Tight enough?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Boxerfan

Joined
Nov 8, 2013
Messages
99
Country flag
How tight is tight enough? This 'spin-on' oil filter resisted for a good couple of hours before I made it see sense. It wouldn't budge by hand & there's no space to use a chain wrench, so I pierced it with a screwdriver. That bent, so I used a bigger one, which just tore the canister. I retired hurt, to browse the net for oil filter tools, and had at it again the next day after a trip to Halfords to buy a set of slip-joint oil filter pliers. Success, but only just, as they were slipping...
So yeah, I'd like to shake the hand of the mechanic who fitted that filter hand tight. Or maybe not...

Tight enough?
[/URL]
Tight enough?
[/URL]
 
Ugh!

A smear of oil on the gasket, and hand tight should do it. I use a 15 point oil filter "socket". Works in tight places, and grips the filter best.

When patience and prudence fail, I resort to your screwdriver method.

Slick
 
As a teenager I was taught 2 hands with a shop rag for tightening oil filters on cars. The Norton filter is small though so would say one big hand and a shop rag. It is supposed to have a hose clamp too just in case.
 
I imagine most of us have had the nasty displeasure of removing one of those somewhere in our life. 'Had one on a car engine that, fortunately, was on the side of the block (straight-six), out in the open. After all the sheet metal can and filter material had been forcefully torn away, a sharp cold chisel finally coaxed the base to turn. Yes, I have seen people use the strap wrench to install the filter to the same perceived torque as what it took to remove the used item. :roll:

Nathan
 
Oil filters seem to be self tightening, you can put them on by hand tight but when you go to change them they seem to be tighter than when you had put them on, they tighten from vibrations, or from the oil on the gasket, or road grime, who knows why but they seem the get tight over time and yes I also have used the screw drive to get them off, my Land Rover filter is in a position between the manifold and turbo and very hard to get to with anything, so hand tight when put on and hopefully can get it off with my hand and a bastard to get out when it's undone, what a mess it makes spills all over the place and always misses the big oil pan under it.

Ashley
 
I usually do the oil changes on our cars as well as the 2 bikes. Only in the winter months do I take it into have it done.
About 2 weeks ago I crawled under my sons Focus and guess what, it was like welded on. It started to twist the body with the wrench.
I had enough sense to stop and run up to the quick lube store before I punctured it and was unable to drive.
It took them about 20 minutes on the lift and a very large screwdriver.
I use the hand tight method. It wont fall off.
 
I think that because of the big hose clamp used to mechanically secure the filter to the mount it does not even need to be as tight as the usual automotive spin-on does. Once it is tight enough to not leak, it's good.
 
Same as Thomas . A strap wrench , same one that works with the fork slider collars. I thought the rubber seal needed light grease not oil. :)
 
I put silicone grease on mine and just tight enough to seal.
Always comes off easy when needed to.
 
They do get tighter after installation. The o-ring swells. I did a bench test soaking in oil everything from Buna N to Neoprene to Viton to EPDM. They all swelled, Viton was best.
Jaydee
 
For the car I use a cheap c-shaped wrench with handle and clamp it as close as possible to the base of the filter. When it's loose put a plastic bag over filter, finish unscrewing by hand and drop it into bag. Much less mess.
 
Guido said:
I put silicone grease on mine and just tight enough to seal.
Always comes off easy when needed to.
Click to expand...

A good tip, the silicone will not swell the seal and must act as a protective layer to stop the oil getting in, just need the jubilee clip to stop it vibrating off.

I use Silicone spray on nylon garage door tracks that you are warned not to oil or grease for the very same reason, never thought of doing the same on the filter rubber seal but will now.
 
Hi

We have to put a hose clamp around the filter & lockwire the clamp to the frame when racing. If you do this you only need to do the filter up finger tight.
They always seem to tighten themselves once they get hot anyway.

Chris
 
Best advice. Follow the instructions. Wind filter on till the rubber touches the 1/2 a turn. 'That's all that is usually needed. No need for the hose clamp either. They don't have them on diesels or petrol cars. { someone said that because the Norton engine vibrates so much, the filter will come loose. } According to the TUI ad. " Yeh Right" .

THERE ARE USUALLY "SHIT FOR BRAINS" FITTERS OUT THERE BUT THEY ARE NOT MECHANICS.

Dereck
 
I usually don't have a problem removing any oil filter I've put on myself, but some brands are getting so thin and tinny that just tightening them with a wrench kinks the metal outer shell enough to cause a leak. For that reason I will never buy another Autolite oil filter. I try to stick with Wix on everything.

I know they say hand-tighten, but I'm paranoid about hand-tightening anything that could allow all the oil to leak out and ruin your engine before you knew what was happening. For that reason, I always apply an extra half-turn with a wrench after hand-tightening. I know I don't have the hand strength I used to have.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

olympus
Am i brave enough??
2
Replies
22
Views
1,080
Lineslinger
Lineslinger
The yaki
Kickstart oil seal very tight ?
Replies
14
Views
633
The yaki
The yaki
Dan1950
  • Locked
When to Leave Well Enough Alone?
2
Replies
32
Views
2,207
jseng1
jseng1
MikeG
  • Locked
swing arm spindle....how tight
Replies
10
Views
1,067
MikeG
MikeG
fiatfan
  • Locked
Rocker spring washer - not enough room?
2
Replies
31
Views
2,469
MichaelB
MichaelB
Back
Top