Best Oil Filter Wrench...... EVER!

[bmxr4life87]

Highlanders arent that bad. I hate doing is300 and gs300 filters you gotta take up for slack in the motor mounts with a 2x4 jammed between intake plenum and inner fender

 

[sensei_]

There one of those proto filter wrenches on ebay now !

link please.

 

[bolecailey]

I don't understand why people don't just use channel locks. I use the big ones and find they work better than any special wrench I have ever used.

 

[mayday0017]

hm... I love changing the oil on my beemer, cleanest easiest oil change I've ever done by far.... you just loosen the cap for the oil filter and let the drain plug drain, come back in 5 min and pull it up and set it on a shop rag. Then take a zip lock bag flip it inside out and grab the filter and pull it into the bag and seal it. No drips, no spills, no oil running down your arm. But to each their own I guess....

 

[KPSquared]

I can't get a channel lock on any of my oil filters. They are blocked by frame on all my rigs.

I use my hand 99% of the time.

My Jeep has a cartridge up top and that is super nice. So easy.

My F350's 7.3 diesel is a giant filter on an angle that is hell bent on making a mess. I judge the success of my oil changes by how little I get on the floor.

All rigs except my F350 are 100% clean floor. . .the friggen Ford is hit and miss.

 

[Erampu]

I don't understand why people don't just use channel locks. I use the big ones and find they work better than any special wrench I have ever used.

Some cars are set up so you can't get Channel Locks in there.

 

[LOOSEWHEEL]

I can't get a channel lock on any of my oil filters. They are blocked by frame on all my rigs.

I use my hand 99% of the time.

My Jeep has a cartridge up top and that is super nice. So easy.

My F350's 7.3 diesel is a giant filter on an angle that is hell bent on making a mess. I judge the success of my oil changes by how little I get on the floor.

All rigs except my F350 are 100% clean floor. . .the friggen Ford is hit and miss.

My changes used to be messy too. I now poke a hole in the bottom of the filter and drain it before I spin it off. I also use the Fumoto valve on the pan. No mess.

 

[AbitNutz]

Hey Mom, meet my girlfriend??

Thank you for the laugh! I'm still laughing, even in all this snow.

 

[Mr. Tool]

Could this be the future of things to come on oil filters?
Some of the newer model Toyota's have now switched to this format of oil filter design. The last time I was at the dealership, I saw this tool that looked like an oil filter remover but it was just an "oil filter cap removal tool" that the guy behind the counter explained to me, is used for the newer models, but they were selling it for $35.00 bucks!: http://www.amazon.com/Assenmacher-Specialty-Tools-TOY-640/dp/B0015PK3AG

[/QUOTE]

 

[Mr. Tool]

This one here, by Proto, looks like it would be an excellent one!

What is the exact model/part number of it?

Where did you get it at?

Is it even still available?

[/QUOTE]

 

[niget2002]

The XL-7 has the filter right above the lower A-Arm. It's impossible to get anything up there to keep the oil from just draining right onto it. If I had welding skills, I think I would try to make a 'slide' for the oil to drain down.

I've always used the big wrench type of filter removers, but I just added the lisle one to my amazon list as the wrench doesn't always fit in some of the engine bays I have t work on.

 

[PCO6]

This one here, by Proto, looks like it would be an excellent one!

What is the exact model/part number of it?

Where did you get it at?

Is it even still available?

As mentioned in post #19 it's a Proto 2304 (no other markings). I bought it about 35 years ago, most likely at an automotive jobber (parts store) that we dealt with back then. I have no idea if they are still available.

 

[mister_two]

My 2011 Sienna has this cartridge style oil filter. It's a pain because there are extra steps involved. Before removing the cartridge cap there's another small round cap that has to come off and insert this plastic device to drain the oil. After that you remove the cartridge cap. I didn't need to buy any special tool since one of my cap style wrench fit the head perfectly. In addition there are, I believe, two small gaskets that need replacements. I prefer the old style oil filters any day.

 

[4xdog]

I've had this Proto 2304 for at least 35 years and it's always worked well.

I've had this Plews 70-715 for almost that long, too. Looks like a similar tool. Works well.

The patent dates from 1985. Here's the original data:

 

[MikeF2316]

Apologize for the rant:

Dear Mr./Ms. Japanese Automotive Engineer,

I hope you are sleeping good at night in your cozy bed somewhere in Japan, because I want you to know I am cursing the day you designed the oil filter can in the worst possible place under the hood of the 2007 Highlander.

