best oil filter wrench for a stuck filter?

[johnny_d]

what do you guys use to remove a stuck filter? A while ago I had to remove a filter from a Camry and it was pretty stuck. Used the filter caps with no luck. Those things are POS IMO. I dont' know what idiot designed the oil filter w/ barely any grip. Anyway, even the oil filter pliers were no help. My girl's dad went crazy and used a pipe wrench to try to remove it and he ripped the filter. I was like, shiet. After a while, her brother was able to use the cup and wiggle it around enough to remove it. If he ripped it off that woulda been costly to tow the car. Aniway, yesterday I was trying to do oil change on the 08 Highlander. After spending 30 mins looking for the damn filter, I found it by googling online. It was hidden under a cover...doh! It's the type of filter where u replace only the inner filter, not the whole can. It's pretty stuck cuz her dad didn't replace the filter on the last oil change cuz he couldn't locate it... Duh!!! So now it's been on there for about 7000 miles and I couldn't get it off. Using the filter plier kinda scraped it so I stopped, put oil back and gonna drop it off at the dealer today. I always hand tighten the filter..... But for future changes, what do u guys use? I've seen the one w/ the 3 grips, are they any good?

[MisfitBrian]

Have you tried a strap wrench?

[johnny_d]

i have the "standard" metal strap one, they're a POS. Have yet to try this one. I saw that KD makes a decent one so that's prolly what I might try next. Only thing is this isn't a removable filter so if i damage it i can't put something on w/o going to the dealer and order the casing.

[SniperJoe]

I've had good luck with the regular old fashioned oil filter wrench.

When I used the new pliers type it mauled the filter up ... went back to the old style.

Have several sizes of the strap wrenches, but never tried them on a filter yet.

Had one filter get stuck on me ... took driving a large screwdriver through the filter & using that to loosen it...... made quite the mess but it came off.

[Oside3.5]

Have a few rags lying around and punch a good sized screwdriver in it I've used this a few times

[johnny_d]

except on the Highlander you only replace the inner filter and not the casing so the screwdriver trick is out of the question

[Oside3.5]

That's gotta suck Johnny

[08Coupe]

I haven't done a oil change in awhile but when I did they made a spring loaded adaptor that went on a standard rachet.. It sorta dug in as you turned it counter-clockwise. U had to use a strap wrench to tignten the new one (or hand tight in my case)...I THINK I got it at sears

Something like thishttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWD1VNot as pretty but should work toohttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...l1116

[johnny_d]

i think i might try the strap one, i was looking at the 3 point grip one but i'm worried if i try that on a regular filter it would probably rip thru it with only 3 point of pressure. The spring one is kinda funny

[cuzzbubba420]

Johnny, don't go with the belt strap one! I just purchased that one last weekend and there is not a lot of room where the oil filter is so I couldn't get a proper fit. I returned it and bought the metal slide on piece that goes on the end of the oil filter and you attach a ratchet to it and it comes off no problem! (it's 4.99 at discount)

[08altima35]

i use the ratcheting type that the strap is the same as seat belt strap when i can't twist it off by hand. works like a charm. but don't install with this as your filter only needs to be hand tight, but make sure to lube the filter gasket because you might not need anything but your hands next time.

[johnny_d]

oh this is gonna be for a Highlander my Altima has no problem cuz my last oil change i tighten it by hand.

[cuzzbubba420]

When I did my first oil change I had to use the ratchet kind and I turned that sucker two full times before it even started to spin off. I made sure when I screwed the new one on it was hand tight, these dang factory filters and cranked on.

[Voodoo Coupe]

Ive used the screwdriver method myself a few times as well, why waste time searching for an answer to removing something thats going to be trashed anyway hahaha. it's worked well for me. but I usualy have no problem just using a filter wrench.

[Mr.Coupe]

Get some good size channel lock pliers. I would use these when I worked at the VW dealer and people would take their cars to Jiffy Lube. Or

Ricky C.

[johnny_d]

just an update, brought it to the dealer, they changed the oil. I just tried and it seemed loose enough. I loosen it up a tiny bit just to be sure next time I can turn it

[Mr.Coupe]

What people have to do it doesn't happen to filters, when they get stuck and it's a pain in the butt to take them off, is to put some clean oil on your finger when you're doing the oil change in put the oil around the rubber of the oil filter then tighten it to the factory specs. The oil makes it so that the rubber will not melt into the engine block between oil changes. Let me know what you guys think.

Ricky C.

[johnny_d]

always do that, unfortunately I didn't do the last oil change