anyone know how to get an oil filter off that refuses to turn. I've tried several different types of filter wrenches, and have even tried this clamp that ended up just bending the filter all the way around, and the then still wouldn't move. Any other ideas? thanks.

I've had some luck breaking them loose by driving a screwdriver against the rim of the filter. May take a while crawling around until you find the right angle of approach, but it has always worked for me. Great object lesson in proper filter installation. I never put one on that tight again.

this, but when you do install your new filter, DO put a thin coating of oil on the filter o-ring seal. Jiffy lube probably didn't do this cause they were in such a jiffy, hence it caused it to bind to the housing. You will most likely need to check for old stuck seal melted to the housing, get all of this off before you put a new one on!

just a reminder. Good luck!
Chuck

"Jiffy lube probably didn't do this cause they were in such a jiffy, hence it caused it to bind to the housing. You will most likely need to check for old stuck seal melted to the housing..."


Yet another reason NEVER to let the quickie shops change your oil! If they never get their hands on your car, they'll never screw it up! The only excuse would be if you just bought this car and you can blame the PO.

There. I feel better now.

Doug Harvey

Better than the IPD tool, even better than the screwdriver method:

BIGASS round mouth Visegrips (Sears, Lowe's, etc all seem to carry these).

Screw 'em down to the right diameter and clamp 'em in place. Then you can yank, jerk or beat it off.

Also it's sometime easier with car warm. Try some PB Blaster from the outside, too.
--
Paul's Amsoil and other lubricants

Sorry, this does not answer your question, rather it is a related question to other posters.

Has anyone used the oil filter wrench sold by ipd. The one that looks like a big pair of channel locks. If there is room to get to the filter with it (which I'm wondering if there is), those should help avoid situations like this.

It could be the motor mounts have gone bad...

See, what happens is when the mounts start to go bad, the engine starts to sag... Eventually, the oil filter rests on the car frame with the engine pushing down on it.

Just make sure this isn't the case. If it's difficult to put your MANN oil filter on afterwords, then the mounts are probably bad.

Try your other methods first. If all fails, then remove the right engine mount and the alternator (ya, I know this really sucks), this will allow you enough room to get a pipe wrench or such on the inside filter rim and break it free.

Also before you get into the screwdriver thing, punch a small hole in the bottom of the filter so the oil will drain out (build a funnel out of cardboard so it will neatly flow into a receptical).

Good luck, this type of thing can ruin a bad day.

Sounds like the guys from Jiffy Lube were there.

Try putting a sheet of coarse sandpaper and a large hose clamp, the type with the screw adjustment, around the filter - make sure the screwhead is pointing up on the left side so there's a clear shot at it with a long, large screwdriver. Tighten in down as far as it will go. Leave the screwdriver in place, then give it some shots from above with a hammer.

I've used the screwdriver through the filter mehtod, and if all else fails, that should work, if a little messy.

Just remember that once you have hammered the screwdriver through you won't be able to drive to a service station to get them to do it.

"All else", including the punch-thru screwdriver did fail on me. I was lucky to have an Air Hammer with a blunt punch head, and found a thick metal part near the seal end (inside the torn up casing) that the hammer could work against. Even with that, it took several raps to budge it.

No doubt the jerk who "installed" it wears a 19" collar and a size 5" hat.
--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current)
'80 GLE V8 (Now gone)
'83 Turbo 245
'73 142 (98K)
'71 144 (track modified--and still here)
New 144 from '67 to '78
Used '62 122 from '63 to '67

when I had this problem, I drove a long screwdriver all the way through the filter and then turned it....kinda dangerous, but it worked...good luck
nate gundy
--
'86 240DL, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways

I once did the screwdriver-thru method on my wife's ex-car ('88 V6 T-Bird: worst car to change the oil on, in my experience; Best: MGB). Once the screwdriver was through the filter, I tried to turn it, and just succeeded in opening a big gash in both sides of the filter, rendering the car quite stationary. I'll never do it again.

Took my 1800ES to JiffyLube for its first oil change, as I couldn't get the filter off. Told them not to touch anything else. Watched the guy through the glass as he checked my windshield washer fluid. Sure enough, the pump didn't work after that. Finally wrangled a refund from their coprorate office, and all they sent me was a gift certificate for a free oil change. I sent it back with a letter explaining that that did not constitute a refund, and never heard from them again. I'll never do that again.

Only real usefull advice I can give is that I just did my first oil change on my 240, and it was far more easily accessible from underneath with the car up on jackstands than it ever would have been from above.

Good luck,
-EdM.
Franklin, MA
'90 240DL Wagon "Lola"
'72 1800ES "Galadriel"

I've had this happen too many times.--I have a pair of pipe pliers really big--maybe 18inches or so...If you grind the middle rivet,the thing that the two pieces pivot on,grind it down flat on both sides, it will just fit in between
the exhast pipes and edge of the engine. this gives you a lot of grip at the base of the filter. It'ssorta like the thin tool that IPD sells. Good Luck
gregg 75 brick