Oil filter wrench…whats good?

One for the mechanics/home mechanics what oil filter wrench would you recommend? Used the chain type in past put generally found them crap and ended up piercing the filter last time and using a long screw driver as a lever but don’t fancy doing that again!

So any recommendations?

chain type here – no issues but it depends on filter design .

use these at work sometimes instead of the pipe wrench chain type – these have much bigger surface area

what didnt you like about the chain type ?

also certain cars have a profile on the bottom of their filters and you can get a socket to fit them !

Ime it depends on where the filter is And what the access is like.

For the cars I’ve worked on most 306, Clio and escort I found the pliers ones pretty good although a bit fiddly on the 306 before the air con was removed.

IANAM just diy maintenance on family cars.

Depends on the shape size and location of the filter but i either use the strap type or a claw.

Trail rat that looks the danglies! I would almost buy one to put on the wall

The ones that are 3 sets of teeth work pretty well.

Try getting it clean with a rag and removing by hand if you can’t get hold of a good wrench though. Usually possible if you’ve got a strong grip. And the screwdriver thing always always works 🙂

Never had a problem with a strap wrench, but have used a good grip more often than not.

Just found the chain type i had similar in design to a cassette chain whip could never get tight enough.

Any opinion on this style?

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/380444367999?nav=SEARCH

Cars a Vectra, filter close to down pipe, not a lot of room and pointing down at an angle.

That’s what I’ve always used.
You’ll only need to use it once; filters are meant to be screwed on hand tight.

Cheers, will give that one a try. Always do it hand tight but have been lazy last few years and dropped it off at garage, they must have swung off it last time as it won’t budge by hand.

I use either a Bergen type, the one in the rear of this pic used to be sold individually.

Or this Snap On belt type.

Same as mclandy, the self tightening ratchet ones work very well as long as you have the right access.

You lot are too posh for me….

I’ve always just driven a Screwdriver through the side to get them off and hand-tightened to put one on 😆

Such as this…

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/160963094615?nav=SEARCH

Not the greatest access imo.

mmmm silverline.

had so much of their shite fail ive stopped shopping at toolstation – even when a brand is mentioned that isnt silverline – it invariably ends up being silverline.

the blue box of broken knuckles.

draper one looks good though , at least draper have a touch of quality control it seems.

we also repurpose these at work for stubborns – they are supposed to be for spinning pipe up.

in my personal tool box i have the above – it works fine , fit it then the camming action of pushing away from the side the chain comes through tightens the chain and gives you the grip you need.

mmmm silverline.

had so much of their shite fail ive stopped shopping at toolstation – even when a brand is mentioned that isnt silverline – it invariably ends up being silverline.

the blue box of broken knuckles

hmm not very reassuring

Will have a look at the bottom one.

nitrile glove round filter, run engine to warm oil (and glove) second glove on hand and unscrew. (this only works if A: you can reach it and B: its not mega tight

this wont be popular but i have always just hammered a screwdriver through them and used it as leverage, hand tight to put the new one on has always required the same treatment to get them off on the next filter change.

Mcmoonter +1 (three legged type)

Make sure you wipe some oil on the rubber gasket/seal before fitting the new filter

Would love to add my valued input here but my track record aint great. I changed an oil filter on my late Grandads Corsa many years ago. Removed it by hand, greased the o ring and replaced by hand with what I thought at the time was enough force. Whilst out in the car a few days later, the oil filter fell off and being elderly he didn’t realise & continued driving until the engine was destroyed. He was then stranded and I wasnt about to assist him. So he called his also but not quite so elderly brother, who borrowed a car trailer to rescue him and the car. In a nutshell they managed to load the car onto the trailer and drive home, halfway home they lost control of the trailer, which promptly tipped over, writing off the Corsa in the roll, the 3 grand trailer also was wrecked as it tipped and proceeded then to continue the unfolding chain of events by dragging the vehicle that was towing the trailer onto its side and writing that off as well. So at that point it was a 4×4, a trailer and a corsa all written off. Luckily they were both fine. Within a minute or two an unfortunate lady came round the corner and drove straight into the wreckage, writing her Vauxhall Astra off in the process.
Amazingly absolutely nobody suffered any injury.

So if you’d like me to pop round and change your oil filter for you just give me a nod 🙂

I’ve always just driven a Screwdriver through the side to get them off and hand-tightened to put one on

this

I make sure the oil filter is wiped clean and use and old marigold and get a grip of it

I have resorted to screwdriver hammered through once on an old car

downthemiddle – that is brilliant!

And yet not, at the same time, but you know what I mean 😆

The screwdriver thing is just a huge no no for me the number of times ive had to go in to the servicing department because some monkey has found one to hard to remove with the filter strap (been turning the wrong way) and destroyed it with a screw driver leaving a mangled mess of razor sharp metal for me to remove.

Oh and if your filter sits upright or sideways as soon as the screwdriver goes through youve opened your engine up to all the shit the filter has protected it from.

Oh and if your filter sits upright or sideways as soon as the screwdriver goes through youve opened your engine up to all the shit the filter has protected it from.

Not convinced, you’ve drained the oil first, so there’s nothing to transport the crap off the filter medium and through the hole (which is mostly full of screwdriver anyway).

I’d not try it as a first attempt, but mainly because the filters usualy upside down and full of hot oil.

Tinas – you have answered your own question with your last statement.

Even with the sump drained your filter still contains a heap of oil.

For my motorbike with very limited width access around the filter I have a steel band wrench which tightens in to its handle. For my s2000 I have a big socket type which goes over the end of the filter so I can torque it on correctly