The Following Is A Public Service Announcement For Oil Changes

**OsirisGuy** · 08-17-2009, 02:59 AM

When doing oil changes please make sure to start anything that screws in by HAND TIGHTENING them.

When starting the oil pan bolt, start it by hand and when you can not turn it by hand any more then use a wrench and do not, DO NOT, over tighten it. Doing so will strip both the bolt and oil pan.

When replacing the oil filter only use your hand to tighten it. There should be no real need to use a wrench or use excessive force to put the filter on. If you must use a wrench to tighten the filter do not exceed the amount of times it can physically turn. Mostly a nice tight, hand tight fit is sufficient enough.

Thank You,
Joe.

bloodyspirit058 · 08-17-2009, 03:16 AM

i usually do hand tight than 1/4 turn with a oil filter wrench, but i'm not the strongest person out there...

ALSO! make sure the old oil filter o-ring came off with the old filter, if it didn't and you think 2 o-rings are better than 1, your screwed...

**SpectorV** · 08-17-2009, 08:24 AM

+1 I almost had to take a screw driver to my wife's car to get the oil filter off... no need to have it that tight EVER.

DarkShadow · 08-17-2009, 12:46 PM

And also remember that when the hot oil circulates through it causes the filter to tighten just a bit more. So if you hercules it on, you will have that much more effort to get it back off again.

**OsirisGuy** · 08-17-2009, 08:07 PM

Absolutely guys.

If you couldn't tell I was talking from (a recent) experience and had to vent a little.

The stripped bolt made me spill some oil and I completely destroyed the oil filter and wound up puncturing it. I completely destroyed a 50 year old oil filter wrench as well. I had to call up a friend to bring over a gigantic pipe wrench to get it off.

The engine was also well cooled off.

I'm just glad I did it now so I shouldn't deal with that problem again. However I will now have to go and get the oil pan and bolt re-threaded.

lowflyn · 08-17-2009, 08:42 PM

Yupp...I've had to take off many another person's oil filter with a screw driver and a few strap wrenches.

ThaWill · 08-17-2009, 10:31 PM

The first oil change after you buy a new car almost always requires the "stab with screwdriver and twist" method

also don't forget to lube up the new filter gasket with some of your new oil!

**OsirisGuy** · 08-17-2009, 10:53 PM

Absolutely!

I filled up the new filter with some new oil, stuck my finger in the oil and placed a nice seal on the entire top of the filter (concentrating on the gasket) just to make sure it would have a good start.

I also put a little bit of new oil around the oil pan bolt when putting it back in.

**SpectorV** · 08-18-2009, 09:05 AM

yea I think from the factory they are put on with some sort of impact type thing and are to tight

Otlaw80 · 08-19-2009, 06:44 PM

haha, the other tech at work always overtightens both filters and bolts. pisses me off when i'm the one that does the next oil change on the car.

**SaleenFiend** · 08-21-2009, 03:25 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by OsirisGuy I'm just glad I did it now so I shouldn't deal with that problem again. However I will now have to go and get the oil pan and bolt re-threaded.

Run to Autozone, Napa, or etc. to pick up and oversized bolt. Screw it right in until it is snug. BTW make sure the bolt goes in completely straight, and I usually try to find a bolt that has some type of washer,gasket if not use a crush washer.


Quote: Originally Posted by SpectorV yea I think from the factory they are put on with some sort of impact type thing and are to tight

While assembled the robot tightens the oil filter on to a specific torque spec. Although this is not necessary in any oil change. You can just tighten the filter 1/4 or 1/8 (depending on threads) of a hand tight turn.

**OsirisGuy** · 08-21-2009, 07:54 PM

Yeah I know I can go with an over sized bolt that will rethread the pan, but the extra effort I can deal with right now and there are no leaks, so getting it perfect is on the list but there are other things I have to take care of first.

I'm sure the filter is tight from the factory, but I'm pretty sure the filter has been changed a few times since (60,000+ miles and a non-ford/motorcraft filter; looked like a lube shop brand).

**SaleenFiend** · 08-21-2009, 08:05 PM


Quote: Originally Posted by OsirisGuy I'm sure the filter is tight from the factory, but I'm pretty sure the filter has been changed a few times since (60,000+ miles and a non-ford/motorcraft filter; looked like a lube shop brand).

Lol. I know. I was replying to what Spec had said about the factory filter.

**OsirisGuy** · 08-21-2009, 08:30 PM

Haha. So was I. Either that or now I'm just confused.

LuminaV2 · 09-08-2009, 11:54 PM

Oh Christ. The factory filter on my Mustang was a S.O.B. to get off. Couldn't get a good jab with the screw driver, so I ended up bending it with my oil filter wrench. It was terrible. I've got one to do later this week on pay day, so hopefully that one won't be as bad.

DarkShadow · 09-14-2009, 10:54 PM

The previous owner of my truck apparently always took it to Express or something for oil changes. I did a change Saturday for the trip back up to base with it and the mother fuckers impact wrenched the oil pan bolt, naturally, and by the time I got the goddamn oil filter off it was warped, dented, torn, and had three holes in it...

LuminaV2 · 09-16-2009, 11:20 PM

^ I feel your pain. My oil filter looked like it had been hit by a friggen bomb when I got it off my car.

Thomas91169 · 09-30-2009, 05:42 AM

autozone/kragens (checker), etc all sell this nifty little oil filter wrench. Its not the strap kind either.

Works perfect on removing old tight filters, and can be used in just about any situation. Ive used to grab the filter on the end and twist using the wrench like a screwdriver. Plus it doubles as a coil-over spanner wrench as well.

heres another piece of advice, make sure you put the drain plug back in the pan before filling...........

**OsirisGuy** · 10-01-2009, 12:59 AM


Quote: Originally Posted by Thomas91169 heres another piece of advice, make sure you put the drain plug back in the pan before filling...........

I prefer to cycle the oil through the engine a few times.

As for the wrench, it was hard enough to get channel locks in there to get it off. Hopefully I won't need anything heavy duty anymore, and if I will I'm going to just pick up a universal socket-type filter wrench at Sears.