jaybird81

Well it has been a while since I have posted on here. I have been involved with fixing up my house and spending time with my son, I haven't had a lot of time to use the Vette. But anyway I have started to use it again, which leads me to my post. I changed the oil the other day, and when I went to remove the oil filter it would not budge. To make a very long and embarasing story short it is now completely destroyed, however still on there. I have bent and cut and distroyed the actual housing, it is barely hanging on. the top peice that sits against the engine is still there. Does anyone have any tips for me where I go from here?

Jeff_Keryk

2 possibilities - (1) Some filters have threaded holes at the top of the filter inner frame. You can insert two bolts for lateral leverage. (2) I have a large set of Channel Locks that have never failed me.

Peterbuilt

Is there enough left to put a strap wrench on it? PG.

tnovot

If that doesn't work, try tapping a large screwdriver or chisel at an angle on the surface below the gasket with a hammer.
And when you finally get it off and are ready to install a new one, remember to hand tighten only - don't tighten with a filter wrench.
Terry

Matt O

If all else fails pull the housing off and take your Channel Locks and catch the edge just below the gasket and pry the edge down around as much of the top piece as possible. Then try the large screwdriver. Good luck!

V77Vette

when you do get it off
put some oil on the gasket of the new one so it will not stick next time

BigBlockTank

Can you get to it with a long punch or chisel????? Get'er done
(lefy loosey, righty tighty)

chris75stingray

that's happened to me me. before the housing itself was destroyed i drove a punch through it and used that to twist it off

wattac2

Just in case no one else has said it, only turn the new filter "hand tight" when installing, and use oil on the seal. Even when I do that the filter is sometimes difficult to get off.

Reggie Dunlop

Worst case scenario is you have to completely remove the tin housing and paper element, leaving the "spud" screwed in the crankcase. You then use a small pipe wrench or channel locks to un-screw it. This is as bad (and messy) as it can get. Sounds like you're almost there already. The biggest reason for stuck oil filters is not over tightening, but failure to lube the gasket. A thin layer of clean grease works better than oil if the time between changes is long.

thegazman

I use anti-seize on my oil filter gasket.

Glass Act

Large channel locks should do it, next time wipe oil on the filter seal (as stated above)and have the engine warm before you remove the filter. ( turn anti-clockwise off)

StickShiftCorvette

I would install oil filters AS SPECIFIED. Hand tight is NOT right. Most filters say to tighten 3/4 to 1 turn after contact of the gasket.

On my SRT-10, the torque is specified at 13.5 ft-lb, much tighter than hand tight. The Viper filter is about the same size and has similar threads as that on a Chevy V8 so I'd expect its assembly torque to be similar - much tighter than hand tight.

An oil filter falling off due to being too loose is a VERY bad thing.

SanDiegoPaul

If you have the whole filter broken out, then you will be able to see the bolt that holds the filter adapter into the block. Remove the whole assembly and you can have it on your bench to work on ... much easier.

Jims66

Just an FYI......, K&N Oil Filters have a 1 inch bolt head welded to the filter for easy removal. I haven't had to use an oil filter wrench in a long time. Please folks......, don't start another "which filter is better/best" thread here..... Baldwin, NAPA, AC Delco are all great and Fram is awful etc.. etc.....

WillEE

Good Call - I ran into the above situation once before and spent 1/2 day removing the mangled mess. Now I try to use the K&Ns due to the "nut" on them. The way I finally got this mangled filter off was by using an old leather belt (a strap wrench wouldn't fit). I strapped the belt around it and pulled on the end of it like a *****. Worked great and I've kept that belt ever since in my tool box.

Five-spot

There is a company(Lisle, Ithink) that makes a filter wrench with a leverage system on the bottom that tightens down on the filter (the harder you pull, the tighter it gets) I've had good luck getting stubborn ones off with this, and you don't wind up with a puddle of oil on the floor like you tend to if you drive a screwdriver or a punch through the filter.

SmokinBBC

Ummmmm........Fram sucks!

Jims66

oh oh......, it's starting

Ray/aka/Pa

I have had issues like that before on other vechicles, where you can't get the oil filter off and you can't get the oil filter wrech you need to fit in very tight places. This might still work for you also with the filter mangled. Take your oil filter wrench and put it in a vice to bend/ twist it where you can actually get it up on what ever filter you have left hanging to the motor. I have one I use everytime I change the oil in my wife's truck. I use a little grease on the gasket when putting the new filter back on too, everytime. When you do that, though, the gasket will stick to the block when removing the old filter, but it comes off easily. When the gasket is not on the filter when you remove it, it will be stuck to the block. It did not disappear . I keep a little acid brush in a grease container for just that purpose too. I always tighten them up {bear paw} hand tight, and then about a 1/4 turn after that.

Have a great day,
Ray