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I checked my oil today and it was pitch black.
I went and bought oil and a filter for my car.
When I went to change the filter, it was stuck! I can't fit my oil filter wrench in that little space either. I went out and bought one of those oil filter wrenches made of plastic that only fit one kind of filter. I tested it on my new filter, and it fit perfectly. I went to put it on the older filter and it fits, but the entire plastic thing spins when I turn it hard!
Anybody know of any other tools that I can try?
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Joined: May 2000
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drill a hole in the filter, stab in a screw driver and turn. Will give you leverage, and who cares if you ruin the filter, you're changing it anyway.
But be prepared for a mess.
John
'98 SVT - modded
-15.01@91.8
'95 Suzuki GS500E
-faster than the above
---wanting a Speed Triple or Superhawk badly
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Joined: Jun 2001
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I battled my mom's Zetec oil filter a few months back. (See pics HERE ) I ended up using a strap type wrench to get it off. This type of wrench has a handle and a strap that completely goes around the filter. Lets you tighten the strap down before you turn it. Sorry I didn't take a pic of the wrench. My next step was to go with JVT's screwdriver method, but I was afraid I'd pull the entire end of the filter off, thus making it impossible to remove. Stupid factory installed filter had walls that seemed like they were made of paper mache. FWIW, I use K&N oil filters on my car now, and they have a super cool nut on the end that makes removal simple.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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I can't get my oil filter out very easy but that because Sean Hyland Motorsports is retarded and their header design is so close to engine block and subframe connector that the normal oil filter would never fit between. I actually have to use a smaller filter and still need to bang it between whereever I can fit it through.
1998 SVT #95: Toreador Red - SHM headers,K&N Filter, Energy Suspension MM inserts, Cross Drilled Rotors,Redline Tranny Fluid, Custom Billet Aluminum Shift Knob
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Oh yeah. Try a craftsman strap wrench. As long as there isnt any oil covering the filter the rubber strap should grip well.
1998 SVT #95: Toreador Red - SHM headers,K&N Filter, Energy Suspension MM inserts, Cross Drilled Rotors,Redline Tranny Fluid, Custom Billet Aluminum Shift Knob
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Originally posted by JVT:
drill a hole in the filter, stab in a screw driver and turn. Will give you leverage, and who cares if you ruin the filter, you're changing it anyway.
But be prepared for a mess.
John Skip the drill, just stab and turn, gets you to big mess quicker. Different manufacturers may require different size plastic wrenches for same car. Been there, done that. Remember hand tighten only. There must be an easier way to save $5, but I keep doing them. Gets me up close and personal with my Contiques.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 110,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 125,000km
stock CD on LS, cass on LX
spoiler, tinted windows on LS only
4 wheel discs on LX only
All other available options on both
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Problem is, there is almost no room to put anything in there...
the area where the filter is is soooo small...
I want to double check on the direction to turn.
If I am laying down with my feet sticking out the front of the car, if I reach up, which way do I turn the filter? CW? CCW?
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 494
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Originally posted by mr_mystique:
Problem is, there is almost no room to put anything in there...
the area where the filter is is soooo small...
I want to double check on the direction to turn.
If I am laying down with my feet sticking out the front of the car, if I reach up, which way do I turn the filter? CW? CCW? :rolleyes: Righty tighty, lefty loosy!  As you look at the filter, no matter where your feet are, turn it counter clockwise! If you still are not sure, look at the threads of the new filter to see which way they go!  Stephen
96 Contour, GL, Zetec, ATX.
03/18/1996 Build Date.
Drop in K&N
NGK Laser Platinum Premium Spark plugs
Niehoff Premium Ignition wires
Wheel Well Air Intake Resonator removed.
*Just the beginning*
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Once in a while, i found myself in a same situation.
To prevent the mess, i found that i can use a really long flat tip screw driver. On Motocraft fliter there are small ribs along the top edge of the filter. I wedge the flat tip screw driver in one of the rib and lever the screw dirver against one of the exhaust manifold bolt. It's hard to explain......If you take your screwdriver and put the tip in one of the rib(your feet sticiking out of front bumper position) you will see the bolt..
Anyway it worked everytime...(but only filters with ribs along the top of the filter)
spincity
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Are you working on a 4 cylinder or a V6?
If it is a 4 cylinder you may find a little better access by removing the right front wheel.
If it is a V6 you might find it helpful to remove the belly cover, if your car has one. They weem to have stopped using them about 1999 or 2000.
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
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