Oil Change, Filter, Drain plug question

TonyMazz · November 26, 2005

Hi GM Tech...

When going to my service dept. at my preferred dealer, I notice that whenever I get an oil change service done, the tech tightens the oil filter super tight, and the drain plug I need a breaker bar to get it off....

On the 4.8L I use the PF44 filter...

I am wondering if you could share some insight as to how to loosen it in a DIY sense and what the dealers use for removing filters they put on...?? Do they use an air wrench or what ?

I suspect they put things on tight to insure no call backs...but Geez...this is like torqued on...

Do they use a special wrench in the case of a 4.8L motor...??

Thanks for your insight....

T

GM-Tech · November 26, 2005

We don't use any air or impact type wrenches to tight oil filters or drain plugs! Oil filters are tightened by hand, drain plugs with a box-end wrench usually. I couldn't say how some other dealer might do it.

Everyone has their own favorite type of wrench for taking the filters off. Most fit on a 3/8" extension and grab around the bottom of the filter, but it depends on location too.

Trouttrooper · November 26, 2005

The best thing to buy is the giant "socket" that fits a 3/8 rachet wrench. It's not just dealerships. I've had problems taking filters off that friends have had the lube places put on.

Worst case scenerio I've had to do is punch a screwdriver through the side of the filter to make a "T" handle. That filter was on so tight that the giant "socket" stripped the ribs on the filter. I actually made 2 full rotations before I could spin it off with my hand.

Another tip with the "socket" is if it want's to strip the ribs on the filter, put a thin rag inside the socket and jam it on the filter. It does help, but you usually have to beat the socket back off .

GM-Tech · November 26, 2005

I've driven a few screwdrivers through filters to get them off. That works well in extreme cases.

Stocklook · November 26, 2005

I change my own with mobil 1, but sence i get free oil changes with mobil 1 at the dealer I let them do it,

I went on a trip so I changed it my self, and they put the dran plug on so tight I could not get it off, I put a torq on it and went to 150lbs and still didn't come off.

I check it every time now and it is still too tight (What's The Deal) Should it be only 5-15lbs

drumset5994 · November 27, 2005

I know the lube places up here, especially Valvo...tighten the d**n filters and drain plug so d**n tight...i now start the best way...start first DIY, end DIY.

TonyMazz · November 28, 2005

Just as a point of reference .....according to the manual...

Oil Filter should be tightened to 22 ft/lbs

Oil Filter drain plug should be tightened to 18 ft/lbs

GM-Tech · November 29, 2005

Oil Filter should be tightened to 22 ft/lbs

Oil Filter drain plug should be tightened to 18 ft/lbs

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If we listened 100% to GM, we could throw away all our screwdrivers, nut drivers, wrenches, etc., and just have a torque wrench for everything. They have a torque value for anything that has threads. Even philips head trim screws.

TonyMazz · November 29, 2005

I know....

But I am going to use a torque wrench to get my drain plug off and see how tight it really is factually....then I am going to go to the dealer and chat with my buddy the service manager....

I know the techs tighten them cause they are deathly afraid of call backs, warranty work because of leaks, etc, but come on.......geez...

In fact I think I am going to have a spare drain plug on hand just-n-case....

GM-Tech · November 29, 2005

I agree that some guys go a bit overboard on the tightening, but they're usually not techs. They're the lube guys that can't do much else.

toneman · November 29, 2005

I might get flamed for making this kind of statement, but...assuming that you're not some 98-lb. weakling, if you're not able to loosen the oil filter w/o the need of any tools other than your own hands...then the oil filter is on too tight IMHO. I do my own oil/oil filter changes (except those times where I took advantage of free oil changes), and I tighten the oil filter just enough so that it doesn't leak, yet be able to remove it w/o the need for an oil filter wrench, strap, socket, or screwdriver. Now I'm not saying that I've never had to implement any of those methods in the past (I've used them all!), but that's only because I've had to remove filters that were screwed on by "professional" oil changer personnel.

Now some of you may say that if I can remove the filter by hand, then I obviously didn't put it on tight enough. Well if that's the case, then I won't worry about it since in all the years I've hand-tightened oil filters to the point that I've never needed to use any tool to remove them, I've never had one leak on me due to insufficient tightening on my part.

Stocklook · November 29, 2005

When I was at the dealer I noticed that when they had the truck on the rack, when they put the drain plug on they where pulling down to tighten, so that means they are using thier own weight when tighting the plug and have no idea how tight it is.

And when you are under the truck you can't get enough leverage to turn the plug, like said above I out a torq wrench on mine and it clicked at 150lbs I ended up rounding the plug, took it back up there and they had a hard time, but gave me a new plug, they told me it was the heat of the engine the caused it to get tight.

GM-Tech · November 30, 2005

I might get flamed for making this kind of statement, but...assuming that you're not some 98-lb. weakling, if you're not able to loosen the oil filter w/o the need of any tools other than your own hands...then the oil filter is on too tight IMHO.

I'd say that's pretty much true, for those filters that are easy to get your hands around. Sometimes it's not so easy to get a good grip on the filter. And I've seen even the original, factory installed filters be very difficult to get loose by hand.

It's just less work to use an oil filter wrench of some sort.