Oil change from Hell

[psx]

This is a precautionary tale of the Fram.
The 15 min oil change turned to 5 hours of chiseling
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[Ozone302]

Thats why I bought one of these!

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That was my tool of choice workin at a ford quick lane! Saved me a lot of headache!

 

[Ozone302]

Wow, I work at a quick lube shop and have never run into that sort of thing. Usually its pretty tight and it is almost always the first oil change or a non-lubed filter that makes it difficult. I always hang tighten it unless its a chevy truck; which I will use a band filter strap to SLIGHTLY over tighten it. That sucks man, at least you got it off.

Yep those little filters right next to the oil pans! Those suck to put on without a strap wrench

 

[psx]

Ha Im not playing He man, . Yes the fram filter is as thick as a pop can. The sludge hammer and chisel were used to hit the inside of the drain back holes to twist it out. I wouldn't have wasted 5 hours taking of filter if I didnt have to. That tool i keep seeing looks like a headache saver

 

[Ozone302]

Ha Im not playing He man, . Yes the fram filter is as thick as a pop can. The sludge hammer and chisel were used to hit the inside of the drain back holes to twist it out. I wouldn't have wasted 5 hours taking of filter if I didnt have to. That tool i keep seeing looks like a headache saver

It is a headache saver! All u need is that and a 3/8's ratchet and extensions

 

[TurboLaserRS]

Jeez, this thread scares me. I just changed the oil in my Grand AM last week and used a Fram Extra Guard . Guess I will go back to AC Delco filters.

 

[wicked98gsx]

I had the same issue with my last car (95 240sx) It welded itself to the OFH and never could get it off. I sold it before i needed to change yjr filyrt again. sorry for your bad luck

 

[bryanwheat]

That isn't a problem with the filter. That is a problem with people who don't know how to remove an oil filter. A sledge hammer, seriously? IF you hammer a filter off, than you deserve spending 5 hours to fix your mistake.

 

[Black-Out]

To install an oil filter: lightly lube o-ring mating surface, screw on filter, spin till filter stops with slight effort, 1/4 turn to snug, never have to beat, maime, hack saw, channel lock, or use a cutting torch to remove an old oil filter again.....

All jokes aside though, It should never really ever take more than your hand to remove an oil filter

William-

 

[Ozone302]

To install an oil filter: lightly lube o-ring mating surface, screw on filter, spin till filter stops with slight effort, 1/4 turn to snug, never have to beat, maime, hack saw, channel lock, or use a cutting torch to remove an old oil filter again.....

All jokes aside though, It should never really ever take more than your hand to remove an oil filter

William-

Good advise. I use to work at a ford quick lube and this dude I worked with was 6'7 295 pounds and he would always tighten them sooooooo much. Whenever cars would come back for the next oil change I always seemed to get his cars. Let's just say that claw tool and strap wrenches saved my life

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Never let your dad touch your car. I've had some nasty oil filters sticking to cars in my day, but I would NEVER use a sledge hammer to just bash it off.

I have used a screwdriver to punch threw one and then twist it off, but that was only because it gave me the torque I needed in the cramped compartment when I couldn't get a proper oil filter wrench up in the space.

 

[deanmeon2]

!

 

[olddsmer]

Just use the K&N filters that have a 1" nut on the end. That is what I use. I believe it is HP1005. I put my filters on snug then take a wrench and do another 1/4 turn. I have stiff motor mounts and they have been known to vibrate a filter off. The nut on the end of the K&N's is pretty handy.

Regards
Greg

 

[TheEagle]

Same thing with my car ... was going to simply take of brake pads and had to use a breaker bar and 16 pound maul for drive nuts and most other nuts. Should really invest in an air wrench .

 

[Ozone302]

Same thing with my car ... was going to simply take of brake pads and had to use a breaker bar and 16 pound maul for drive nuts and most other nuts. Should really invest in an air wrench .

Electric impact works wonders my friend. I got a whole set. 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 all cordless except the 1/2

 

[MY1GDSM]

That is why you don't use Fram filters... .

Take a close Look close at the threads that they screw on to some time and a big part of the problem will be obvious. Aside from what else has been said.

Can't go wrong with Oem... I have a small box full of them. Mobil 1 and K&n are good as well just a bit more $

 

[LxiMax]

Don't forget about Purolator PureOne filters too.

 

[DSM1G90]

Read the box the filter comes in - tells you to slick up the gasket with new oil then HAND tighten down 3/4 to 1 turn ... what's so hard with that?

I'm a NAPA Gold 1381 user (same as WIX). But as with the one user commenting on the FRAM filters and never had any problem with them:

I've ran FRAM's for years and never had any probs with them..IF..IF...IF and "effing" IF .. you do your oil/filter changes on a religious schedule.

FRAMS are good when using dino oils (not PENNZ since thats a paraffin oil..and if you do you PENNZ, don't mix with fossil oils) since you gonna change oil in the 3 month/3k miles period anyway and the filter needs to be replaced as well.

If you don't do the routine right, you deserve to have ANY filter discintegrate and carry the innards of that filter through your motor.

