Over tightening oil and fuel filters

[Andrew_99GTP]

I am a diesel tech at a coal mine, and at a coal mine the mechanics only work on the equipment owned by the coal mine. At this coal mine the part of the shop I work in we only work on the big equipment (any over the road truck or smaller we don't touch). We do all of our own oil changes (in other words we don't have a special crew for this). What I hate is when I go to remove the oil filters or fuel filters and the guy before me has made them so tight that I can get the dang thing to come off. The oil and fuel filters are the same as the ones on an over the road truck, just a little bigger and more of them. I don't see why they can't just hand tighten them and call it good. I know of certain people out there that use the filter wrench to get them tight, and when they do this they get them way too tight. I have taken off fuel filters where I have used a 24" chain style filter wrench and I couldn't move it with my arm strength (I am not one to brag ever but I am not a weak guy). I had to sit on my butt and use both of my legs and even then I could hardly get it to move. This particular time took me over an hour to take off two fuel filters. I have them completely shredded. I have seen where guys at work have had to drive a bar through the filter and put a pipe on the bar to get the filter to move. This is very aggravating when this happens. I like when I can take a normal filter wrench and spin the filter loose with no effort. Sorry for the odd vent but this just pisses me off at work.

[Toofastgs]

I hate that too...
What is so hard to under stand hand tight then another 1/4 turn DONE!.
My last 4 oil changes a little tug then filter is lose. no need for a wrench

[archemedes]

seems fairly common with filters, and I have seen some leak from over tightening (or my favorite on a vette it cracked the boss)

[SyntheticShield]

I service a lot of vehicles myself and one of my worst cases came from walmart. That sucker was on there so friggin tight that I even struggled with a filter wrench, the rubber strap type which grip, in my opinion better than any out there. And the filter was totally crushed and tore up by the time I got it off.

Where are you located? I would love to snag a job like that. I guess it would help if you are diesel certified though?

[Andrew_99GTP]

Hmm I thought I had my location set to show up. I am located in New Salem ND, but I work in Beulah ND.

[SyntheticShield]

Hmm I thought I had my location set to show up. I am located in New Salem ND, but I work in Beulah ND.

I checked but didnt see it at the time, but Im kinda multi-tasking here at work and I could have very well missed it.

[Andrew_99GTP]

Nope I went in to my profile and setup my loaction

[Zef_66]

Yeah, I agree 100%. I do all my own oil changes, so it isn't normally an issue. But if I am working on a buddies car, or a new-to-me car, I ***** up a storm when I can't get them loose. I don't own oil filter wrenches because I don't need them when I put the oil filters on.

And if anyone knows anything about rubber gaskets, they know that over tightening them is not doing any better than slightly snug. The only advantage to tightening them would be so they don't vibrate loose. But I can't see that being much of an issue.

[MTXGTP]

WALMART is the worse im a lube tech and when i see a fram oil filter i dig out the filter wrenches.

[Iron Indian]

I do all my own oil changes, and I own a filter wrenchs too. I always tighten mine with a wrench when I do mine (I of course fill the filter with motor oil, lube the seal, and screw the filter on hand tight). I've never had one tough to get off, I just use a wrench, and reverse of removal.

I've known a few people who have had a filter come loose before, I don't take any chances especially when it has to do with oil and presssure. Thats personal preferance though. I feel more comfortable with a little more tightening with a wrench than by just bare handed. I've never had any problems doing what I do and I have piece of mind too.

[GR8racingfool]

I think most people do this is because the car, truck or equipment is not theirs, therefor they don't give a flying F_ _ K if they mess something up.

I have crushed oil filters with the pliers to get them unscrewed after some service center put it on.

I do my own service, so I know it was done right.

But for the company truck, we have that done by a shop. I have a good shop now I trust, but the shop before would do this, and they would over tighten the oil pan plug, and they dang near stripped out the pan by doing so.

~F~

[Reptile]

I've actually had to stab a screwdriver in the side of one with a hammer to get it off....you wanna talk about mad.

[SyntheticShield]

I've actually had to stab a screwdriver in the side of one with a hammer to get it off....you wanna talk about mad.

Speaking of which. I serviced a vehicle before that had just a couple thousand miles on it and the customer wanted to change out the factory fill. Well one thing lead to another and I had to stab the factory filter to get it off it was on there so tight.

Ive done one other vehicle that had the factory filter on it and it was the same way.

[archemedes]

I did my inlaws car a couple months ago (after they went to a local quick lube place) and broke 2 strap wrenches on the stupid thing

[GR8racingfool]

Strap wrenches suck. I use a bad boy like this one:


I also use one like it for my ice machine filters. It will get dang near anything off, or destroy it. But will still get it off for you.

~F~

[GeddyLee]

It will get dang near anything off, or destroy it. But will still get it off for you.

~F~

There is a bad joke lurking in there somewhere..........

I think you need to leave a little message on your next filter change to the other morons to remember not to over tighten the filters.....or something a little more sinister perhaps

[archemedes]

Strap wrenches suck. I use a bad boy like this one:


I also use one like it for my ice machine filters. It will get dang near anything off, or destroy it. But will still get it off for you.

~F~

I have used those, and they slip too much or puncture the filter, I prefer the rubber strap wrench (the only real strap wrenches are adjustable and rubber the metal ones are oil filter wrenches and suck)