Oil filter wrench recommendations

[Iain C]

So why did you type such a long reply

'Cos it's a discussion forum and that's how these things work.

 

[lw395]

Oil filters for light aircraft have a hex head so why can't they all?

You can buy k&N filters with a hex on for a spanner, just twice the price of other brands.

Sometimes you can get them with holes for lock-wire too.

I do mine up by hand, but always seem to need a tool to remove them. I believe the rubber seal swells in the oil?

 

[macd]

In 40+ years i have never tightened an oil filter with a filter wrench. I've never had one come undone yet.

Try that on my Ducati and it does classic Triumph impressions
Spec is 17Nm.

 

[SimonFa]

I have them nearly all...... the ones with three arms work where the chain or belt ones slip in my experience

I suppose they're cheap enough that having a selection makes sense.

 

[Avocet]

Guys...

Let's be honest, this is a pretty pointless thread. It's a bit like saying "I have a 17mm nut, what's the best tool to undo it?" It very much depends on access, room around the item, angles, your mobility, whether your hand will get covered in oil depending on the tool chosen, etc etc. I have several different tools for different jobs, and the three armed claw thing works perfectly on my Land Rover, but is hopeless on the boat. And of course the use of that claw depends on which ratchet I use...a full sized one may not fit, however a stubby jointed one may be perfect.

However, I will add that the metal strap/lever combo that looks like a piston ring compressor is universally hopeless, I'll take a hammer and screwdriver over that any day. Or possibly just use my teeth.

However, rather than the choice of tool, the most important thing is technique. Please watch this helpful video...OK so it is car related, but the principles are the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtypxVmEYg4

DISCLAIMER-for any of you, erm, more senior lot out there, please ensure that your pacemaker is fully operational before viewing.

Woah! A Citroen SM! Anybody got any jump leads for my pacemaker?!

 

[Avocet]

That's very true .... but a filter wrench is necessary for removing filters. In 40+ years I have never bought a second hand vehicle which did not have an overtightened oil filter so garage mechanics are either using filter wrenches or have arms like gorillas ..... or both.

Richard

We always blame the last guy to work on it, but I think the rubber seals tend to swell slightly when exposed to the oil so they're always tighter to take off than they were to put on.

 

[Avocet]

I wonder if there's much to gain from changing these filters so regularly, if they aren't reducing the flow then they're not really letting any more dirt through than a fresh one are they?

Some designs are, I think, spring-loaded so that if the element gets choked, rather than starve the engine of oil, it just lits the paper elemennt of its seat and allows unfiltered oil to bypass the choked element. Not great for filtration but better than no oil getting through!

 

[lw395]

Try that on my Ducati and it does classic Triumph impressions
Spec is 17Nm.

Which Ducati do you have?
I've never had a problem, but to be fair, I have been accused of overtightenting RF connectors with my bare hands.
FWIW, may Ducatis take the Mahle OC5 filter, which also fits that fine racing the machine, the 2CV. (Well at least it's a twin!).

 

[macd]

Which Ducati do you have?
I've never had a problem, but to be fair, I have been accused of overtightenting RF connectors with my bare hands.
FWIW, may Ducatis take the Mahle OC5 filter, which also fits that fine racing the machine, the 2CV. (Well at least it's a twin!).

Multistrada 1200S.
The 17Nm filter is aftermarket: OE filters are, I think, 12Nm. They do leak if torqued to less.
Remind me not to shake your hand should we meet

 

[Caladh]

The best one is like this : https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Automotive/d60/Mechanics+Tools/sd180/Strap+Wrench/p61562

Was in the same position as the OP and bought a strap wrench per Paul above. +1 and works a treat with a socket wrench.

 

[lw395]

Was in the same position as the OP and bought a strap wrench per Paul above. +1 and works a treat with a socket wrench.

They work on almost everything except Ducatis and some other bikes, where the filter is recessed into the sump.
I'm not above whacking a screwdriver into the filter. Let the oil drain out for recycling, the filter is then less messy to bin.

Why do some cars persist with messy paper element filters?

 

[RichardS]

Was in the same position as the OP and bought a strap wrench per Paul above. +1 and works a treat with a socket wrench.

The advantage with the strap wrench is that you can use it for seawater strainer tops and other plastic doodahs without doing any damage. I also have a chain wrench for heavy duty jobs but I wouldn't be so keen to use that on plastic.

Richard

 

[lw395]

The advantage with the strap wrench is that you can use it for seawater strainer tops and other plastic doodahs without doing any damage. I also have a chain wrench for heavy duty jobs but I wouldn't be so keen to use that on plastic.

Richard

I've got a couple of those 'Boa' plastic strap wrenches, brilliant things, I use them for work, where contamination with old sump oil would not make me popular.
You can't have too many tools.

 

[Poignard]

I've got a couple of those 'Boa' plastic strap wrenches, brilliant things, I use them for work, where contamination with old sump oil would not make me popular.
You can't have too many tools.

"He who dies with most tools wins"

 

[Hydrozoan]

I've got a couple of those 'Boa' plastic strap wrenches, brilliant things ...

I do too - a large red one and a small blue one. If you have the access (which I accept the OP does not) they're excellent, as the rubber grips shiny surfaces well and does not mark. Also good for recalcitrant tops of marmalade jars.

 

[Poignard]

I do too - a large red one and a small blue one. If you have the access (which I accept the OP does not) they're excellent, as the rubber grips shiny surfaces well and does not mark. Also good for recalcitrant tops of marmalade jars.

The problem with marmalade jars is the vacuum inside which holds the lid in very tight contact with the jar. If you insert a knife blade under the edge of the lid and lever it up slightly, the vacuum is released and the lid can be easily unscrewed. My wife got this tip from an elderly friend with arthritis. The result is she can now open jars without having to ask me to do it.

 

[colind3782]

The problem with marmalade jars is the vacuum inside which holds the lid in very tight contact with the jar. If you insert a knife blade under the edge of the lid and lever it up slightly, the vacuum is released and the lid can be easily unscrewed. My wife got this tip from an elderly friend with arthritis. The result is she can now open jars without having to ask me to do it.

Or tap around the edge of the lid with the knife handle. Less chance of a slip and a stab.

 

[VicS]

The problem with marmalade jars is the vacuum inside which holds the lid in very tight contact with the jar. If you insert a knife blade under the edge of the lid and lever it up slightly, the vacuum is released and the lid can be easily unscrewed. My wife got this tip from an elderly friend with arthritis. The result is she can now open jars without having to ask me to do it.

Thanks for that tip.

I think I will try the bottle cap lifter on the next jar I open

 

[Hydrozoan]

Thanks for the tip - I have not tried stabbing myself , though I've done the tapping trick. Running hot water over the lid can also work.

I wanted to put in a word for the simple rubber strap wrench, which if you have room to swing it, has some advantages despite earlier criticisms. And I guess a loop of rope and a lever of some kind might also work windlass-style in extremis, and there’s always rope on a boat.

I put on my (Beta) filters according to the instructions (of additional fractional turn after first contact) but they can still occasionally ‘stick’ a bit, so I guess the O-ring must swell. So perhaps the OP is beating himself up unfairly by saying he must have over-tightened. Anyway, good luck to him.

 

[Momac]

The Draper strap wrench arrived ad I picked it up on the way home from work yesterday (bought from Toolstation at £4.90) .
It remains to be seen whether it performs - in few weeks time.