HELP

[Rich]

Anyone have any ideas about how to free up a stuck oil filter?  Have nearly blown every gasket in my body trying to get it to break free, using an oil filter wrench, vise-grip, pipe-wrench, hammer, and nearly every combination of those you could imagine.

Ideas?

[Boxer2500]

If you can get to it, try puncturing the side with a screwdriver and then using it to try and gain some extra leverage.

[MG]

Are we talking about the MG here?

Many autoparts stores sell "wrenches" that are designed to fit over the top of the filter with a square hole in the center to accept a 3/8" or 1/2" drive ratchet. Also, there are adjustable strap wrenches that give pretty good leverage.

On several occasions, I have used a large screwdriver and banged it through the skin of the filter, allowing me to use the screwdriver as a lever to loosen the sucker up. This has the very significant drawback that once you have pierced the shell of the filter, it will be impossible to drive the car until the job is successfully completed.  Well, impossible to drive it very FAR, in any event!      I have always used a Phillips head for this purpose, though I don't suppose the filter really gives a damn.

Another alternative is to play Mickey the Dunce and take it to JiffyLube and just say sweetly to the attendant: "How long will that be? I'm in kind of a hurry."   

As an aside, it is always wise to spread a thin film of oil on the gasket of the new filter to reduce the likelihood of this happening in the future. Also, don't overtighten the new filter. It only has to be tight enough not to leak, not tight enough to set a new world's record in newton/meters per pico/curie. 

[Rich]

It's the one on my lawn tractor, currently outfitted with a spiffy snowblade and chains for traction.  The filter that's on is the original; I learned re- the oiling the gasket trick the hard way, way back when w/ the Toyota From Hell (the B's got a canister-style filter).  Considered the screwdriver bit, but it was dark and snowing by the time I was getting to this part of the job so, horror of horrors, I simply put new oil in and went out and cleaned the driveway.  Hope I'm not doing irreversible damage; once the snow stops I'll try the socket solution and then the screwdriver one.  All I know is that swearing like a drunken Marine helps little, but it sure gets the neighbors to keep their dogs off your property.....

[MG]

it sure gets the neighbors to keep their dogs off your property.....



Just be aware that those filter wrenches that are like overgrown sockets have to be EXACTLY the right size. Don't know much about lawn tractors, but there is a profusion of filters out there. Some are metric and some are not and if you buy the wrong one, it will spin on the filter and cause you to curse like a drunken Marine.  But at least the neighbors' dogs will leave you alone!   

[Rich]

My neighbors already view me as the Antichrist.....I'm the only Catholic in a conclave of LDS'ers....Oh well, I'm sure that I'm prayed for by numerous people nightly........

[MG]

The only one in the whole STATE or just in the greater Boise metropolitan district?

Those Rocky Mountain Jews are some fun lovin' people!     

[Stephen M]

BustedKnuckleOverkillShadeTreeMechanic.com recommends:

1) Pipe cutter on the filter body, down near the base. Cut through the plastic.

2) Yank out the element bits.

3) Soak the threaded stem with PB blaster.

4) Channel Locks on the stem base one day later.

Not responsible for bloody hands or profanity overheard by impressionable family members.

[Jagman]

A good strap wrench  always worked for me, sold under the name of "Grip Wrench" as seen on TV, get the larger one with the bigger strap and heavier handle. Beware those with a soft rubber strap, it just stretches..........I made mine 100 years ago when I did this for a living by cutting a slot in a deep well socket, and using some thick nylon strap, pretty much works every time, but may mangle the outside of the filter a bit.
Putting fresh oil in and using the motor anyway is fine, you got out most of the junk suspended in the oil, and the rest will just stay in the filter. You probably don't have that many hours on it  anyway, do you? This is on the JD, right?