This was the worst case of an oil filter stuck and mangled I've ever run across. What should've been a 15-minute oil & filter change turned into a 3+ hour ordeal. Hopefully, my solution will help someone save some time.
Ended up just removing my entire filter housing when I tried all those methods and failed. Then found this video and after seeing that genius tool you made, smacked myself for not having done the same. One of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.
Yes I was getting pretty desperate when I came up with that solution. Unfortunately ended up having to pull the engine anyway because internal damage. Good practice for me I guess!
Unfreaking believable !!! I was about to slap a grenade on mine. Never been so pissed off in my life!!! You sir are a life saver! I was trying to make a spanner wrench work to no avail because of space and thought I would make one last effort and check RU-vid. Bingo! Im on my way to the store now to make your genius tool! I do believe a statue of you should be put up in town square!! LOL Thank you for sharing that idea!!
Going through this nightmare right now. Simple oil change has turned into days of stress and frustration. Limited space around the filter making it one of the biggest job’s I’ve ever done on a vehicle. Thanks for the video🙂
Just had a similar bad, bad day! I own a 1993 Honda Civic Del Sol. Almost no area around the filter at all which means that when installing a new filter make sure it is HAND TIGHT ONLY!!
Similar issue faced now. FSH from agents, but they obviously thought that the entire vehicle is held together with 2 fasteners: the oil sump plug and the oil filter..... So unnecessarily tight, if I apply any more leverage I risk flipping the car onto its roof....
2nd oil change now and I have skipped the filter thanks to my mechanic which he defended that if it’s not tight it would risk leaks!!! I’m a home mechanic with little tools, experience and time so I haven’t gone full gung ho mode on the stuck filter. Just wondering why would it get stuck like that? It’s ridiculously tight as I imagine the one who screwed it on tight in the first place would have also damaged or dented the filter housing? Any ideas?
@@hugostiglitz1109 Think the main reason it’s stuck on so tight is because there is a rubber seal around the bottom of the filter where it butts up to the crank case of the engine. This seal can eventually end up welding itself to the surface of the case due to the heat from the engine. So the reason it’s difficult to remove is either that or it’s because the mechanic who fitted it just put it on far too tight and also maybe didn’t oil the seal prior to fitting it. Always oil seal prior to installation and only screw on hand tight. Hope that helps if figuring why and how it’s become so tight. Stuck filters can make a simple job into an absolute nightmare.
Before you puncture the filters case, try starting the engine while working on filter. The oil pressure will prevent the filter from collapsing and lub the contact points as it loosens.
Hello Sir, My name is Matt. I just wanted to let you know how helpful this video was. I change the oil every year on my inboard/outboard 5.7L Volvo Penta engine Four Winns boat. Last spring unfortunately I used a filter wrench to tighten down my oil filter to make sure it was on very good. (bad mistake on my part, and have definitely learned my lesson). This is my 4th summer with the boat and take care of it very meticulously. As I started a week and a half ago to start the oil change process, everything went as normal until it came time to take off my oil filter. Let me remind you it is on the bottom of the engine block and just favors the right right side of the stern. It is extremely difficult to get both hands on and even see unless you lay across the top of the motor and have your head upside down with one free hand to hold yourself and another to work. The hull of the boat is 4 inches below it and stringers about 6 inches to the left which make it very difficult to wrench. In the last week I have purchased/borrowed 4 different filter wrenches, channel locks, large vice grips and oil filter pliers. I attempted some oil filter hacks using 2 sided tape, latex glove, etc., without any luck. The oil filter simply would not turn or budge no matter what. After everything, a few days ago I pierced a phillips screw driver through it as well and with every exhausted effort could not get it to to turn. After all this and many hours of different positioning and efforts, I asked my marina mechanic to take a look at it and see what he can do. He called me the next day while at work and he told me he wanted nothing to do with it. He also said due to its location and limited space he would consider pulling the motor if he did. I couldn't believe this was happening and what I was hearing over a simple oil filter change. The cost of lifting a motor that size out of the engine compartment is over 700-900$. I finally after watching many videos came across yours. I wish I could post pictures on the comment section to illustrate everything but it wont let me. I watched this video, chiseled the can off after about 2 hours hitting it with hammer and limited space. I cut out 2 teeth with a grinder on a socket I bought that matched the diameter of the new filter I had and made sure they lined up with the holes. It wasn't easy, it took almost 4 hours of attempting over and over again to get the teeth to catch and start prying without the socket falling out due to working upside down and not having 2 hands to work with. I had a 45 degree socket wrench attached. I felt defeated and thought maybe this socket I made was not working or maybe needed more teeth to bite on it, but I went back down and made one last effort and couldn't believe after everything I had pulling I felt it turn a little bit. I then racked the wrench back a few and started to hear it loosen as I wrenched and got this freaking thing off finally. What an incredible feeling came over me as it started to loosen after all these failed attempts. I had to tell my story and let you know your video was a game changer and I don't think I would of gotten it off any other way. I was defeated and almost quit on this thing and was going to have to pay to have the entire motor pulled out. This idea and that socket prevented it man. I really appreciate it and wanted to thank you, sincerely - Matt! ( the guy who will never tighten a filter down with a wrench again lol)
Wow, I can only imagine how tough that would be in a boat engine compartment instead of a truck! The favorite part of your comment that I can totally relate to is that awesome feeling you get when you realize you just loosened it a little bit. At that point, you know you were going to win! Thank you for taking the time for making this comment.
