I am noticing that I am having problems removing my oil filters lately, the last 2 oil filters I removed, I actualy crushed the oil filters as I was removing them, yes I hand tighting them, yes I put oil on the gasket, I did have to clean the base where the oil filter connects to the engine block, it had a little crud, these issues only happen with the Fram filters, maybe the metal is cheap, this did not happen with the Napa filters. It is almost like the oil filter is stuck permanently to the engine, maybe some crud that was cleaned off by Auto-Rx is on the threads that the oil filter screws onto, I did not clean that off, if anyone has any ideas please let me know, I am 700 miles into final clean phase, something inside engine is going on because the car is running cooler than it ever was before and the thermostat is working properly, could the liquified crud that is going to oil filter make getting it off difficult because it is getting on oil filter threads, any ideas would be appreciated, am I doing something wrong. I should also add that the Napa filters were a little difficult to get off, but not as hard as the Fram Filters.
I would suggest you get a cap style filter wrench - the type that attaches to the filter endcap. I've found this is the tool that works best for removing those filters that really weld themselves in place.
"...could the liquified crud that is going to oil filter make getting it off difficult because it is getting on oil filter threads"
The problem your experiencing has to do with the gasket bonding to the engine, not the threads.
Turbo Jim, thanks for the reply, I returned my Fram filters and got 2 Mobil 1 oil filters, I noticed they have a thicker gasket, meaning wider than the Fram's, what could be causing the gasket to bond to the engine, I did clean a little crud off of the oil filter pad where the gasket meets the oil filter pad, I will get the type of oil cap that mates to the oil filter tomorrow, talked to Frank, he said get rid of the Fram's, where the oil filter gasket seals to the engine can any crud get in there or around there to cause it to be difficult to remove filter, on a side note I am 1000 miles into final rinse, engine is running great, will be happy when 3000 miles are up.
Turbo Jim, got the cap style oil filter removal tool, oil filter came right off, the one that clamped on just crunched the filter, talked to a mechanic, he said that when you oil the oil filter seal to use the old oil and not the new oil because the old oil has been heated and cooled making it less likely for the oil filter to bond with the engine block.
When I used my cap style oil filter wrench, I was about to put the socket wrench on it but the Mobil 1 filter was a little longer and I did not have enough room, so I looked through my tool box and craftsman has this little 3/8 adapter that I stuck on the filter cap wrench, all I did was get a 9/16 box wrench and the filter was off, great for getting into tight spaces where you cannot get a socket wrench on because of space limitations.
Turbo Jim, I have to find out the name of the adapter and post it, basicaly if you have a socket wrench, it is the nipple that you put the socket on, if there is no room for a socket wrench this thing goes on the cap wrench and all you do is get a box or open end 9/16 wrench, I like it because with the socket wrench can be to big and if you have the space limitations there are many different sizes of 9/16 wrenches from stubby to long style, with a ratchet you can run into many problems in tight spaces.
I found it, went out to my garage tonite, its a Craftsmen 3- Piece Socket Cap Set, used to turn sockets with a wrench in limited access areas, the part no. is 943303, in that part number the number 9 is small with a line underneath, could not duplicate that in typing the part number, this 3 piece set includes 1/4",3/8",1/2" socket caps, cannot remember how much I paid for it, on the back cover at the bottom the skew numbers read as, D9 M43303, I hope this helps everyone, sorry I did not post this at first but I just grabbed the thing to get the filter off.
