Stuck Oil filter.

[beezee28]

I have a mercruise 3.0l i/o and was changing the oil but could not get the oil filter unloosen. I have used all the oil removal tools I can find and still the oil filter is stuck. The filter is now dented and bend out of shape, the only thing I have not tried is to drive a screw driver straight through it and try to unloosen it. Do you all have any ideas how to get the oil filter out.

 

[Don S]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

I've used screw drivers through them, chiseled off the filter where it screws on to the block and in general taken them of piece by piece.<br />Once you get it off, use oil on the new filter seal (not grease) and do not overtighten it when reinstalling it.

 

[burp]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

If the screw driver throught the oil filter can doesn't work, tear off the can/filter material. Make a spanner wrench out of a stout flat piece of metal and 2 bolts. Around the threaded center hole in the oil filter base are 8-12 smaller holes. Measure the distance between 2 holes that are 180 degrees apart and find 2 bolts that will fit into the holes. Drill 1 hole near the end of the flat piece of metal and drill a second hole the same distance that you measured from the 1st. Install the 2 bolts in the holes of the "handle". Now use your tool to spin off the oil filter base.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

BZ - I have not had much luck using t screwdriver. Also, it tends to be very messy. I use my Stilison wrench on the stuck ones. It is a type of strap wrench, that employs a chain instead of a strap and steel teeth to grab the filter. Also, a pipe wrench may work. Eventually the oil filter will crunch down to something that that can be grabbed and turned.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Main idea here is not to pull as hard as you can.You'll lose every time.<br /><br />Apply strong,steady pressure.The gasket slacks off,the filter unthreads.<br /><br />Yes,oil the new gasket.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Burp has it right! Chances are a screwdriver will simply rip the shell to shreds. Before you do that though, put a pan under the filter and punch a small hole as low in the shell as you can. This will allow the oil to drain. Then rip, tear, cut the shell off and use Burbs home made spanner to remove the top of the filter housing. I made a similar tool years ago. Have only used it twice but it saves the day.

 

[BRG25]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

I have had success wrapping sand paper around the filter while using the filter wrench.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Originally posted by DHPMARINE:<br /> Apply strong,steady pressure<br />DHP

Worth repeating.........it will slowly give. Screwdrivers are for screws. The double side sandpaper, taped on, QUALITY chain wrench. Lots of leverage. Slow steady pull will work everytime. Its all in the preparation. And with the next filter you buy, get the proper filter "Cup" wrench that fits the bottom of the filter "splines", and next time tighten it IF it leaks (oil the gasket), not SO it don't leak. I barely snug'em, and if it don't leak, I'm good to go.

 

[blackz3]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

dont forget to make sure you get ALL the old gasket off to

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Only use the screwdriver method as a last resort!!!!!!!It will usually just tear up the filter and then there will be nothing to grab onto at all.I had good results using a fitted wrench on the top (bottom) of filter AND quality metal strap type at the same time.Slide the metal strap type as close to the engine block as you can.Charlie

 

[trog100]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

tighten them on by hand and take them off with a wrench... the thin smear of oil on the rubber gasket is more about making it easier to put them on than it is about getting them off..<br /><br />trog100

 

[Homerr]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Been there done that!<br /><br />I did it all... wrench, screwdrivers... I ended up tearing it off completely.<br /><br />If that happens to you, then a spanner wrench is your last chance. <br /><br />I stuck 2 small screwdrivers in the drain holes of the filter base and then used a longer screwdriver in between. I was then able to spin it off (after some colorful metaphors and bloody knuckles )<br /><br />I put some high temperature grease on the new gasket and hand tightened only.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br />H.

 

[novicetech]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

I would highly reccomend a chain type strap wrench use the screw driver only at last resort. just get the strap as close to the filter mounting area as possible then steady firm pressure. the filter should come off.

 

[trog100]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

gonna hazard a guess as to why some off em are so hard to get off..<br /><br />the thin grease or oil smear that gets put on the rubber gasket allows the filter to tighten easier than it would without it.. add a wrench and u have a filter thats gone on too tight..<br /><br />add some time and heat and the very thin smear of grease/oil kinda sets and acts like contact adhesive.. it then has the opposite effect it had when putting the filter on in the first place.. it makes it harder to turn and therefore harder to get off.. ????<br /><br />trog100

 

[Lou C]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

I have used the sandpaper in the strap wrench approach with success, and the cap wrenches work only if they fit really well. I will often make a mark on the filter so I can tighten it 3/4 of a turn after the gasket touches the mounting base. So far so good (since 1972!)

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Most of the time a stuck filter can be removed by using 2 filter wrenches positioned 90 or 180 degrees apart, depending on the access to the filter. Using both hands on the 2 filter wrenches gives a lot of leverage and the filter should come off. Once in a great while, you may get one that someones used a wrench to tighten it up, and of course never lubricated the rubber seal. I that case, you may have to cut and chisel the pieces off.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Thank you all for you help. I borrowed a chain strap wrench from a friend and after crushing more of the filter and with oil leaking out was able to apply enough force and finally got the filter off. Have to scrape off the old oil filter gaster from the body as it was cake on. I figured that the tech who put the oil filter on must have use a wrench to tighten the oil filter on. My last resort was to use screwdriver and rip the fiter apart and work from there but lucky I don't have to do that.

 

[burp]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Glad to hear the good news!!!!

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

Just to reiterate, several people have specifically mentioned coating the gasket with oil, not grease. But since 'grease' has been mentioned in several of the above posts, thought it worth asking how important it is to use oil instead of grease?

 

[trog100]

Re: Stuck Oil filter.

i tend to just give mine a smear with the most handy "slippery" stuff available usually the old engine oil i have just drained off.. i take the view that reducing friction between the large surface area rubber gasket and the block helps me fit the new filter without needing a wrench.. personally i have never had a problem removing filters that i have fitted.. i use a small chain wrench to remove em.. its not the best tool cos it digs in to the filter a little too easily.. for stubborn filters one with a larger surface gripping area would be best..<br /><br />i would guess if i had to that some kinda silicone grease might be best of all..<br /><br />before the days of torque wrenches an old mechanic once said to me.. always use a smaller spanner/wrench to fit things with than the one u are gonna use to take em off..<br /><br />trog100