Oil Filter Sockets

[shoggoth80]

So, is any one brand created greater than the others?
There are Matco, Sunex, Lisle, and Astro Pneumatic and Great Neck I think.
Matco, Astro, and Great Neck (backordered) offer 7 pieces, others are 6 and 5.
I know the chance of me running across a Vauxhall are pretty low...but still... if you think you might need it... etc. The Astro set is also just under $50 for a 7 piecer. The Sunex is $1 less and is a 6 piece, the Lisle is a 5 piece at $34.

I have borrowed these low profile oil filter sockets a few times at work already. I need my own set. Considering the bulk of my current work detail involves tires and oil changes... I see enough Toyota, Saab, Volvo, VW, and GMs to make getting a set of these a no brainer. A few of the external filter caps are also on my short list, but most of the time I can get those off with a claw, or use the shop set of filter caps.

Most of the low profile sockets tend to run the 27mm, 32mm, and 35/36mm combo...with a step down to 24mm and up to 38mm for the 5 piece sets, and I am really unsure of how large or small down the 7 piece and 6 pieces go.

I think the Astro Pneumatic covers the most bases with 24, 27, 29, 30, 32, 35/36, and 38mm sizes. I have used Astro's impact sockets, and I liked them. Only one left in stock though, so I might have to go with a different set. I am sure any of them would do the job... just wanting hive mind input before I jump.

 

[CWP1616L]

So, is any one brand created greater than the others?

FloTool Super Graphite

 

[MattPersman]

If you got a Mac truck they have a deal buy the 5 piece set and get a 5 piece filter cup set free

I already had the lisle 5 piece set, the astro set would be my choice at this point if I didn't have a Mac guy to buy that deal from. The more sockets the better never know when you might need a real shallow socket that size for anything else as well. I have found the 36 mm from the set awesome for cam phaser bolts on FWD Chrysler company pentastar engines on the rear head

 

[ILDurable]

Lisle makes a nice set of low pro oil filter sockets. Sunex has a set as well which is a higher quality set.

 

[ken w.]

I think these are mostly made by one company and rebranded.

 

[nowlan]

I am a newbie, and I dont really understand why these exist.
Do the strap wrench that everyone else uses not work?

 

[stratman977]

I am a newbie, and I dont really understand why these exist.
Do the strap wrench that everyone else uses not work?

These are for the canister style oil filters.

A regular socket will fit on some of them but these are usually 3/8 inch drive and really short to get some that have low clearance.

 

[bcradio]

canister or cartridge?

 

[Nocturnal-G]

I am a newbie, and I dont really understand why these exist.
Do the strap wrench that everyone else uses not work?

How would you torque a oil filter to spec with a strap wrench?

 

[Kracin]

How would you torque a oil filter to spec with a strap wrench?

whats the torque spec on an oil filter anyway....

is this why people can never seem to get a filter off when it gets installed by a guy torquing it down instead of using his hands to turn it that last 1/4-1/2 turn?


not sure how automotive shop guys would do it, but after using different oil filter sockets, lots of different strap wrenches, even chain wrenches. my absolute favorite tool to get oil filters OFF (not installed unless its a super hard to reach place, but still can be done gently ), has been the oil filter pliers. by far the easiest to use, no trying to get a wrench into a tight space on the back of an oil filter socket. and couple different handle lengths available.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

whats the torque spec on an oil filter anyway....

is this why people can never seem to get a filter off when it gets installed by a guy torquing it down instead of using his hands to torn it that last 1/4 turn?

From experience, I've seen oil filters leak from being improperly torqued. On MB's if you look at the oil filter housing, it states 25 Nm. The housing can crack if over torqued. My Mercedes calls for 25 Nm and my Isuzu calls for 22 Nm.

 

[Kracin]

From experience, I've seen oil filters leak from being improperly torqued. On MB's if you look at the oil filter housing, it states 25 Nm. The housing can crack if over torqued. My Mercedes calls for 25 Nm and my Isuzu calls for 22 Nm.

the difference between an o-ring disposable filter, and a filter that goes into a housing. i'm talking about the standard oring seat type.


additionally. it's something else when people use a torque wrench to torque something large like an oil filter for a range between 5 to 15 ft lbs of torque. with a large enough gripping area, that is pretty much hand tight.

