So, let me start by explaining a little...
This is not a how-to, but more of an informative post and a little bit of complaining about products and services.
I usually do my own oil changes, but last time I dropped by a local place. I don't want to complain about their speed, service, or variety of oils and weights, but the way they put on the oil filter. I went to do my own oil change and found that they must have used a filter wrench and torqued the living hell out of it. Usually I can get my hands in from the bottom, or from the top between the turbocharger and the passenger side strut tower, to the oil filter and can budge it, even when it's on tight. This thing was HORRIBLE. I tried until the muscles in my wrist were sore and weak. Finally, I tried my filter wrench. The one I have is a hard, thick plastic that is sleeved perfectly for oil filters. It slipped on very snug and seemed promising. Well, I went to turn the ratchet and the thing kept slipping and popping, the same as when you use a socket that is too big for the bolt/nut you are trying to turn. Yeah, the place put it on THAT TIGHT! I was pissed, and my wife asked how I was going to get it undone. I said I'll need to get a metal filter wrench that won't flex and pop under that much strain. Well, I needed to change the oil to use the car, since the plastic filter wrench was a piece of junk and the oil filter will be disposed of, my wife had the great idea to superglue the filter wrench to the filter, and then try. I glued, set for 2 hours, got the ratchet on and FINALLY got the sumbitch off!
This is more incentive to do your own changes and filters. If you put it on by hand, you should have no problem removing it. Don't over-snug it with your gorilla grip. Lube the seal, get the seal flush, and get 1/4 turn more on the filter BY HAND - use a filter wrench for removal only [local lube shop guys must not know that].
This is not a how-to, but more of an informative post and a little bit of complaining about products and services.
I usually do my own oil changes, but last time I dropped by a local place. I don't want to complain about their speed, service, or variety of oils and weights, but the way they put on the oil filter. I went to do my own oil change and found that they must have used a filter wrench and torqued the living hell out of it. Usually I can get my hands in from the bottom, or from the top between the turbocharger and the passenger side strut tower, to the oil filter and can budge it, even when it's on tight. This thing was HORRIBLE. I tried until the muscles in my wrist were sore and weak. Finally, I tried my filter wrench. The one I have is a hard, thick plastic that is sleeved perfectly for oil filters. It slipped on very snug and seemed promising. Well, I went to turn the ratchet and the thing kept slipping and popping, the same as when you use a socket that is too big for the bolt/nut you are trying to turn. Yeah, the place put it on THAT TIGHT! I was pissed, and my wife asked how I was going to get it undone. I said I'll need to get a metal filter wrench that won't flex and pop under that much strain. Well, I needed to change the oil to use the car, since the plastic filter wrench was a piece of junk and the oil filter will be disposed of, my wife had the great idea to superglue the filter wrench to the filter, and then try. I glued, set for 2 hours, got the ratchet on and FINALLY got the sumbitch off!
This is more incentive to do your own changes and filters. If you put it on by hand, you should have no problem removing it. Don't over-snug it with your gorilla grip. Lube the seal, get the seal flush, and get 1/4 turn more on the filter BY HAND - use a filter wrench for removal only [local lube shop guys must not know that].
