could you get a hollow bar to attach on to the filter wrench to increase the length of the lever to help pry it off?

I absolutely hate when ****e like this happens... so frustrating. Hopefully you find a resolution.

The wrench is just slipping at this stage and the filter is so broken it'll probably just break the filter even more. The only part of the filter left intact is the part right where it's attached to the oil cooler.

The annoying thing is I slowly got the filter to turn once (took me 2 hours) but it's still extremely tight and very hard to turn. Worst one i've even come across.

MarkR

https://itstillruns.com/remove-shredded-oil-filter-7539065.html

Seems you're not the only one.

Sam Quentin

Jaysizzzzzz for Monday...
I would get an aluminium foil container and mold it very tightly around the cap and then gaffer tape it relentlessly and tight.

BrianD3

Try tapping the rim of it in an anticlockwise direction with a flathead screwdriver/chisel and hammer? The tap doesn't have to be that hard to shock it into turning. As you have already mangled the filter (hammering a screwdriver through it was a bad move but no point crying over spilt milk now) the standard filter removal tools probably won't work.

carzony

BrianD3 wrote: »

Try tapping the rim of it in an anticlockwise direction with a flathead screwdriver/chisel and hammer? The tap doesn't have to be that hard to shock it into turning. .

I can try this tomorrow, not sure it will work after my previous attempts throughout the day but it's worth a go.

Why people put filters on soo tight I will never know.

pablo128

Cold chisel and hammer is the only solution at this stage. As someone already said, it probably won't take much hammering to loosen it.

Blueshoe

Has happened to me many a time. Get yourself a stilson and position it close to the oil cooler. A stilson will not slip as long as you have the open side facing the correct direction.

I can guarantee you that this will work. Do not butcher it any further. Don't bother tipping and tapping at it. Get a stilson

pablo128

Blueshoe wrote: »

Has happened to me many a time. Get yourself a stilson and position it close to the oil cooler. A stilson will not slip as long as you have the open side facing the correct direction.

I can guarantee you that this will work. Do not butcher it any further. Don't bother tipping and tapping at it. Get a stilson

If you have the room to swing a stilson, even better again alright.

Blueshoe

pablo128 wrote: »

If you have the room to swing a stilson, even better again alright.

That is a factor. Probably the most important actually. All depends on the filter location. Good point

Interslice

What engine is it? Can you remove the filter housing seperately?

Audioslaven

I had this once and I put the screw driver through it but I got a metal stip that went through both ends of the screw driver and wrapped around the filter so it would not shred though as it applied pressure to both sides. It came off with a lot of pressure. Hope you get it off

carzony

Interslice wrote: »

What engine is it? Can you remove the filter housing separately?

It's the 1.6 petrol and to remove the housing is a nightmare of a job. The bolts are way up in the engine.

The other issue is it's a very small filter meaning space is extremely restricted in that area, rad pipes, electrical cables and the general position of the filter makes it hard to access.

I believe the rubber gasket is actually positioned at the top of the filter instead of being attached to the cooler. I'll try get my flathead screwdriver in between the seal and hopefully break it.

Interslice

You could try a water pump pliers onto the strong rim just below the seal. You might have to turn it half a degree at a time. Once its turning at all keep going with it.

I wouldnt go at the seal with a screw driver. Your asking for a leak afterwards.

carzony

These are the wrenches I was using today with little success

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/oil-filter-wrenches-14206446373.html

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/50-110mm-Self-Grip-Oil-Filter-Removal-Tool-Wrench-Pliers-Remover-Motorcycle-Car/273771470806?hash=item3fbe0d1fd6:g:paAAAOSwGrVck2Nb

Interslice

carzony wrote: »

These are the wrenches I was using today with little success

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/oil-filter-wrenches-14206446373.html

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/50-110mm-Self-Grip-Oil-Filter-Removal-Tool-Wrench-Pliers-Remover-Motorcycle-Car/273771470806?hash=item3fbe0d1fd6:g:paAAAOSwGrVck2Nb


The annoying thing is I slowly got the filter to turn once (took me 2 hours) but it's still extremely tight and very hard to turn. Worst one i've even come across.

Was the before or after the screwdriver? If you can still turn it, eventually it will come off!

carzony

Interslice wrote: »

Was the before or after the screwdriver? If you can still turn it, eventually it will come off!

The screwdriver was my last resort. The first time it's not worked for me

carzony

Folks,

I'll admit defeat on this one.

That filter is just not budging and after another 3 hours this morning I have just given up. I even went to the bother of removing all the coolant pipes as they were blocking my access slightly but still the filter won't unscrew.

The timing belt and water pump is also due too so hopefully the mechanic can collect it and complete those jobs as well.

Kills me to leave it in the garden and not be able to use it like this......

JustJoe7240

carzony wrote: »

Folks,

I'll admit defeat on this one.

That filter is just not budging and after another 3 hours this morning I have just given up. I even went to the bother of removing all the coolant pipes as they were blocking my access slightly but still the filter won't unscrew.

