Stuck Oil filter

[Drunk32]

I have a 98 Ford Escort and I went to change my oil Got all of the oil out and went to take the filter off and it would not budge. I keep trying and trying and nothing is happening. I have changed my own oil for almost 3 years now and never had a problem before. Any advice?
I used a standered ring oil wrench. The filter is kinda dingged up now but not really to bad.
Any ideas of thing to try?
Also Since its not leaking or torn up do you think it would be okay to drive? Because I figure this is going to be an ordeal and im half tempted just to take it somewhere and have them change the oil.
Because i figure I will ether have to spend a lot of time doing something else like drilling it out or get a new tool. So at 18 plus tax I figure it might be easier and cheaper.
Any thoughts?

Topic

[AE86Trueno]

I would try using pliers with a wide open mouth grip (enough to fit around the filter) similar to those that plumbers use in their industry. But if that fails to resolve the issue, I would take it to your mechanic or local oil change shop.

[scott37300]

I personally wouldn’t take it anywhere, shops like to crank the filter and drain plug down tight like that so there’s a chance it will be the same next time you want to change it. I’ve had a few issues taking my cars somewhere over the years and will no longer let anyone do oil changes on them. Not worth the risk to me.

Anyway, I have about 20 different filter tools that I use. Most of the time a simple filter pliers will work good. Lisle makes two really nice universal “wrenches”, they have two jaws that the more you turn the tighter it grips the filter. They work for almost all filters. If it is really stuck a good strap filter wrench usually works. Some will also hammer a screwdriver threw the filter but I don’t like to do that. Never had a filter I couldn’t get off with the variety of wrenches I have.

[Dylan]

since you are replacing it, just take a big pliers or vice grip or something of the sort and clap down on it as hard as you need to. this happened to me once to, couldnt figure it out until i just got mad and wrenched it off with a pliers. Im sure you put it on right it just wanted to make you frustrated later.

[joseph bullock]

try, try, try again. persistance almost always pays off. in the future, make sure you dip you finger in fresh oil and run it around the rubber seal. you got this!

[twiggy]

This is point of no return but I’ve had to stab the filter with a long screwdriver and unscrew it that way. But do this only if the other methods in this thread fail.

[college man]

you could try this tool or a big pair of channel locks.

[EricTheCarGuy]

When I run into that I often just hammer a screwdriver though it and spin it out that way. I’ve had to get medieval on them in the past.

[John Clarke]

Nothing worse then lifting the car, draining the dirty oil, and then having that filter hold on for dear life.
Very first thing I do when I realize I cannot get it off by hand is,
clean the filter with brake cleaner. Sounds kinda funny huh?. But you want evvverything off of that filter that could possibly make the tool slip and cause damage to the surface of the filter. Most of the oil filter tools rely on the surface to get a tight grip one way or another. once you start bending it you lose gripping ability.

I usually use these tools in order, They start with the lowest risk of damaging the surface in my opinion.

– Oil Filter Wrench ( Swivel type, this usually works 90% of the time for me.make sure you buy the right size wrench for the filter)

– oil filter wrench (cap style, again make sure you buy the right size for the filter you are working on, and buy the METAL one, many auto part stores sell plastic! which is a joke. This style of tool is a 50/50 for me depending on what brand of filter)

– Pipe Wrench (Only once has this failed me in a few years, You want to use a wrench that will open wide but have a low profile handle to allow for maneuvering. But not so small you cannot get any power behind it. )

these last two are the point of no return got no other choice about to pay someone to remove the filter tools.

– Screwdriver ( You jam a big old screwdriver in the filter to the other side and start twisting.)

– ChannelLocks ( You grab a big old set of locks and squeeze that sucker for a tight grip and twist.)

Good Luck, you will get it!

[Roy French]

Had one once on a new vehicle, so tight that we tore the sheet metal off. We than hit the remaining part with an air hammer in the return hole, to get it turning. It was so over-tightened there were marks left in the sealing surface.

[Michele Pensotti]

Eh eh, this episode reminds me of my very first oil and filter change on my dear old Citroen AX.

I had bought a oil filter wrench just for the occasion and first it started buckling the filter, then it bended itself and punched the filter more.

After some swearing and cursing I adopted the “medieval” method myself, I drilled right through it with a 10mm drill bit, then took a shower in black oil, and then inserted a long metal bar in the hole and finally it unscrewed!!

Since then I always change oil&filter by myself (because they often use to overtighten both the filter and the oil cap!! :angry: ) and never had a problem.

Just remember to put a little engine oil on the gasket and DON’T tighten the filter with the wrench! 😆

By the way I use this kind of wrench since then

Never fails! (and very cheap too!) 🙂

Live long and prosper (and stay dirty!)

[-=Col.Mantras=-]

I’ve had to hammer a big screwdriver through a few filters over the years. (messy as hell) This is a last resort for sure but I’ve had much success doing it this way. I agree with Eric and others that this may be your best solution.

[Author]

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