 

[BoostedPhoenix]

Read the box the filter comes in - tells you to slick up the gasket with new oil then HAND tighten down 3/4 to 1 turn ... what's so hard with that?

I'm a NAPA Gold 1381 user (same as WIX). But as with the one user commenting on the FRAM filters and never had any problem with them:

I've ran FRAM's for years and never had any probs with them..IF..IF...IF and "effing" IF .. you do your oil/filter changes on a religious schedule.

FRAMS are good when using dino oils (not PENNZ since thats a paraffin oil..and if you do you PENNZ, don't mix with fossil oils) since you gonna change oil in the 3 month/3k miles period anyway and the filter needs to be replaced as well.

If you don't do the routine right, you deserve to have ANY filter discintegrate and carry the innards of that filter through your motor.

How many times you had to stick a screw driver through the side of that Napa filter to pry it off? Probabaly not much because its a much sturdier thickness and overall better product. As are most other filters Fram has a terrible reputation in my experience and the first time you have one explode in the driveway when its 4 degrees outside you will understand just where im coming from

 

[ktgurl87]

I just changed the oil in both my truck and my gs. Guess what filters they got? Fram tough guard number 16. I always chuckle when I buy the filters too because I think its funny that my full size truck with a 5.9 v8 (gas) and my little baby 4 cylinder use the same filter. Now then, I've never had issues with any filter I've had, fram included.

 

[MY1GDSM]

Read the box the filter comes in - tells you to slick up the gasket with new oil then HAND tighten down 3/4 to 1 turn ... what's so hard with that?

I'm a NAPA Gold 1381 user (same as WIX). But as with the one user commenting on the FRAM filters and never had any problem with them:

I'm pretty sure Some of the people here are competent enough to do it right

As well it was more then one person commenting

What filter do you use? I'm guessing the tiny later year ones... .

I don't care what anyone says Don't run a Fram 3950(the right one for a 6 bolt works on more though) it's not worth the trouble I'll go snap a pick a the parts store if you doubt what I'm saying at all DSM1G90

Also there is more then one issue at hand here though as well... . Also YMMV just because you say you haven't had any issues it doesn't mean other have not.

Oh FYI OEM filters come pre-lubed

 

[Mach1TaloN]

I use Fram on all my vehicles as well and have NEVER had ANY issues at all. As was mentioned before, if you install them properly and change oil regularly then you should never have any issues. :/

 

[josh1095]

Read the box the filter comes in - tells you to slick up the gasket with new oil then HAND tighten down 3/4 to 1 turn ... what's so hard with that?

I'm a NAPA Gold 1381 user (same as WIX). But as with the one user commenting on the FRAM filters and never had any problem with them:

I've ran FRAM's for years and never had any probs with them..IF..IF...IF and "effing" IF .. you do your oil/filter changes on a religious schedule.

FRAMS are good when using dino oils (not PENNZ since thats a paraffin oil..and if you do you PENNZ, don't mix with fossil oils) since you gonna change oil in the 3 month/3k miles period anyway and the filter needs to be replaced as well.

If you don't do the routine right, you deserve to have ANY filter discintegrate and carry the innards of that filter through your motor.

i changed it just like you said: RELIGOUSLY! i knew better than playin w fire. every 3k miles on the dot. i actually switched to supertechs in my zx10r but that only sees MAYBE 1500 miles between oil changes. i use dinojuice(quaker 10/40) in all my bikes but dont road race or anything. if i did, and temp was an issue, id switch to synth

 

[BigTyla]

Thats why I bought one of these!

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I had to buy one of these when I first bought my DD Explorer from my parents about a year ago. They had their oil changed at the local Wal-Mart and the dipstick mechanic overtightened the filter so much I couldn't get it off by hand. A strap wrench wouldn't get it off either! Finally got one of these at my local Harbor Freight and it worked like a charm.

Moral of the story: do your own oil changes!

 

[codym]

I use Bosch oil filters. Never had to knock one off with a sledge hammer or drill through it with a screwdriver. I try to change my oil every 1500-2000 miles, and run full synthetic.
278k miles !

 

[DSM1G90]

you have one explode in the driveway when its 4 degrees outside you will understand just where im coming from

Why you run 5w/30 when it's that cold outside, or put a drop light with a 100w bulb under the oil pan to keep the oil warm.

Been there and done that when the temp dropped to -30 below and had 20w/50 in the crankcase a good many moons ago.

Oil was like molasses and the few cranks I did, pushed oil past the FRAM filter.

My dad came over with the 'salamander' where we covered the front of the car and ran the 'salamander' to get things warmed up so I could start the car. I immediately went to a oil change place and did the 5w/30 oil change.

No, never had to do the screwdriver-in-the-side-of-the-filter thing on any of my vehicles...and with FRAM filters being used. Put the filter wrench on them and they spun off with no problems. Once in a while, the gasket would stay on the filter housing, but that was all the probs I had with FRAMS.

Oil, filters, sparkplugs and what have you related to the automobile is all a personal choice, which is like a golfer who chooses his style and make of clubs, a bowler who chooses his style and make of ball-either plastic or rubber, et.al, et.al ......

- use what works for you. There is NO definite answer.

-DSM