 

[shockwave]

Check out assenmacher specialty tools ast they make the best oil filter socket sets as most are the aluminum socket they work alot better than any of the chaeper black ones

 

[u118224]

For GM LS engines, for example, an oil filter socket is about the only way to remove the filter. When you buy filter sockets, buy ones where the male end of the ratchet doesn't protrude into the socket. I have KTool filter sockets and half of the ratchet or extension end sticks in the socket. It's a PIA.

 

[Wayfastwhitie440]

I mainly use oil filter straps, pliers in need be. I own a few of the cups and have not used them one since I've been in the business. For 5 years. But everybody has a different way of doing things, and whatever works best for you.

 

[muskaman67]

at work today, i had to use my 24" breaker bar to get off a oil filter off of a 2012 toyota sienna. the oil filter housing is metal. so i had toyota sst filter cup and my breaker bar on it. i still struggled with it. it amazes me the way other techs do things in the shop.

 

[Gotmayhem]

If you got a Mac truck they have a deal buy the 5 piece set and get a 5 piece filter cup set free

I took advantage of that Mac deal last week. It was relatively cheap (around $55 I think) but the product was iffy. The filter cup set is good and each individual one is marked "USA". The socket set is not so good. The case says "Assembled in the USA from foreign products" or something along those lines. Three of the sockets (I can't remember the sizes and they're at work) are USA stamped and actually really nicely made. However the last two, including the 36mm which I use the most, are chinese made and it's a noticeable difference. The 36mm is awful, the "cusp" is all wavy and uneven. Even the cheapest Autozone socket is made better than this. The two chinese sockets are not oiled while the USA ones were which I thought was a bit unusual.

I plan on asking the Mac salesman next week about it. Not that I expect a straight answer from him. He lied to me about the COO of their Edge wrenches last week and apparently was talking **** about my HF toolbox to a coworker of mine too. I have more USA made tools in that chinese box than he has in his whole truck

 

[KEH]

You can't get pliers or some strap wrenches into the oil filter space in some cars. Camry 4 cylinders are bad about that. 90s had the filter on the side of the motor so all you had to do was to raise the hood and reach for the filter. However, you couldn't get a strap wrench in there. A cup wrench and 3/8 extension worked fine, or you could tighten it by hand according to the directions. 2000 and 2005 have the filter pointing to the ground so you have to crawl under the car, again, you can't get a strap wrench in there. Once I had the dealer change the oil and King Kong tightened the filter. I had to go get the type wrench that the jaws collapse in on the filter. Gave thought to getting a Mac clamshell type, but now we have 2012 and it requires a different typ of wrench which I do not have yet. I think they have gone to a cartridge type, so we're back to the 1940s.

KEH

 

[RCStocker]

How would you torque a oil filter to spec with a strap wrench?

I have been changing oil filters on trucks, cars, tractors, mowers, engines sense the mid 50's and I have never torqued one yet. I have never stripped one and I have had to tighten 2 that I can remember and I am not sure the dractor did not vibrate them loose. Who in the hell torques an oil filter? I have never torqued a lug nut. I have had huge John Deer tractors. International trucks, Dozers, loaders, forklifts, trailers, cars and 101 other things with wheels including my hose real. I have never torqued a lug nut in my life and I have never had one come off.

Yes I do own a dozen torque wrenches and they all have been checked.

Do all these new cheap little **** 35 thousand dollar cars really require a torque wrench for lug nuts and filters. I have aluminum rims on my 2 Town ars and I never have even given it a though,. I have drive to Alaska and all across Canada and the US dozens of times and never had a wheel come loose. ****** blazing saddles. I have never stripped a lug nut or striped a lug bolt. I was a tool and die maker in my former life and I have rebuilt a lot of large machinery and not once torqued a nut or bolt.

