What Tools Should You Use to Remove the Oil Filter

Your oil filter is essential for removing impurities from your engine oil that have the potential to cause extensive and expensive damage to your engine. Most experts recommend changing your oil filter at the same time as your oil change to prevent impurities from entering your engine and causing wear and tear.

Choosing the right tool

Oil filters are smooth cylindrical cans and they can be difficult to hold, especially if they are oily and greasy. This makes it very important to use one of the different tools available to help remove it. Your choice of tool will depend on the size of the filter, how much space you have around the filter, and how tightly the filter is attached.

At AUTOTOOLSDEPOT, we recommend using a cap tool, a three-legged tool, a chain system, or a strap wrench. Once you have loosened the oil filter as described below, it should be completely unscrewed by hand.

Band wrenches

A strap oil wrench uses a metal strap with a knob attached to each end. The looped band is placed around the filter and the knob is turned counterclockwise. This puts tension on the strap so it grips the filter and facilitates removal. Some strap wrenches have an adjustable hinge to allow removal of the oil filter from complicated or difficult places. Strap wrenches can be used on a variety of oil filter sizes.

Cap tools

A cap tool has a metal or plastic cup that is placed on the end of the filter and attached to the knurling. You can then use a socket wrench to loosen the filter. The cap tool can be used for different sizes of oil filters.

Three-legged tool

To use the three-foot tool, place it on the oil filter and then use a socket wrench to unscrew the filter. When the socket wrench is turned counterclockwise, the gear inside the three-foot tool will clamp the oil filter with force to facilitate removal. The three-legged tool can be used for all sizes of oil filters and works well in tight spaces.

Chain System

With the looped portion of the chain placed around the filter, turn the bar counterclockwise by hand until the chain is tightly wrapped around the filter. Tighten the chain further with a socket wrench to increase the chain tension. This drills into the soft metal housing of the filter and reduces the chance of slippage. This chain system can be used on a variety of oil filter sizes and is beneficial for extremely greasy oil filters.

Tips

Here are some tips from the garage gurus for removing and installing oil filters:

Choose the proper removal tool for the job; an adjustable tool may not remove a stuck oil filter. The location of the oil filter and the space around it are important when choosing a removal tool. When installing the oil filter, remember to lubricate the oil filter's ring seal, and when replacing the oil filter, hand tighten it.

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