Cannot remove oil filter

[bertha]

We have been trying to remove the oil filter from our 1993 diesel 4runner and have so far failed because of the complete lack of room available to us under the bonnet.

We've probed it with screwdrivers and hammers and also removed the air filter bits to try and get more room but still had no luck. We are planning to buy a filter wrench to see if that work.

But if any words of advice are very welcome!

 

[Awz]

Band wrench would probably work for you. On tough ones like that, I would recommend "The Claw" I'll try to find a picture of it. You attach it to your ratchet and it has three pretty tough "claws" that tighten on the filter as you twist on the ratchet. I once twisted a filter in half trying to get it off with this thing. (luckely it was easy to get the rest of it off after that )

Mike

picture here
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:...hp_BZs&t=1&usg=__d-H4BcltPtBP2Y4GgpM8Ae9I7Bo=

 

[2DoorRunner]

We just got one of those "claw" things at the shop i work at. They work great if you can get them to get a good bite on the filter.

But i have never had the screwdriver through both sides of the filter method fail me before

 

[T?@\7]

But i have never had the screwdriver through both sides of the filter method fail me before

me too

 

[runner707]

yea get a wrench. i hate how little room there is for filter.

 

[T?@\7]

your cheapest and easiest bet, is to puncture the filter with a screw driver(or 2). one on each side is better. oil filters are pretty soft, so if you have a large phillips head or two, bore them into it and remove that fvcker. Who cares what it takes, get it out!

 

[blue95sr5]

just go ahead and spend the $5-10 bucks and get the claw thing. i have like 5different oil filter wrenches (2 of them being different claw types) because different vehicles have different needs, but when you find one that works for your application, you will definitely be grateful! sometimes there just isnt space to jab a screwdriver in there.

 

[message]

I have used them all and the still the absolute best oil filter wrench in my mind is an old leather belt.
It grips even when oily and will remove literally any oil filter. I have used this method on everything from small car filters to semi-truck oil and fuel filters always with success!