That damn thing will not come off! The oil filter wrench is worthless on this filter, and I tried pusing a scredriver thru, but all that did was **** up the metal. I'm thinking that a big set of Vice grips may work! If they will fit in the space! :mad: Help!Please!
******* Oil Filter...HELP!
- Thread starter LinuxRacr
- Start date
Did you get the screwdriver through both sides of the filter? That is the method I had to use on my first oil change. Since then I've used a K&N filter since it has the 1" nut on the end of it. Some people have said they used an oil filter wrench, but like you I had zero success with that. Once you get the screwdriver through both sides of the filter be careful when you grip the filter. I know that it sounds like common sense, but since I'm sure you're frustrated as hell by now you'll just be glad to get that thing loose and will grab it and turn. I sliced the hell out of my finger when I did that and then got even more frustrated. Good luck getting it off. You think they could have made the space a little bit bigger huh? Happy Holidays.
Matt
Matt
LittleRedWagon5
Member
- :
- 2008 Mazdaspeed 3
Do you have a leather belt ? if so wrap it tightly around the filter, positioning the buckle at the top of the filter and the remaining belt should be hanging down on the left side of the filter. now take a ratchet with an extension and wrap the remaining belt asround the exetnsion. Make sure the ratchet is on remove and start ratcheting. As the beltwraps tightter around the extension it will pull the belt tighter around the filter in CC direction, loosening it. By the end teh ratchet should be right up on the filter. Good Luck.
one question.... the oil filter wrench... what does it look like? Is it a metal strap with a handle? b/c i use one that looks like a socket. you plug the socket wrench in the back and ::zick zick zick:: the s*** comes off. There a re diffrent sizes of these "oil filter sockets" for each type of filter. there are about 10 bucks to buy at you hardwear store.
saided18 said:
you can get them at wal-mart for about $3-$4 too....
I have several.....most are metal....the one for OUR filter isn't though....and although it works fine for a NORMALLY installed filter.....for one that was REALLY REALLY tight...I am not sure it would hold.....its not as good a fit as my metal ones are.
i'm a bit bitter also. i go to change my oil for the FIRST time on the DX, and what i thought would happen hapened. since the damn mazda robots enjoy WELDING the filters on, i wasn't able to budge it. now i have new oil but no new filter...stupid airtools... is it possible to replace the filter without draining the oil?
i'm gonna take it to the stealership to have them replace the filter/change oil but i'm making sure they don't use anything other than a hand to tighten that sucker.
i'm gonna take it to the stealership to have them replace the filter/change oil but i'm making sure they don't use anything other than a hand to tighten that sucker.
mx3ownzj00 said:
this is the experience MOST of us had on the FIRST oil filter change....the guy at the factory that does the oil filter installation is known or refered to as the OIL FILTER GORILLA. :{D
as for changing the filter without changing the oil? easy....just unscrew it and put on your new one....maybe add just a tiny bit of oil....and your on your way....not a problem.
Yeah, I think this set up was definately designed by people with little Japanese hands. I'm half Japanese, but my hands aren't so small. BIG Channellocks on the first change. A cap wrench has worked since. Except for last time - Channellocks were MIA, so I invested in a strap wrench. A little tedious at first, but once it tighted up, the least amount of force I've had to put on an oil filter to get it off. I hosestly don't remember putting the thing on any tighter than recommended. Darn things.
My brother had a dual remote filter setup on his '64 Fairlane - set up like that sounds pretty appealing on our cars. More oil capacity. More oil filtering capacity. No more busted knuckles. A win-win-win situation.
My brother had a dual remote filter setup on his '64 Fairlane - set up like that sounds pretty appealing on our cars. More oil capacity. More oil filtering capacity. No more busted knuckles. A win-win-win situation.
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s***, I was hoping I was not the only one with this problem. That damn thing was so stuck on there I was pissed!
I finally got a 3 armed adjustable oil filter wrench from Autzone. At first I tried it with the little red rubber grips on the ends of each arm to no avail then as my last resort I took off the "gripper" nubs and tried it with the metal arms only and it bit right into the stock filter and it came off with a little leverage with me on my back and my front passenger's tire off the ground about 1 foot!!
I hand tightened the STP replacement to avoid such problems going forward.
I really will enjoy changing my filter in my Mustang now since I can do that one by just sticking my hand into the engine compartment from above (got to love the American designed v-8 engine compartments)
One other interesting thing to note was that since the filter was at about a 30 degree angle to the block, when I took the filter off, no oil came out??? I thought for sure I was going to get oil all over that CV joint just below the filter. I guess that is a result of the angle to which the filter screws into the block..
I finally got a 3 armed adjustable oil filter wrench from Autzone. At first I tried it with the little red rubber grips on the ends of each arm to no avail then as my last resort I took off the "gripper" nubs and tried it with the metal arms only and it bit right into the stock filter and it came off with a little leverage with me on my back and my front passenger's tire off the ground about 1 foot!!
I hand tightened the STP replacement to avoid such problems going forward.
I really will enjoy changing my filter in my Mustang now since I can do that one by just sticking my hand into the engine compartment from above (got to love the American designed v-8 engine compartments)
One other interesting thing to note was that since the filter was at about a 30 degree angle to the block, when I took the filter off, no oil came out??? I thought for sure I was going to get oil all over that CV joint just below the filter. I guess that is a result of the angle to which the filter screws into the block..
The filter is located at the back of the engine compartment. I get to it by going under the front of the car on my back. If you reach up there, you can feel it. The biggest thing about the filter besides it being so tight on there is that it screws in at a downward angle. Be careful when you screw the new filter in so that you don't strip anything.
My first time at changing my oil was similar to everyone else's. The people that put filters on at shop must purposely put them on too tight so that they are the only ones that can take them off later. I ened up using an old tool that I have. It's a vise grip strap wrench. Instead of a rubber or leather strap, it has a chain on it. I just don't let anyone change my oil anymore.
I'm trying to come up with a new idea for everyone to help with removing filters in the future. I'll keep everyone posted.
My first time at changing my oil was similar to everyone else's. The people that put filters on at shop must purposely put them on too tight so that they are the only ones that can take them off later. I ened up using an old tool that I have. It's a vise grip strap wrench. Instead of a rubber or leather strap, it has a chain on it. I just don't let anyone change my oil anymore.
I'm trying to come up with a new idea for everyone to help with removing filters in the future. I'll keep everyone posted.
I was lazy and went to the dealer for my first oil change but next time around I'm going to become a MAN by doing my own oil change. 
