those who change their own oil

[Gambino]

Have you ever had a hard time getting your filter to screw back in there? (I am talking 2.3) I couldnt find the right size allen wrench/hex key today so I skipped that part. I just unscrewed the filter and let it drain out the sides. now i cant for the life of me get the damn thing to screw back in. I am so frustrated I am about to pop

 

[tsunami]

really, i always leave the allen head in untill i get the whole unit out then take it out and put it all back together and re-insert... never had a prob... make sure your o-ring isn't in the way of the threads... righty tighty lefty loosey....??

 

[Gambino]

i think my problem is the tool i am using. All I have that fits around the cartridge is the tool used for removing spin on filters. What tools do you use?

 

[tsunami]

could be... i have the correct mm plastic socket that goes around the filter housing... its like a 3.50$$ part at a napa or whatever... i think its either 76mm or 96 mm or something if you can just bring it in to the parts store and see if they can't measure it for you?? it fits right on to a 3/8 drive ratchet....

 

[Gambino]

cool, thanks

 

[Gambino]

just got back from Autozone and Checker (Napa was closed, I guess they close at 8). I asked for a 76mm socket at both places, and at both places the guys looked at me like an idiot and said they dont have any

 

[mobomelter]

dude 76mm? thats huge. i don't think autozone stocks them that big.

 

[Gambino]

well, tsunami said he got one at napa.......i hate not being able to drive my car

 

[MortMan]

When all else fails... use a strap wrench. It's what I always use and it works great. That darned o-ring is my problem; it never wants to go on all the way without a fight.

 

[tsunami]

yeah its a plastic thing kept by the strap wrenches... i bet they have it and didn't even know it... cause there are like 6 different sizes of them, you should have gone over and looked at where the strap wrenches are kept...

 

[tsunami]

i use a small jewelers screw driver to get the o-ring in....

 

[Gambino]

well, i finally got the filter back in. Turns out one of the threads (being very thin plastic) was slightly bent. Straightened it back out and got it back in there

 

[three]

I got the filter socket adapter from walmart back where the filters are. Check walmart.

 

[gdkenoyer]

I asked for a 76mm socket at both places, and at both places the guys looked at me like an idiot and said they dont have any

Had you asked for a 76mm Oil Filter wrench you might have gotten a better response...

 

[tsunami]

but its not a wrench, its a big plastic socket....

 

[Gambino]

yeah, oh well, the problem is taken care of. I hate that the piece the filter sits in is plastic. Makes it easy to cross thread. Now I dont have to worry about it for another 3,000 miles! (so like 6 more months)

 

[gdkenoyer]

but its not a wrench, its a big plastic socket....

yep, I know: I have at least two of the socket type, one strap type and two band types.

but what they look like and what they're called ain't necessarily the same... attahced is a .bmp of one Advance Auto oil filter wrench (unfortuantely not the correct one for out M3s...)

 

[goldwing2000]

This thread is exactly why I converted to a spin-on filter!

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

Nevermind found it

 

[MightyMouse]

but its not a wrench, its a big plastic socket....

Life sucks doesn't it. Just ask for the oil filter wrench.