im the same boat right now with my AmSkier !!!!! ugh!!!!! can you send me pictures???? yesterday oil change turned into a nightmare!!!! stinegreg@yahoo.com thank you!!!
Awesome tip. Not sure if I'll have to go to the same extreme, but it's quite possible. I bought a truck that sat for 10 years. Tried changing the oil today (sub freezing temps outside) and couldn't get the filter off. It got crushed really good though 🤨
Just wanted to let you know that I used this same method to get my filter off. I simply measured the diameter of the hole pattern on the stuck filter. It had 8 holes, so I knew they were 45 degrees apart. What a great idea!!! Thanks so much!!!
Regarding your last ditch effort to get the remaining END piece off you were left with to tackle. A SPANNER WRENCH might've done the trick for you. I hope there ISN'T a NEXT TIME but.......
I have watched a million videos on RU-vid about nothing. This little gem right here was what saved me when faced with an oil filter from Hell.. Thanks man and keep posting..
I was in same position nothing left to work with but holes. Saw my disc cutter blade removal tool with prongs. So I got my largest width spanner drilled the jaws and placed 2 bolts through. Slotted into filter holes and bingo came off un a second. After 4 hrs pratting around. Not even wrecked the spanner. Was on a motorcycle stored for 12 yrs. I bought it and worst job ever done
Dude, i did the same thing with my old 74 Pontiac LeMans. I made the mistake of taking it to a garage and having my oil changed because i didn't have time. That was years ago, but it's awesome to see something else has a brain.
Great video, this is good stuff! Sorry about the truck but damn I’m just as glad you got that filter off! Haha I think some of us have been in a similar spot. There is just a great message in there and I appreciate you taking the time to post this!
Great video going with your option tomorrow! Amazon, Bogert, Talon and a few others usually sell the tool part #10100 $45 put in production will take almost 2 weeks. thanks again!
DUDE THANK YOU SOOO MUCH YOU ARE A GENIUSS I WENT THROUGH SO MUCH TRIAL AND ERROR BECAUSE I KEPT MESSING UP THE SOCKETS AND THE HOLES ON MY FILTER WERE WAY SMALLER BUT AFTER SO MUCH TRIMMING AND CUTTING I FINALLY GOT ITT 😀 😊 😄 SO I CAN OFFICIALLY SAY I LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THIS PROCESS ESPECIALLY USING THE DREMEL TOOL HAHAHAH 🔧
Thankful for this video. It was easier than I thought it would be. I was at a total loss on what to do. I made mine off from a new filter and didn’t have to use the putty method.
