Why?

[bluesrefugee]

Why the H*LL would anybody over-tighten an oil filter that much???? STUPID STUPID STUPID. After 3 hours and 2 trips to the parts store I finally got it off. Pretty much destroyed the filter in the process. Had to use one of those metal band-type wrench thingies. To make things worse they used one of those stupid Valvoline filters that has the wierd bottom that you can't get off with a regular oil filter socket. Something that should have been a simple 20 minute job turned into a 3 hour ordeal my some IDIOT .

 

OK, done venting now. Now my truck is full of Mobil-1 5w30 with an M1 filter and my wounds are clean and bandaged. All better.

[Matt_]

Why the H*LL would anybody over-tighten an oil filter that much???? STUPID STUPID STUPID. After 3 hours and 2 trips to the parts store I finally got it off. Pretty much destroyed the filter in the process. Had to use one of those metal band-type wrench thingies. To make things worse they used one of those stupid Valvoline filters that has the wierd bottom that you can't get off with a regular oil filter socket. Something that should have been a simple 20 minute job turned into a 3 hour ordeal my some IDIOT .

 

OK, done venting now. Now my truck is full of Mobil-1 5w30 with an M1 filter and my wounds are clean and bandaged. All better.

 

So you had to use an oil filter wrench to get an oil filter off.... sounds like you just started the job without the right tool

 

it could have been that they didn't lube the o-ring before installing the filter. One of the reasons for lubing it is because it makes it easier to get off. lol or it could just have been over-tightened... but if you had the oil filter wrench to begin with it sounds like it still would've been a 20 minute job

[khancock]

My factory oil filter was the same way. Took me an entire afternoon and the thing was absolutely destroyed by the time it was off. One of the biggest reasons I use K&N filters now is the nut on the bottom, makes it painless to get old filters off.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Whenever I have a problem like that, I take a flat blade screwdriver and jab it through the side of the filter, then use that to knock it loose.

[dlstewart01]

I have bought a lot of new vehicles in my life time and I have never had one put on at the factory that came off easily.

[WaterGuy]

Yep, lots of horrible stories about the OEM filter refusing to unscrew for the first filter change. Even read some where the can was completely gone and a chisel was used to spin off the base.

 

But, alas, no one from the factory "Oil Filter Installation" department has ever gone public.

 

It is not just GM either.

[Spurshot]

Yeah a 18" flat blade screwdriver takes all the cussing out of a tight filter. Never had one that didn't give into a long screwdriver. The one's I put on come off pretty easily. A metal band filter wrench should be in everyone's toolbox.

[cheriff]

I had to use a hammer and screw driver to get my filter off during my first oil change (bought it used). Who would have thought that none of my 6 oil filter cap thingys would fit the filter on the Silvy.

[Silverado4x4]

Yeah a 18" flat blade screwdriver takes all the cussing out of a tight filter. Never had one that didn't give into a long screwdriver. The one's I put on come off pretty easily. A metal band filter wrench should be in everyone's toolbox.

 

I had one so tight that when I ran the 16" screw driver through it and start trying to remove the filter the damn thing was ripping the tin around the filter and with about 2" of tin left it finally came unscrewed. I was saying every cus word known.

[bluesrefugee]

That screwdriver trick is a good tip. I'll file that one away. Thanks guys!

 

I have several socket type filter tools, but none of them would move it. The universal one wouldn't fit in because it was so close to the oil pan. Even with the band type, I could only turn it about 1/8 inch each time because of the tight space. Oh well, buying a new tool is usually a good thing in the long run!

[az'03Silverado]

Yeah, the first one is a tuffy. Since I always change my own oil, I put it on just tight enough not to leak and loose enough to remove it by hand without tools. Works every time. 100,000 miles and no leaks yet.

[WaterGuy]

On the band style wrenches I've stuck some stair step tread stuff on the inside for better gripping.

 

I've had the cup style that would just slip.

 

I've never had these fail me.

 

Channel Lock

[compulynx]

If you use the band type, be sure to place it at the lower end of the filter where it will not crush as easy. Placing it halfway will just easily collapse the filter, and the band will slip.

 

The BEST way is to use the socket that fits, but like some said, there are some weird filters out there.

 

The one that never has failed me is the filter wrench with a nylon strap. I have seen it totally crush the filter, but it still broke it loose and spun it off.

 

SK Filter wrench

 

DO NOT get the cheaper ones with a round tube, they are junk.

 

C

[RyanbabZ71]

Changed the oil in my 2010 for the first time today. No problems whatsoever Didnt have any trouble when I did my 08 Tahoe for the first time either. Guess I got lucky???

 

get one of these cap wrenches, these work great

 

http://www1.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/...equestid=460678

[clemsonblozz]

The great part of the screwdriver trick, is that you can drive it in at some pretty gnarly angles, and it still works.. just make sure you get plenty of media, so you don't just rip the can..