The timing belt and water pump is also due too so hopefully the mechanic can collect it and complete those jobs as well.

Kills me to leave it in the garden and not be able to use it like this......

Where are you based OP?

pablo128

carzony wrote: »

These are the wrenches I was using today with little success

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/oil-filter-wrenches-14206446373.html

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/50-110mm-Self-Grip-Oil-Filter-Removal-Tool-Wrench-Pliers-Remover-Motorcycle-Car/273771470806?hash=item3fbe0d1fd6:g:paAAAOSwGrVck2Nb

No offence but I'd throw them in the bin. What would most likely suit you would be a 3 pronged one that tightens itself as you turn it.

Are you anywhere near Tallaght?

Blueshoe

Is there much room to put a tool on it

Interslice

carzony wrote: »

Folks,

I'll admit defeat on this one.

That filter is just not budging and after another 3 hours this morning I have just given up. I even went to the bother of removing all the coolant pipes as they were blocking my access slightly but still the filter won't unscrew.

The timing belt and water pump is also due too so hopefully the mechanic can collect it and complete those jobs as well.

Kills me to leave it in the garden and not be able to use it like this......

Its common enough cheif. I always dread the first service on a new car. I've had to leave a car off the road and source a new sump before. Things could always be alot worse!

carzony

JustJoe7240 wrote: »

Where are you based OP?

Dublin. The car is parked up in Clondalkin atm.

carzony

Blueshoe wrote: »

Is there much room to put a tool on it

The issue is that the filter is soo shredded any grips or other tools just slip off as there is not much of the filter left to grab onto.

I can see from the record the car was last serviced at an atlas garage, they must have tightened it like mad.

Blueshoe

carzony wrote: »

The issue is that the filter is soo shredded any grips or other tools just slip off as there is not much of the filter left to grab onto.

I can see from the record the car was last serviced at an atlas garage, they must have tightened it like mad.

I wrote yesterday that this has happened to me many a time. And to get a stilson on the filter close to the bottom of it. I swear it will sort it for you. If you take it to the garage this is what they are going to do

carzony

Blueshoe wrote: »

I wrote yesterday that this has happened to me many a time. And to get a stilson on the filter close to the bottom of it. I swear it will sort it for you. If you take it to the garage this is what they are going to do

I went to the local DIY, they had the right size but I wouldn't have the space to move it around.

Below is the housing I'm dealing with




https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enIE790IE790&biw=1366&bih=657&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=iALYXKTLKped1fAPxp-_kAM&q=ford+mondeo+petrol+oil+filter+housing&oq=ford+mondeo+petrol+oil+filter+housing&gs_l=img.3...12352.13316..13754...0.0..0.90.231.4......1....1..gws-wiz-img.fjGO6ZjtK84#imgrc=0DZWlpZaMOEhGM:

biko

Added more car details in title

Sam Quentin

I feel your pain op.
It's one of those things that makes you feel that your car is now a write off... Don't worry tomorrow with all garages and mechanics open for business,. you'll get this sorted and probably not going to be expensive at-all.

Atlantic Dawn

Sam Quentin wrote: »

I feel your pain op.
It's one of those things that makes you feel that your car is now a write off... Don't worry tomorrow with all garages and mechanics open for business,. you'll get this sorted and probably not going to be expensive at-all.

Exactly, main dealers and busy places go through this every day and have solutions and spare parts to back them up, OP needs to chalk it down to experience and assume with filter oiled it will be fine next year. The lad who made no mistakes made nothing.

carzony

Thanks, Lads,

It's just the inconvenience and time that's been wasted on it and still, I can't drive it.

Hopefully, the garage can fit me in tomorrow.

I'll probably just have to call into work sick to get this all sorted.

ml100

I've used one of these on a hydraulic oil filter on a jcb, practically collapsed the filter completely but got the bugger off!

https://www.amazon.com/Chain-Clamp-Locking-Wrench-Filter/dp/B00VQ00Z1M

carzony

The motors gone to the garage this morning, waiting for a callback.

carzony

Well lads,

The filter was so screwed on and so badly damaged the mechanic had no choice but to remove the oil cooler and even when the cooler was removed it was still difficult to get the filter off.

The top of the filter (where it seals to the cooler) was completely dry, meaning it must have been fitted without putting an adequate film of oil around it, seizing in place over time. The strange thing is the filter looked fairly new when I began the service on the weekend.

He couldn't believe how difficult it was to remove.

I suppose it's a lesson not to tighten the filter too much and to put a film of oil on the gasket every filter change.

Interslice

carzony wrote: »

I suppose it's a lesson not to tighten the filter too much and to put a film of oil on the gasket every filter change.

And stay away from atlas :P

OldMrBrennan83

Interslice wrote: »

And stay away from atlas :P

That should have been the first commandment.

carzony

Interslice wrote: »

And stay away from atlas :P

They must do things like this so you'll have no choice but to return.