What in heck were you thinking that day? Did you have some kind of bad argument with your spouse?, did your neighbor yell at you?, did your kids throw up on your oriental rug or worse yet did your Mother-in-law come for a six month visit? I want to know just what you were thinking that very day at your drawing board?

Because I must tell you it just ***** trying to get your arm contorted giving your hand about .0001 inch of room to move let alone fooling around with any special tools.

I only hope that one day you have to change your car oil outside in the snow and your hand gets stuck and you are dying to use the bathroom

Sincerely,

Woody

Worst design I've ever seen is the early Mazda rotaries, with the spin on filter on the top of the engine, as soon as you loosen it, sploosh! Oil poured on top of the engine. Best I've seen in Volvo 850, spin on filter on the pan, with nothing below it. The small amount that comes out as your removing it runs down the filter you're removing.

They say they're going back to the cartridge style because there's less waste every oil change. Sure there's less physical waste, but the extra cleaners, rags, etc from the cartridges probably more than makes up for it.

 

[DMAR]

I've had this Plews 70-715 for almost that long, too. Looks like a similar tool. Works well.

The patent dates from 1985. Here's the original data:

I've had that Plews for about 20 years, works pretty well. I prefer a proper fitting cap, but the Plews, or band wrench work when necessary.

BTW, impressive post, with the patent documentation, and all...

 

[PCO6]

... BTW, impressive post, with the patent documentation, and all...

I agree! Nice post 4xdog. Not suggesting you do more work but if you're interested the U.S.A. patent on my PROTO is 3119290. It sure looks a lot like the PLEWS and I'm sure it works just as well.

 

[Provincial]

In 4xdog's post look at the patent reference's cited: 3,119,290 1/1964 Ivie ....81/128 so the Proto was patented by someone named Ivie in January, 1964. It is reasonable to assume that the Plews tool made a significant change to the earlier design in order to avoid patent infringement.

 

[4xdog]

I agree! Nice post 4xdog. Not suggesting you do more work but if you're interested the U.S.A. patent on my PROTO is 3119290. It sure looks a lot like the PLEWS and I'm sure it works just as well.

One can learn a lot from patent history, and Google is definitely our friend here.

...and so on for six pages. Look HERE if you just have to keep reading to see how it ends.

This patent would have been in force until 1981. The later Schwitters patent was filed three years after this one expired. Boy, one wonders how they came up with anything "unique and non-obvious" for the later one...

 

[PCO6]

4xdog / Provincial - Great information. Thanks guys.

 

[marlinspike]

With all due respect, it's not so neat, at least not on the German cars (Mercedes, Audi)
You unscrew the Plastic housing using a 36mm socket and ratchet handle, pull up the cover with the dripping filter (catching the drips with a rag) put the dripping mess on the bench, pull out the old filter with your hands or a rag, deposit it in a container to drain fully, get a pair of needle nose pliers, pull out the old seal in the cover, oil up the new one getting your fingers oily, insert into slot, get pick, pull off old seal from engine oil filter housing, oil new seal and install, slip new filter into cover and seat, screw on cover, get out torque wrench, set to 25Nm, tighten cover, now clean and put away, 1) needle nose pliers, 2) pick, 3) 36mm socket, 4) 1/2-3/4" socket drive adapter, 5) 1/2" drive ratchet, 6) torque wrench, 7) clean up oily mess on bench...........yeah, this is a whole lot easier and neater than a spin on!

Dave

If you just bought a 3/8" drive oil filter socket you could cross off the adapter and the torque wrench. I've always just used a small flatblade to remove the gaskets. I've always found the replaceable element to be faster.

 

[bad_idea]

My Nissan Frontier is a PITA to access the filter. I figured out through trial and error it is easiest to access if the steering wheel is turned to the passenger side all the way then reach between the frame rail and inner fender with a oil filter socket on a 12" extension. But the damn filter is mounted sideways, so when I break it loose all the oil in it drains down the side of the block and all over the sway bar. Any ideas on how to control that?

 

[jim2664258]

Tin foil?

 

[truckdriver]

I can't believe nobody has suggested the one I always use:

You have never dealt with a series 60 Detroit have you?