oil filter removal (stuck and crushed)

[dngrrangr]

okay so i went to take the oil filter off and its either on to tight or cross threaded either way im at the last step in getting my 92 ranger on the road again and i hit this hell hole. anyone know how to get it off besides stabbing the side with a screw driver and turning tried opened it like a can opener and covered me in oil not happy haha. help?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Allways put a light coat of oil on the gasket before you screw the filter on hand tighten only. If you dont have a filter wrench Yea poaking a large screwdrive all the way through is one way to loosen it up. messy but it will work.

 

[Wa11banger]

Did you remember your righty tighty lefty loosy rules?

IF you have already ripped it open with the screwdriver you are halfway to a serious headache already..

Clean it all up the best you can.. Take your time and bend all the sharp parts back so you dont get cut to shreds.

If you have a oil filter strap wrench and can get it high on the can try that first.. if it slips put some folded in half sandpaper around the filter base then the strap.

if the bottom of the can is not deformed yet get one of the newer bottom fitting oil filter wrenches on there.. It may twist up even further tho and cause you more trouble so be careful.

If none of the above works get a small hammer and a punch be very careful not to hit the block! ping at it little by little until it loosens obviously in the right direction .

 

[Wa11banger]

I should of said ping at it at the very top of the can, at the thicker steel ring where it seats to the block for that third recommendation.

 

[dngrrangr]

okay yeah i always oil the seal but when i did it i might have turned it on to many times i know i hand tighten it but the guy i lived with said take the strap tool and turn it 1/2 turn cause he has had them blow off anyways. if i get a strap tool i can use it at the top. the bottom of it is crush do to the metal plyer like tool i have with me. shouldnt have used it not worth a shit.and the screw driver just ripped the bottom open. i got covered i looked like dapper dan with a whole can in my hair. anyone know bout how much that strap tool will cost?

 

[Wa11banger]

Anywhere from 5 to 50 depending on how fancy you get or where you get it

 

[Andy D]

"Zactly the same situation happened to me giving the Rat its first oil change. I went back to Auto Zone and bought a socket that fit the flats on the filter. The socket is in the glove box. I'll prolly never use it again, because I know how to change an oil filter

 

[Bob C. of Indiana]

I have a huge pair of channel lock pliers that works wonders...

 

[adsm08]

I have a whole drawer of my tool box dedicated to things for removing oil filters.

In your case a pair of filter pliers through the wheel well locked on to the very top is probably best.

 

[Mark_88]

I was thinking channel locks also...

I had one stuck a long time ago and used the screw driver...it worked, but it was messy...

And I've tried those filter sockets recently...did not work on my truck because it just kept spinning on the end of the filter...

I'd guess that if you crimp the filter too much it might damage the inner thread...and that would take a really big (expensive) die to re-thread...

 

[dngrrangr]

if i used a socket itd have to be the whole size of the filter and even still i cant use it the bottom of the filter is crushed on one side and it dont have the nut style grip one the end its a fram never in my life will i buy a fram again. rather spend the money and get k&n with the nut style bolt on the end for easy plyer ratchet removal. so today im robly just guna try and get a strap type tool to get it off if i cant get it off i dont know what the hell to do. and where its at itll be hard to ever use a ratchet so might get the adapter with the turn down so itll be easier in the future.

 

[aspevacek]

also if you can get a punch up at the end by the block by going thru the wheel well you may be able to tap it around. Anothe rthing is whne doing an oil change do it while the engine is warm. I have found that helps the filter come off alot easier and alot of times the oil drains out alot better too.

 

[dngrrangr]

yeah that might help but i already had to drop the trans and pan so no oil means no go. lol or i would do that but im thnking all i need is a strap tool and itll come off. just no one i know has one to borrow so im screwed till i can find on or go buy one but i really dont wanna spend money if i cant get one to use from someone.

 

[shane96ranger]

I have the wrench in the pic below. It hasn't failed me yet. I've damaged some filters pretty bad, and it still pulled through for me. It is a really big PITA using this on my F150 though, so I want to try and find something better for it.

 

[whissiswheelin]

Try chislin at the ring with a long screw driver and hammer to free it up a bit