HELP: Removing Fram oil filter from F4??

Scratch · 04-30-2005, 8:42 PM

Ok I've read about this happening to other people, but today I'm witnessing it myself. A buddy of mine who rides an F4 came over after our ride to change his oil. Apparently during his last service (not at Honda dealership) the guy took the liberty of installing a piece of crap Fram oil filter. As if that wasn't bad enough he torqued it to hell. My friend ran out to Wal-Mart (close by) and couldn't find a filter wrench (end cap style) to fit the Fram. I told him to try a rubber oil filter wrench and if that doesn't work I suggested the final step in filter frustration, tapping a screwdriver through it. He doesn't seem thrilled about that idea.

Anyone have any suggestions how to remove this thing? It's already got a few dents in it from where we hit it w/ the channel locks, that didn't work obviously. The middle is bruised, but the end and the part near the engine are still fine. What do you guys think?

sheepofblue · 04-30-2005, 8:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scratch

Ok I've read about this happening to other people, but today I'm witnessing it myself. A buddy of mine who rides an F4 came over after our ride to change his oil. Apparently during his last service (not at Honda dealership) the guy took the liberty of installing a piece of crap Fram oil filter. As if that wasn't bad enough he torqued it to hell. My friend ran out to Wal-Mart (close by) and couldn't find a filter wrench (end cap style) to fit the Fram. I told him to try a rubber oil filter wrench and if that doesn't work I suggested the final step in filter frustration, tapping a screwdriver through it. He doesn't seem thrilled about that idea.

Anyone have any suggestions how to remove this thing? It's already got a few dents in it from where we hit it w/ the channel locks, that didn't work obviously. The middle is bruised, but the end and the part near the engine are still fine. What do you guys think?

Strap oil filter. A auto parts store will have one and they fit everything. It will collapse the filter but I got the one off my Pontiac Vibe after the factory mascot put it on (why they don't have a fluffy bunny rather than a Gorilla...)

Scratch · 04-30-2005, 8:54 PM

Steel strap? Rubber, nylon? I have a steel strap wrench but it's too big, by the time you get tension on the filter there's no room left to twist.

HondaGalToo · 04-30-2005, 9:05 PM

I have a small steel strap one that fits on the end of a socket wrench handle. It's bendable, so when I had a stuck filter, I managed to get enough force to get the filter off. The middle of the filter was crushed when I was done, but I did manage to get it off.

stegen · 04-30-2005, 9:34 PM

get a large pliers and grip it right in the middle, crush it alittle and turn. trust me, it works.

sheepofblue · 04-30-2005, 10:17 PM

The strap filter I mentioned is cloth. Made for large truck filter but works small also.

dattaway · 05-01-2005, 8:56 AM

oxy-acetylene torch will get it out.

Scratch · 05-01-2005, 4:19 PM

Update:

Got it off

For anyone who may encounter the same problem or does a search the tool I used was a 3-prong oil filter wrench available at any Auto Zone. It was for the 2 1/2 inch to 3(something) inch size filters. I'll post a pic of it later. It grabs the end of the filter like the oem wrench but has amazing grip. A bonus for the boneheaded like myself is that it only let's you turn counter-clockwise (loosens only, so you can't crank something on inadvertantly). Fits a 3/8 inch ratchet. Came off with one easy twist. I bought the rubber strap wrenches as "back up" but didn't need to use them. Besides the area was a little confined and the filter was mangled in the center. All in all not bad for a $6 tool

Just glad we didn't have to break out the torch

CBRBob · 05-03-2005, 9:43 PM

Big channelocks, they work every time!

Scratch · 05-03-2005, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRBob

Big channelocks, they work every time!

Tried those, just crushed the filter and it still wouldn't budge.

Intimidator · 05-03-2005, 11:13 PM

I've used the screwdriver in the past. If I remember right, it worked great and didn't even leak much.

Scratch · 05-03-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intimidator

I've used the screwdriver in the past. If I remember right, it worked great and didn't even leak much.

Yep that would have been the next step if the 3-pronged filter wrench didn't cut the mustard, luckily though the thing worked great.

N23 · 05-04-2005, 12:38 PM

When that happened to me ONCE, I got this filter end cap (I forget the actual name of it) and wrapped the oil filter with a latex glove I've been using. I then put the end cap around the filter and VOILA, it comes off perfectly. The glove takes up all the excess space inside the filter cap and provides a very grippy surface.

drinktoo · 05-09-2005, 11:42 PM

When using a strap wrench if you have trouble with slipping wrap a piece of sandpaper (grit on the filter and grit on the strap and that'll give extra grip too