Cannot Remove !#*#@$ factory oil filter!

[twowheels]

I've spent the last 2.5 hours trying to remove the stupid factory installed oil filter from my '09 and can't! I've been to three auto parts stores and Wal-Mart with no luck! I cannot find a filter wrench that will fit the stupid thing! I tried a bigger wrench with rubber wrapped around it and it also won't work, nor will my rubber strap wrench.

Help! I need to drive the car > 200 miles tomorrow and I'm afraid that the dents that I put into the can might cause a leak if they're too sharp!! Any advice?

[dvlnblkdrs]

what i found that works well is the filter wrench that looks like a crescent.... my ex just used that on my car last week and it worked well...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31hmmMTs9lL._SL500_AA280_.jpg


$15 at kragen

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Use a filter cap. If it's slipping, soap/wash rag the oil filter, apply 2-3 layers of masking tape around the tip, circumnavigating it, and then put the cap on and twist off. That's how I've been doing it.

[twowheels]

what i found that works well is the filter wrench that looks like a crescent.... my ex just used that on my car last week and it worked well...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31hmmMTs9lL._SL500_AA280_.jpg


$15 at kragen

I tried a wrench that looked almost exactly like that. It would barely fit between the engine block and the filter at the angle that was necessary to be able to rotate it. It's also the one that dented up my can making me afraid to just refill it and change the filter later.

[dvlnblkdrs]

hmm then maybe u should think about having someone else do ur oil? :iono: we had no problems.. iv even used a slip wrench on it once and it worked..

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Jack up the car too, gives you more space to get under, which gives you more leverage.

[twowheels]

I've done many oil changes in the past and never had this problem... not sure why I'd expect to have to get somebody else to do it.

I finally got it off by going to buy the biggest pair of slip joint pliers that I could find... that thing was stubborn.

Now the problem is that I can barely read the dipstick since the oil is so clean. I put in the expected amount of oil and it's really hard to see where the oil ends on the stick. I'm accustomed to much dirtier engines!

[dvlnblkdrs]

lol well glad u were finally able to get it...

[SilverGlow]

It's not so hard...jees us! Just puncture it with a philips screw driver and hammer then turn the damned thing to loosen, then hand turn it off....all this in 1 minute....2.5 hours?!? WOW!

[rningonfumes]

Jill, or others:

With new cars, they (manufacturers) tend to screw the filters in really tight. When I bought my car, they gave me a voucher for a free change, I applied it for the very first change. Other cars I've had, the filters were on really tight.

Back to the subject. When I had a Tacoma, my first oil change consisted of a worn oil cap and lots of elbow grease plus hot crafts glue.
1. The cap was gone, it would not work again
2. I hot glued the inside of the cap and stuck it onto the oil filter.
3. Worked---FINALLY.

Other options, more messy:

1. Punch a screw driver right into the side of it, right through the filter.
2. Twist off with the screw driver.

Gooogle for more possiblilities...EVERY FORUM has a thread on how to get a stuck filter off.

Edit: This the exact reason why I advise hand tight when you put on the new one back in my "how to" write up--As in don't worry about torque specs.

[dvlnblkdrs]

hah good one Dave :thumbsup: i was gonna do it myself.. then i couldnt get my oil drain plug off.. good thing i had my tool aka ex boyfriend there.. he did all the work.. but i bought the oil! :bellyroll: hey. i bought his too.. gotta give the evo a drink once in a while, evolynn gets thirsty too... :rolleyes:

[twowheels]

I'd considered the screwdriver through the side of the filter, but if that'd failed I'd have been left having to have it towed so that was a very last resort!

[rningonfumes]

Honestly, it's a tin can, just do it already. You're looking for that extra leverage. Put your hands evenly, with equal pressure and twist.

[Red Horse]

I use this cup wrench the smallest size and a picture from the DIY

[mikenacarato]

i had the same issue doing the 1st change on my car as well. they put it on really tight from the factory. now that the first one is done all the others have been a breeze. :)

[id3379]

i had the same issue doing the 1st change on my car as well. they put it on really tight from the factory. now that the first one is done all the others have been a breeze. :)

so did i, i think how close the filter is to the block is one of the stupidest idea's ever, i don't have problems getting mine off but it is so dam close, what were they thinking ?? :thumbdown:

[nemelek]

so did i, i think how close the filter is to the block is one of the stupidest idea's ever, i don't have problems getting mine off but it is so dam close, what were they thinking ?? :thumbdown:

I have had cars with a lot worse placements for oil filters than the Yaris. On an 88 Toyota truck I had a side mount filter and always spilt oil on the engine block while changing.

[CTScott]

I did my 1st oil change on my 09 last weekend. Mine wasn't torqued bad at all. I used an "F" oil filter socket, which fit the OEM filter perfectly. After hearing of the issues that so many have had with the factory filter, I thought I was going to have issues with the socket slipping, but mine came off with very little force.

The "F" socket is the type that Redhorse has a picture of above. I have various ones from over the years, and they all have a letter to denote the size. I think I bought the "F" back when my wife had a Civic wagon.