Stuck Acadia oil filter in tight spot just would not corporate. Your modify a socket to fit inner plate holes worked. These engine design engineers should be subject to hot greasy garages trying to fix their screwed up designs. Thanks for the help
Greetings! I would like to take a moment to thank you!! This is my first time commenting on RU-vid, but the problem I encountered and the solution you provided warranted a response and a subscription to your channel. I was performing a "routine" oil change on my girlfriends 2017 Subaru WRX and when it came time to twist off the oil filter and place a new one I found myself in a rather unfortunate and highly frustrating situation, your description of panic is right on the money with how I felt. After breaking a oil filter wrench while attempting to remove it I continued to the screwdriver method leaving me with the same result you had there, just the bottom of the oil filter still attached to the thread and nothing to grab on to except the holes in the filter. After already having beat the damn thing for 1 1/2 days I came across your video and I am so thankful I did! A quick ride to Home depot and 8$ later for a 28mm socket my buddy and I were able to grind down the socket to leave us with 3 teeth, not as many as yours but still did the job. They do sell a tool specifically for this called the Universal Adjustable Oil Filter Wrench but from the reviews it seems that they're usually too big for small automotive oil filters and usually better suited for big trucks and rigs, so I used your method. 20 Minutes grinding and about 30 seconds of twisting and off it was! The relief and sense of accomplishment after causing such a situation was great! Multiple people I showed your method to were unconvinced and said I would have to just grind the whole thing off and put a new oil filter housing on but were all proven wrong and you sir were 100% correct. After a quick oil flush (on the 17 WRX the oil filter faces upwards and sits on top of the engine so I was worried about debris going into the oil.) I fired her up and she's running as smooth as ever! So thank you again! And if you're ever in the Albuquerque area of New Mexico I'll gladly buy you a beer!
Thank you for your comment, and I am glad you were ultimately successful! It sounds like you had a longer project with your oil filter than I did when I ran into this problem but as long as you ultimately prevail, that’s what counts.
After traditional oil filter wrenches dented and distorted my Motorcraft oil filter (on E250 Ford van), I tried a GIANT MONKEY WRENCH while lying on carport floor underneath the van. With a great deal of effort and more denting, the filter finally started turning, and I was able to get it off. I experienced the frustration and panic.
had the same issue the other day I used my socket I had for doing 4wheel drive hubs . didn't have to mod anything I will be posting up the video tomorrow
The idiots at the oil change shops are the ones the generally cause the need for a video like this. Change your own oil folks. Hand tight. That’s all. It just needs to seal. It doesn’t need to support any load or high speed rotation.
Either that or the guy that owned it previously literally never changed the oil and so the oil filter eventually became hardened onto the block because the rubber seal will do that!
Team effort in our household. The oil filter looked like yours in the drain pan by the time I finished with it. Couldn't use the filter removal tools we had, my upper body strength wasn't enough, and the screwdriver (which worked on another car) just made a mess of the filter so I pull it apart until it was just the ring with the holes left. Hubby then got under the car with long needle nosed pliers and a tire iron (leverage) and he finally got it loose. We've only owned this car since December so it was the first oil change we've done. Whoever put that filter on used brute strength and no oil on the ring.
Just had the same issue..for anyone who is interested for their own sake, I punched a crescent wrench through the oil filter and then twisted it...after 1.30hrs of trying other stuff, this method worked. Crescent wrench is thick and did not tear at the filter!
Thanks I thought I was gonna have to throw that motor away if I couldn’t get that filter off. Then as it turns out, I had to trash that motor anyway because it’s junk! But it was a learning experience.
If someone encounters this problem, here is my solution before the filter gets damaged. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Cuv9-VRZ2-Y.html
That's The type of tool found in old mans garage At estate sales that Starts conversations or puzzle's the Young people .My Uncles garage was full of SHTF Home made tools .That's the finest example Ive seen. Patent it and sell them for a while at least until another country rips it off and makes knock offs of it
Having problems getting the old one off my '94 XJS. Thing I can't figure out is that Jaguar very clearly emphasizes that a new one should only be put on by HAND tightening (about 1/2 turn after contact made). So, why is it so damn hard to get them OFF by hand (assuming the PO followed directions)?
More often than not, the last person to change oil over tightened it. But, sometimes the rubber gasket can harden and really stick to the mount even if it was put on correctly.
You have some ingenuity going for you buddy! I had the pleasure of being the victim of two Conan’s who put filters on. As you know the first thing they didn’t do was put oil into the filter because they would have at least accidentally left some on the o-ring. Yeah a dry o-ring is a real problem and if it’s a filter that is not easily approachable you better make some lunch. 97 454 dually and my 99 Dodge 24V Cummins were victims of the Barbarian! Thanks for sharing the bad experience! Great job!
Missenden Flyer also has a similar (kind of solution) that involves drilling holes around the edges of one of those "crown" or "cup" type filter removal tools. Then put the cup on the filter, drill through the holes into the filter. For however many holes you can reach, screw in some screws. So the cup and the filter are screwed together. It worked for me. Just saying.
