Thread: stubborn oil filter need help quick please!

A simple freakin oil change has turned into a 3hr long nightmare. My old oil filter is not coming off with different methods. First I tried by hand and barely turned. Then put on my gloves still barely turns. Then tried the screwdriver trick and I got some more turn out of it but its still tough. Lastly used oil filter wrench which helped a lil but that filter is still on most the way and barely budging anymore. Im tired and hot I cant believe a simple oil filter change has became this bad. I put a few holes in it so I cant drive it without leaking oil and just to make sure im turning it the right way, I turn it towards the front of the car not towards the back right? Any help please?

Turn it counter clockwise if your looking at the bottom of the filter.

I just changed mine on Saturday and my filter was on pretty good. I tried the oil filter wrench, big pliers, etc. Finally it started moving slowly. I couldn't figure out exactly why it was on so tight. but it finally came off. As posted above, be certain you are turning it counterclockwise.

Ok I have my wheel off and im facing the filter and turning it counter clockwise is that the same way? I have done 3 previous oil/filter changes on this car and forgot which way i turned it.Smh but its also never been on this tight.

thats what happens when you dont lube the gasket

you want to turn it to the rear of the car to remove it. when the body is crushed and has holes, it no longer works well as part of the removal. you now want to get large channel lock pliers, or a filter wrench that has pliers like jaw, and crab the filter high, near the top where it mounts to the engine, as that is the only place left with any structure.

Previous oil change I did lube that top gasket with oil but I guess not enough. And that's what Im thinking by turning it towards the rear,I May have been turning it the wrong way.

thought so, so you made it tighter, thats why it only move a little bit.

Well people I got the damn filter off. Turns out I was just turning it the wrong way,silly me. Used the filter wrench turning the other way and after a few muscles were put into it,it became loose and now its done. Thanks all and thanks scotty.

no problem, glad it came off. now the new one, you oil the seal, then turn it hand tight, then 1/4 turn more.

Mabe have a rachet near by to make sure your turning it the right way haha, simple little mistake. I also only put it on hand tight, the filter will tighten up a little bit by itself as the motor goes threw heat cycles.

I never lube my gasket, havent had an issue.

Yea all that time I was so sure I was turning it the right way come to find out it was the wrong way lol. But now ill remember next time for sure.

I did that once. Just once. Lesson learned

When in doubt about something like this.. orient yourself so you are looking at the end of the item. Then move your hand counter clockwise and follow that over to the item.

In this case, lay on the ground looking at the sky. Turn your hand counter clockwise and follow that to the car.

I did this once also. Its easy to get confused when the orientation of the things your loosening / tightening changes.

crushed the damn thing with an oil wrench.

Originally Posted by locuno1

if you have to drill a hole in it and stick a screwdriver in it. other wise use a filter wrench

this trick here^^^^ is the worst one out there, now the filter if full of oil, and its ripped. and still on the engine 90% of the time.

avoid this one.

No worries guys, once I figured out the proper direction I was to turn it was cake after that. The difference maker was I usually lay on my back and do it but I simply forgot which way I turned it last time. Then by removing the wheel it was to be turned reverse from how I did it.