I seafoamed my car the other day, and I went to change the oil. I couldnt get the filter off for the life of me, I even did the screw driver method in an act of desperation. Tried channel locks too. Ended up shearing it in half, All thats basicly left of the oil filter is the top part that screws onto the block. I see about 5 or 6 holes, I tried taking this v-shaped tool I have and sticking it in one of the holes and hammering it lose.. doesnt work. This thing is damn stuck. A friend of mine suggested maybe taking a drill and progressivly making one of the holes bigger and bigger untill I can some how cut through it enough that I can just pry the filter off the threads. Im just at a complete loss right now, and the worse part about it, is its like 25 degrees outside and my car is in my driveway almost covered in snow. I even took wd-40 and sprayed it into the holes hoping to losen the gasket. I know there are some threads about this problem, but ive never seen anyone say that they got it off. A couple people mentioned that there is 2 7/16th bolts holding the oil filter adapter to the block, but I cant access them.

Very very easy, now that the tin-foil part is out of the way.

Take a chisel or something. Put it on the edge of the plate, at an angle. Cut a notch with it first it necessary. Strike with BFH.

Alright, going outside and trying that, thanks once again sofaking =D

If you haven't got it off that way you could use the oil wrench 5 to 10 dollar tool at a auto shop if what he said didn't work try that.

Well I tried the chisel thing, didnt work allthough I did get a damn good bite into the top part of the filter. Sprayed pb blaster into the holes hoping it would help break the seal. Not moving a bit.

My dad said that once I get done fixing his car (stupid piece of **** 3.8 liter ford mustang, head gasket lawl), that he would pay to have my car towed and taken to a shop to get fixed. I would rather him not do that considering it would probably turn out to be more expensive than he would want it to be.

berlin305: There isnt enough filter left for me to use the wrench, and I tried it before I destroyed the filter, it still wouldnt move. Thats why I used the screwdriver method then when that failed I used channel locks.

Its weird though, I put the filter on before I put the engine in, and I hand tightened it.. Its like a gorilla put it on.

did you put the filter on, sounds like it may be cross threaded...

Hey Waax, is there enough of the filter left to put a "strap" type oil filter wrench on it ? Also, another idea would be to try using a pair of channel
locks on it . The channel locks I'm talking about are HUGE and about
15-20 bucks. I believe they will open well over six inches and they grip
like a wolverine. With handles nearly 18" long they have plenty of leverage.
Hope you get it off! On a more positive note - I'm sure you've got a few new additions to your "creative cursing vocabulary",


" The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing...
if you can fake that,you've got it made. "
Groucho Marx

Yeah I put it on, went on with ease and I hand tightened it.

I wish I had a welder, I would make a special tool that went in all 7 holes with a bolt on it so I could just use a socket wrench and take it off =\.

Anyone know if they make those tools?
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Yeah I used one of those circular metal oil filter wrenches that tightens when you pull on it, didnt use a strap one. I tried using channel locks on it but thats what ended up shearing the filter in half.

Theres not enough material left on the circumference of the filter for me to get a strap based oil filter wrench around.

Haha, yeah, my cursing vocabulary has gotten a little bit bigger because of this expierence, unfortunatly (I swear too often as it is lol)

At this stage, just grab some pliers and tear the remnants out. All that you'll have left is the threaded part (stuck) once you're done. Rip the center part out until you can get to those two bolts. Remove those then just pull the whole thing out. Then you can put it on your bench vise and have some room to tear the thing off.
If needed you might be able to buy a new oil filter adapter, but I doubt those are in stock near you, not really a wear item eh?

I bet all he will have to do is loosen the two bolts that hold the adapter on. That will loosen up the filter o-ring and let it come off. Next time smear a little oil on the o-ring and don't tighten the filter as tight.

Theres nothing really I can grab with pliers, thats why my friend mentioned maybe drilling the holes out bigger untill the outer area of the thing just falls off (the sealing part) and then just undo screw part off the threads.

This sure is a pain in the *** >.<

The top part of the filter with the 7 small holes in it block my access to the bolts. I think tomorrow im just going to drill all the holes out big enough to where I connect them all causing the outer part of the filter to just fall off. Then ill be able to unscrew the rest by hand *hopefully, and if not then ill undo the two adapter bolts you guys are talking about, and dealing with it that way*.

Oh, I thought by now you've wallowed those holes into nothing. Go for it. There's really little you can screw up at this point. Worst case is you need to get a new oil filter adapter. Give'r some wrecking power man! Release the beast within!

If you look at that image, the only part left of my oil filter is the plate that has the seal on it, with the holes.

Ok then, open up those holes and remove the oil filter pad by taking the bolts out. If it is cross threaded, get a new one, if the filter comes right off, bolt it back on.

well if that fails use some vice grips. that might work. just be sure to turn it the right way or ur asking for trouble and accidently cross threading you're oil filter's plug
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nevermind my last statement yea sounds like when u put the filter on it cross threaded if you're having htat much trouble. you will need to get an adapter. fyi i would just be on the safe side so that don't happen again. make sure you get some oil on the gasket so it don't get stuck again.

Next possible trick that comes to mind is to make a "spanner" wrench: take a piece of strip stock like 1" x ¼" thick and maybe a foot or so long; drill 2 holes into it at one end, the same distance apart as 2 of the holes in the filter baseplate that are across from each other; put 2 bolts & nuts into the holes in the strip stock; stick the ends of the bolts into the baseplate holes; turn.

I can't believe you couldn't get it off with a chisel.... never seen one that didn't work on, when the edge is exposed.

well if you get it off,you can put a new adapter in without the bypass spring in it.

+1

The gasket is stuck to the adapter. I just drive a screwdriver between the filter and the housing when that happens. It will bend the filter (it's weaker than the base) and release the gasket.

With that method, it sounds like youll run the risk of marring the gasket surface. Gets the filter off, but it may cause an oil leak.

Im also surprised that the chisel method didnt work, especially when it was hand tightened. Did you prelube the seal?

I agree there is some risk, but I've done it 10 or 15 times and no problems yet. It's usually from fast lube places that gorilla them on without oiling the gasket, or filters than have been on for 50K miles.

Must have been the Seafoam.

Put a thin screwdriver in one of the holes, and try to pry it down - not to pry the oil filter off the engine, but to try to get the outside with the seal down off the block, then you could:

A) have something to grab onto a twist it off.

B) access the adapter bolts to the block.

This may sound stupid and I don't mean to piss you off anymore than you are already at this point, but are you turning the right way? I know lying on your back, with filter right side up, it can be confusing on which direction is loosening.

First time I ever changed oil in a car (when I was like 14), I used the filter wrench to tighten oil filter back on. Duh! Ran into same situation when removing months later. To get off, I used the screw driver method (didn't work), then the large channel locks (worked). But I remember trying to turn the wrong way.

Boy, was I a dumb kid...lol

Also, don't know if this is a good idea or not but maybe take a small butane torch and apply some heat to threaded end. Never tried this but heat works in other applications where stuck rusted bolts/nuts won't come loose. I would ask someone else before trying this method or make sure you have a fire extinguisher very close.

I hope you get it off.

So did you get it off?
If not take 2 philips screw drivers that fit in the holes, put a wrench
between them and turn it out.