Best Oil Filter Removal Tool?
- Thread starter pallys
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plastic cap or metal filter? I find a filter claw on a ratchet to be best for metal filters. Paper element with plastic cap obviously the socket size required is best.
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- 13 Apr 2010
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Screwdriver and hammer
This ^^
Depends on the type of filter. For the metal can type things I just use one of these and attach it to my socket wrench:
For the cartridge style I have a set of larger sockets specifically for undoing the caps.
These are the best, Strap wrenches also work well but you do not always have enough space to use them, (The metal bit can sometimes bind against important stuff as it turns with the potential to cause serious and expensive damage) and if the filter is really tight they do not always work (and by then you have completely ****ed the filter that you cannot un-do and which you now have to replace before you can use the engine again!)
The thing that really ****es me off is why do the manufacturers not make at least some attempt to standardise the cup wrench oil filter dimensions? I have a kit with over 20 different sizes in it and yet I still find myself having to buy additional ones from time to time! It is an oil filter FFS! why do you need 500+ different options? Three would probably do it in a sensible world!
I am a fan of the claw, but in the event of not enough room, chain. I have had to use the screwdriver and hammer method once or twice but read that this is not advised because if the filter is really stuck on, you'll wreck it with the screwdriver attempting to turn it and then you're really screwed.