Hey guys,
I just thought I would share my oil changing experiences from this weekend. I decided to change to synthetic oil (I just bought this car 2 1/2 months ago) so I gather up 4 quarts of mobil 1 synthetic, mobile 1 oil filter, and a cup filter wrench to fit. I drain the old conventional oil, start on the filter only to find out that I can't get the cup on the filter at all. It seems that when I purchased my car, the dealer changed the oil (I expected them to, it was part of the deal) and installed an oil filter that was a little long and gave little clearence to the water line that runs almost right behind the filter. It took me an hour of trying different positions with the cup wrench, strap wrench, hell I even hammered a screw driver in the case to attempt to spin the damn thing off. Well all of this was futile, of course, and I didn't want to spend 39 bucks for the filter pliers that was available at my local rip off, I mean autoparts store. Long story short, I had to grind of the rivot on the strap wrench so I could fish the thing around the filter, hole in position with one hand, while I attempted to line up and insert the rivot back in the hole and take the filter off. Not easy when your on your back, oil is dripping down your arm (and it isn't warm any more btw) and all I can think of is the six pack in the fridge and my fiance waiting inside for me ;). I got the rivot inserted after about 30 minutes of playing with the thing spun off the old fiter and replaced with the significantly heavier, but about an inch shorter mobile one filter (yes I can use a regular filter wrench on this one). Hopefully if any of you all were wrenching on your car this weekend. I was the only moron completing a 2 hour oil change (my usual time is about 5-10 minutes).

Happy Monday everyone
Michael