Fantastic video! Every time I buy a NEW motorcycle I have been faced with the same problem of an oil filter, factory installed by KING KONG, which is very frustrating for sure. I do ALL of my own maintenance on all of my vehicles and have a full size, 4 post Hydraulic lift that makes things much easier. I also must have 20 oil filter wrenches and sometimes must use a large pair of 'Channel lock' plyers to do the job. Funny thing is, is that the 'Owner's manual's,' always warn against over tightening all connectors and especially the oil filters!
This is the exact video I needed. My new Kubota tractor has a factory installed oil filter fused onto the engine block. I tried a few things like the wrench cup before my old faithful and put a screwdriver through the filter shell. The screwdriver failed and started to rip the shell so I upgraded to a spud wrench for more leverage. As expected it tore the shell apart. So I removed the shell to clear away the jagged metal and now have a fused steel piece stuck to my engine block. Seeing this video I'm going to hit my garage tomorrow and try your trick. I truely hope it works for me since the alternative is take it in to the dealership at a shop rate of $179/hr.
You have no idea how much I appreciate this video & your superior knowledge. We had to make the modified socket for my 97 Chevy Tahoe & it worked like a charm when all else had failed. Thank you thank you thank you!!
My car is just out of warranty, so was always getting it serviced by a mechanic to keep it in warranty but now is the first time I'm doing an oil change and OH MAN, I've got the same problem. Stuck oil filter and using traditional oil filter removal tools the filter looks so stuck it looks like the outer metal casing is going to rip apart like an aluminium drink can. For some reason, I feel like I'm seeing the tiniest of squeeze out from someone having put threader locker on the threads. Did the mechanic do that, to force me to bring the car back to them? So, I've been trolling the internet for a week looking for a solution and this video seems to be the real answer. I'm currently doing stretching exercises, rolling my head around to loosen up my neck, cracking my knuckles and otherwise getting mentally prepared for what looks like a multi hour battle I'm about to enter, based on this video and comments from others who have had the same issue. Once I've started down the road of this solution and the outer filter casing is ripped, I need to finish with getting a new filter on as it's my only car and I live in the bush and my driveway is 200 metres long on it's own. If this solution doesn't work. I'm just going to cut away as much of the filter as possible and sand down the threaded part of the filter till it's fragile enough to break off with a pick or a screw driver...being very very careful not to sand down so far as to touch the threads on the engine. If my engine block was cast metal, I would've just taken a torch to it, to soften up the aluminum filter threads and if I was extra safety conscious, have an extinguisher close by to put out any oil drips that may catch on fire but like most people, will probably use a oily rag to smother any spot fires and then be surprised and a little bit panicked as the oily rag sets on fire. You unthinkingly and immediately pick up the burning rag with your oil covered hands. Your oil covered hands, the stuff covering your hands that's already on fire, on the rag. Yet you persist and grab the burning rag and throw it away from you and your car while swearing a lot, like it was someone else's fault the rag caught on fire. Aluminium melts at about half the temperature cast metal melts, so there's a good safety margin there.
@@pinkcaddygarage267 Yes, I made up my own removal tool using a push bike chain. It was rough as. An old 4x2 that I took a jig saw to one end to make it closer to a 2x2 and then I nailed, into the end grain one end of the chain. I used two nails through the end link and bent them over. I then got under my car and wrapped the chain around the filter 3 times in an anti clock wise direction. The loose end of the chain. I used a pair of vice grips to secure the chain against the, "handle" part of my device. I really jammed down with the vice grips and the chain dug a bit in a little into the wood. It was some sort of pine. I was surprised. The first wrench on the oil filter with my contraption, I thought I saw some movement. I then thought, nah, it couldn't be that easy. I repositioned my device and gave it another yank and yes there was movement. I thought to myself, "You've got to be joking me. All of this drama and all I had to do was make a janky home made tool and I could have been finished ages ago" I put down my success to the extra area and bite my tool had on the oil filter. I was thinking of a better version of welding an ordinary chain onto a pipe and cutting a slot in the pipe and putting a threaded rod inside the pipe with a backwards facing bend coming out of the slot and use the bended rod part to go through a link to hold the chain after wrapping it around a filter and put a nut on the threaded rod sticking out the back of the pipe that you'd ratchet down on to pull and tighten the chain onto the oil filter and that would make for a tool worthy of being put in the tool box.