[twowheels]

IIRC the metal socket wrench that I tried (one of 4 different ones of that style) was marked as an "F" size. It slipped no matter how hard I'd pushed up. The guy at the store told me it was the smallest that he had.

Now that it's off I hope to never need another wrench, but if I do I'll have a bit more time to find a properly sized band wrench, which is what I used for many years on my old V8 powered junkers without incident.

[id3379]

i just put a K&N oil filter on my car, it has a built in nut to grab for unbolting :D

[MUSKOKA800]

I use this cup wrench the smallest size and a picture from the DIY

I use this type with a 3/8" ratchet and 8" extension.
Works like a charm.
I do run my car up on ramps to get easier access.

[mikenacarato]

my 93 lincoln had a terrible placement for the filter, and and even my volvo. the yaris has had the best placement so for for me haha

[gonzo452001]

I jacked up the front end of my sons 09 yaris used a big screwdriver like a chisel and a hammar on the top edge had it off in no time

[AlexNet0]

I know im not being helpful, however I just put it on ramps and used my hand to take the factory filter off when it was warm, it didnt seem difficult to me

[Tamago]

screwdriver through the side.. and turn

[TheSilkySmooth]

Try taking the filter off a Mazda Protoge. Its Sideways at the back of the motor, under the intake manifold and surrounded by AC and heater plumbing. Absolutely the worse I've seen in 30 years. Our new Subaru Forester is not too great either - the exhaust cat is right under it. Subarus Impreza used to be easy - you didnt even have to get UNDER the car, you could reach everything sitting in front of the front bumper. On the Yar - just used the cup wrench - easy as pie.

[metalshark]

I've got an old-time K&D filter wrench that consists of a piece of seat belt webbing hooked to a square tube with a 1/2" inside dimension. I can wrap the strap on any filter and put a 1/2" rachet wrench in the end sticking down and take it off. I also am converting to the K&N filter at the 25,000 mile change.

[PHXDEMON]

It's not so hard...jees us! Just puncture it with a philips screw driver and hammer then turn the damned thing to loosen, then hand turn it off....all this in 1 minute....2.5 hours?!? WOW!

Came in to post this. make sure you apply some oil around the gasket on the new filter so this doesn't happen again :thumbsup:

[REM]

so did i, i think how close the filter is to the block is one of the stupidest idea's ever, i don't have problems getting mine off but it is so dam close, what were they thinking ?? :thumbdown:

This is the best placement I have seen, outside of my Chevy 1500. The only thing that made my truck better was it had higher clearance and I could crawl right under it and there was a lot of room. However, I don’t need to put my Yaris on ramps either; I just reach under and take care of business.

[firebob]

I liked changing my old c20. It had the 292 and wit hot oil you could lay under that thing and have it drained and filter changed in 10 minutes unless you want every last drop to come out of it.

I think my hands are stronger than some peoples. When I would use jiffy lube it would either be stuck on or not even what I call hand tight.

One thing to watch for when the filters were put on that tight is that the o ring cam all the way off the motor and is in one peace. I have seen a lot of them that ripped or were stuck.

[Tamago]

screwdriver through the side.. and turn

i also have used a pair of channel locks.. filters come RIGHT off!

[schleppy]

If you're using the filter cup, make sure you put the cup on FIRST, then attach the wrench to it.

On the cup filter I use for my truck the wrench tip actually pokes out and hits the filter, not letting the cup lock onto the filter. If I put the cup on first then GENTLY attach the wrench it works like a charm.

[marcus]

i took mine off from top.. right on the engine bay.. clamp and turn walah!!

[yaris prime]

strap type filter wrench works good on this app.

[twowheels]

strap type filter wrench works good on this app.

My plight is long since over, but I tried a few of those and couldn't find one small enough. Kragen had a smaller size, but not in stock. Now that I've changed the first filter I don't anticipate any future problems because a properly installed filter can be removed by hand!

[detroiter]

The easiest car I've had to change the oil on was a 94 Geo Metro hatchback. A 3 cylinder engine with a ton of room in the bay. I'd have to say the d15b7 engine on my old Honda Del Sol was really easy as well. The oil filter on the H22a that I had in my 92 Prelude was kind of a pain in the butt, was wedged on the backside of the engine block between the firewall.

I'd have to say the oil filter location is super easy on this Yaris but I hate that there is the molded lip thing on the engine that surrounds it. Maybe I have superman grip or something but I usually just grab the oil filters by hand and turn as hard as I can, usually breaks them free. The engine design on the Yaris makes it hard to get my fingers and hand around the filter. So while it's easier in the location of the filter, it's harder for me to get it off.

My vote for easiest oil change in the world goes to the old Mazda Rx7's. :)

[Vinsanity]

take a screw driver and poke a hole in it, and just use your strrenth to turn it loose. There's too much pressure in it, release it by poking a hole and turn it. Because the same thing happen to me too. took me about 2 hours.

[pariahdecss]

yeah just did my first oil change on my '09 LB - it was on too tight to get off by hand so I used the screwdriver method to get it off - works but sure is messy. Future changes will be easy though