How To Remove Oil Filter

Concluding Updated on September 23, 2021

Typically, an oil change is a quick and like shooting fish in a barrel procedure, but that quick task can quickly plough into a project when yous can't get the oil filter off. But what leads to the oil filter getting stuck in the get-go identify? And more importantly, how practise you go it off once it is stuck?

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Nosotros'll intermission downwardly iii tried and true methods that are certain to become your filter off in no time – and give y'all some communication for installing your new oil filter, so you're non right back hither at your next oil modify!

Encounter Also: How to Remove a Stripped Oil Drain Bolt

Why Won't My Oil Filter Come Off?

oil filter

There are two master reasons your oil filter might not exist coming off.

Outset, if y'all don't put a sparse layer of new oil around the filter'southward O-ring, it can stick when you're going to remove information technology.
Second, if you install the oil filter besides tight initially, it will further suction in one case you offset the engine and exist extremely difficult to remove.

When installing the new oil filter, information technology should merely be hand tight, don't use a filter wrench or anything like that, or you'll struggle to remove the old filter.

While at that place's zilch you tin can do about this after the fact, when yous practise go the old filter off they're important things to continue in mind to continue it from happening again!

Which Way Should an Oil Filter Unscrew?

direction to loosen oil filter

Earlier diving into these filter removal methods, you demand to ensure y'all're unscrewing the filter – not accidentally tightening it. To remove the oil filter, y'all demand to turn it counterclockwise when looking upwardly at the filter.

The saying "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey" applies to virtually whatever item with threads that allows tightening or loosening (as it does here).

The first clue yous're going the wrong way is if the filter moves just doesn't first to go easier to unscrew – only instead gets tighter. Unfortunately, if yous've been cranking on the filter the wrong manner, information technology just might be stuck at present.

You may think you would personally never plow it the wrong fashion merely when y'all have to contort your body to become to a difficult to reach filter, it'due south not as easy as facing the filter directly on.

How to Remove a Stuck Oil Filter

Once you lot realize the oil filter won't come off by paw, it's fourth dimension to move onto some of the other options you lot have bachelor. Below nosotros've highlighted the three best methods – and when you should use each one to remove a seized oil filter.

#1 – Use an Oil Filter Wrench – (Best Method)

use an oil filter wrench

Oil filter wrenches be for a reason – they do a dandy job at removing old oil filters. These tools come up in various sizes that can help if your oil filter is in a difficult-to-reach place or yous need a piffling extra power.

If yous take a prophylactic gripper oil filter wrench and information technology keeps slipping off, y'all can always install a ring of sandpaper around the inside of the filter wrench to go a petty actress grip – which leads u.s.a. straight to our next option.

#2 – Unscrew with Sandpaper – (Inexpensive Method)

sandpaper oil filter

If you don't want to spend a ton of money, one of the oldest tricks in the volume is wrapping sandpaper around the filter. This play a joke on is extremely useful because it works fifty-fifty if the filter is in a difficult-to-reach identify.

Non but that, simply many people have sandpaper lying around already, and if y'all don't it's non very expensive.

The sandpaper grit grabs the filter and makes it easier to twist off. Fifty-fifty better, you can either do this pull a fast one on by hand, or yous can still use a filter wrench – giving y'all the best of both worlds!

#3 – Screwdriver and Hammer – (Last Resort)

stuck oil filter

Sometimes it doesn't matter what you practise the filter will beginning to beat out before it twists off. When this happens, the only surefire style to become your filter off is to utilize a screwdriver and a hammer.

This isn't always easy depending on the oil filter's location, and keep in heed it's going to make a mess, then keep an oil pan or 2 and a few PIG mats handy. Simply hammer a long flat head screwdriver directly through the quondam oil filter.

Once it'due south completely through the oil filter, simply turn the screwdriver, and there should be enough force to pull off the former filter.

Bulldoze the screwdriver though as high as possible on the sometime filter, as this reduces the adventure of the old filter shearing off. If the filter does start to shear, finish what y'all're doing and go dorsum to using an oil filter wrench – and wrap it as high around the filter equally possible.

If yous however tin can't get information technology off, you lot can shear the residue of the oil filter off before using vice grips and a hammer to piece of work off the rest of the filter. Merely keep in mind that this won't be easy either, and so but shear off the bottom of the filter if you take no other choice.