Before using your method, I tried the other trick because yours requires to build a special tool which should be quite hard. I have thought about several revisions of your tool. But I first tried to use nose pliers to hook up the filter holes, and used a break bar to turn the pliers and it finally worked.
I got one for ya to make you feel better 😂 I was changing my oil while on the phone and I changed the filter and added oil and forgot to drain the pan 😂.. I figured it out later
i did a similar thing to get a bathtub drain out since it was a weird size i found a piece of steel pipe and just cut notches in the end with grinder and cutoff wheel to fit the cross piece in drain then just twisted the pipe with a pipe wrench on end
Did you solve this yet? If you can’t make room you’re going to have to start pulling parts off to create some room. Alternatively, the engine can come out.
I do not have proof, but I suspect that even if you lube a new filter gasket, and install it properly (1/4 additional turn), that given enough time, it can become problematic. I installed a filter on a piece of equipment that I have not used in 8 or 10 years, and it is now stuck, and I am 99% certain that I lubed it before installing!
Punched through with a screw driver, it's just ripping it up, the strap type wrench is just collapsing it so now a third trip to the parts store, going to epoxy a cap type wrench on it so it can't slip. Cheaper than a tow.
This was brilliant, I was stuck in the same situation and all the other tutorial where "jam a screwdriver and beat the shit out of the filter and destroy everything. Then I found your video and it save my day !! Worked perfectly thank you .
Sir, i neeeeeeed that socket. Lol Im going through the same exact situation 3 days now 🙄 i had the same exact idea, was just wondering how to create what i needed. Ur a genius. Now i have to figure out how to create that socket. Thank you, greatly appreciate it. 👍
Hi it's me again whilst I was explaining your brilliant method to Gill my wife a thought crossed my mind (can't spell 'occured ' ) does the socket have to be very deep to accommodate the threaded thingy that the filter screws on to ? Cheers Eddie
Hi thanks for your reply ! it takes quite a good number of turns to screw the filter on ,so the threaded 'thingy' must go inside the socket preventing the 'forks ' engaging the holes at the bottom of the filter can unless the socket is extra deep I presume the 'filter ring ' you refer to is the bottom of the filter can .Cheers Eddie PS I never expected a reply ! I still think your method is brilliant !
Hi its me again ! if a deep socket is not available a steel tube could be used instead, with a tommy bar used to turn it ( I think its called a tommy bar ) its the thinner solid bar going through the hollow tube . Cheers Eddie.
Thanks for the video. I was able to solve the problem without making the tool you made, but never would have figured it out without your video. On my vehicle, the threaded piece in the center, where the filter screws on, had a 5/16 hex center. I went to the hardware store and bought a 5/16 hex coupler. It fit perfectly in the center piece and allowed me to use a socket wrench to unscrew the filter mount. What was left of the filter came off with it. I then put the remains of the filter in a vice and unscrewed the mount from the filter. Finally, I screwed the the mount back into the vehicle and replaced the filter. The hex coupler cost $1.75 and I didn't need to make a new tool.
I had one like that yesterday, first oil change after purchase of a nice, low mileage silverado. I wound up using an air chisel to work it off, but damn IDK who put that on so flippin' tight!
Thank you so much! I am in the middle of fixing up a 1977 Trans Am which hasn’t ran since 2007 and before that was probably parked since 2005. In the middle of taking a lot of stuff off and literally went in your order, the filter cap wrench, then tried the claw (starting puncturing the filter), next goal is screwdriver but I was worried about what if it chewed up the filter with no luck. Wasn’t sure what I was going to try after that. I’m not able to remove the oil filter housing because there’s on bolt underneath the exhaust manifold and also the exhaust manifold is harder on the passenger side to take off, and at that point I may as well remove the whole engine since all the lines are disconnected from it. I’m going to try the screw driver method but I’m sure it won’t work since the claws I used where a combination of claws/locking pliers and it was really bitten down on there and no luck.
I think I'm looking at the same proposition to get the filter off the new JD Gator for it's first oil/filter change. Two other filter removal tools failed to budge the filter and should get the Lysle filter grabber tool tomorrow. It will either destroy and/or turn the filter. If not it's the torch and screw driver and then that socket you built.... Can't get any pliers into where the filter is located so that option was out also....
@@pinkcaddygarage267 that worked out well. It was able to seat well on the filter and lightly crush the filter and hold on. Needed a breaker bar to loosen it though.