How to Loosen Oil Filter Without Any Damage – 6 Expert Tips
An oil change is a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Even though it may be a little messy, it isn’t that hard. However, there are those tricky situations where you may experience a bit of a struggle removing a stubborn oil filter but have no interest in destroying it to get it to loosen.
No worries, here are six of our top expert tips to help you loosen up that stubborn oil filter and remove it without damaging a thing.
6 Expert Tips to Loosening an Oil Filter Without Any Damage
Many people tend to get overly frustrated with a tight oil filter, and instead of practicing patience, they end up tearing it off and destroying it, poking at it with a screw driver with no hopes of reusing it and creating a giant mess
Here are a few great ways to loosen that filter cleanly and calmly.
1. A Filter Wrench
The first option, and most obvious, is an oil filter wrench. This engine oil wrench is specifically designed to grip an oil filter, giving you a good angle and firmness to twist the filter with a little extra power while still not causing too much damage to the metal shell.
There are many different engine oil filter wrenches you can use to get this project accomplished effectively.
- Strap wrench – A strap wrench is a tool that has a metal handle and a heavy-duty strap that grabs the oil filter and gives the user the ability to twist it with more force.
- Chain loop – A chain loop oil filter wrench is used like a strap wrench. However, instead of a smooth strap, the chain grips the filter’s outer shell holding onto it tightly.
- Spider Wrench – The spider has three metal arm-like extensions that, once placed on the bottom of the filter, grasp the container and turn the filter.
- Pliers – Oil filter pliers work like regular pliers; however, the shape is designed to grasp the motor oil filter and hold it in place while you spin the tool.
Any of these options are highly effective and frequently used by auto mechanics and DIYers.
2. A Belt
While this may seem a little 1980s McGiver, it is a useful way to loosen that filter without bending it or destroying the threads.
Take your leather belt (leather is best because it won’t slide easily, but any belt will actually do.) and loop it through the buckle without locking it in. Next, wrap the belt around the filter nice and snug. Once it is tightly gripping the filter, twist it counterclockwise until it starts to swivel.
3. Lube it Up
Sometimes, all you have to do is add a little lubricant to the filter’s threads to make them slick and hopefully loose enough to twist the filter just hard enough to move it along the track.
The best way to do this is by using the oil that you are putting into the vehicle. Dab a significant amount onto your finger and run it along the top of the filter, allowing it to seep into the slits, give it a few moments to work its way down, then twist.
You can also use the go-to DIY lubricant and grab a can of WD-40 and spray a small amount on the threads.
4. Tighten it Up, Then Loosen it Again
Tightening the filter even more may seem a little counterproductive. However, it can be a simple and not so obvious way to remove that stubborn oil filter.
An oil filter twists in a counterclockwise motion to spin down the threads and come loose. If the filter is off track just a little, it can cause a stuck filter and not budge.
Twisting the filter clockwise can help get it back on track and allow you to twist in the opposite direction releasing the filter.
5. Utilize a Little Bit of Sandpaper
Finding a way to get a tight grip is the best way to loosen up your oil filter. What better to grip something with than a piece of sandpaper?
Go into your toolbox and grab a square sheet of sandpaper. Wrap the gritty side around the filter and grab onto it like you are picking up a pop can. Now twist with a little counterclockwise force and hopefully, the filter will move with you. If not, just try twisting it a little bit harder.
6. Just Use Your Hand
Last but certainly not least, have some patience and try to wiggle the filter around while twisting it with your bare hands. Even when working with vehicles, less is often more.
The oil filter casing can take more pressure than you think from a bare hand, don’t be scared to grab ahold of it and give it a good turn to loosen it up.
How to Keep Your Oil Filter From Getting Stuck
Honestly, the easiest way to loosen a stuck oil filter is by preventing it from getting stuck in the first place. The main reason filters are hard to remove is that people over-tighten them when they first put them on.
When you twist your filter on really tight, the gasket will seal the filter on and not allow for any wiggle room.
It is a good rule of thumb not to twist the filter with any force and to wipe a layer of oil on the threads before putting the filter into place.
Summing Things Up
Having a stuck oil filter can be a giant pain in the side. However, it doesn’t have to be the end of the filter or your patience. There are many ways you can loosen an over-tightened old oil filter while still keeping it intact.
So, before you go stabbing your oil filter with a screwdriver, give one of our expert tips a try.
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