 

[6-Speed]

Check out assenmacher specialty tools ast they make the best oil filter socket sets as most are the aluminum socket they work alot better than any of the chaeper black ones

I bought an AST oil filter wrench to loosen/torque the oil filter cap on my dad's MB E350 ... works great and made in the USA. With all my other cars, I just use the pliers type filter wrench to loosen the filter ... I find they work the best for me. I like to hand tighten the filter first per filter directions and then use a strap wrench to tighten it just a little bit more - just enough to see movement.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

I have been changing oil filters on trucks, cars, tractors, mowers, engines sense the mid 50's and I have never torqued one yet. I have never stripped one and I have had to tighten 2 that I can remember and I am not sure the dractor did not vibrate them loose. Who in the hell torques an oil filter? I have never torqued a lug nut. I have had huge John Deer tractors. International trucks, Dozers, loaders, forklifts, trailers, cars and 101 other things with wheels including my hose real. I have never torqued a lug nut in my life and I have never had one come off.

Yes I do own a dozen torque wrenches and they all have been checked.

Do all these new cheap little **** 35 thousand dollar cars really require a torque wrench for lug nuts and filters. I have aluminum rims on my 2 Town ars and I never have even given it a though,. I have drive to Alaska and all across Canada and the US dozens of times and never had a wheel come loose. ****** blazing saddles. I have never stripped a lug nut or striped a lug bolt. I was a tool and die maker in my former life and I have rebuilt a lot of large machinery and not once torqued a nut or bolt.

Everyone is different... I prefer using a torque wrench on all MB filters and lug nuts.

I bought an AST oil filter wrench to loosen/torque the oil filter cap on my dad's MB E350 ... works great and made in the USA. With all my other cars, I just use the pliers type filter wrench to loosen the filter ... I find they work the best for me. I like to hand tighten the filter first per filter directions and then use a strap wrench to tighten it just a little bit more - just enough to see movement.

Hazet and Stahlwille make nice ones as well. The one I have is the Matador one with MB logo. I love it... Works much better than those plastic ones.

 

[shoggoth80]

Sorry, I should have specified... canister type filters. So far the biggest offenders have been Saabs. Occasionally I run across canisters in other vehicles... GM products mostly. As far as the regular spin on filters... I have a 3 claw removal tool if I cannot get it unscrewed by hand. Those canisters often hide on the top of the engine, with little clearance either way, making the 32mm socket I have (Armstrong impact) useless in that regard (but good on axles). This is one instance of how specialty tools can make life soooo much easier.

 

[kiatech]

Never used a torque wrench on any cartridge or canister. Only thing that has ever caused leaks were bad/miss placed gaskets.

 

[wrh3]

I have the below plus assorted others I have acquired over the years. I don't turn wrenches for a living but it seems I am the only garage with tools so all of my friends come over to my house.....and my daughter and her boyfriend- my son has his own tools ;-)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C24L5M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007STKIJY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These don't take care of all but a good bit, I have not had to buy an oil filter tool in a while.

 

[shampoop]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DU2LD4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[wxm]

at work today, i had to use my 24" breaker bar to get off a oil filter off of a 2012 toyota sienna. the oil filter housing is metal. so i had toyota sst filter cup and my breaker bar on it. i still struggled with it. it amazes me the way other techs do things in the shop.

I had the same experience on my Sienna and last oil change was done at Toyota dealer. One of the reason I am changing oil myself now.

 

[jfcasey]

On Toyotas you can't beat the AST tool. For you guys having trouble with the Siennas, i'm assuming they are the v6s.. those are usually pretty easy to get off even when over tightened. If its any help the torque spec on those IIRC is around 14ft/lbs. If you lube the o ring up nice, just crank it down with your hand and you will be fine. Any time it takes that much work to get one off make sure it hasn't cracked, because it doesn't take much.

On the other hand, because of the angle Toyota put the filter housing on the 2zr motors that come in Corollas, they ALWAYS get over tightened by idiots. I have had to use an air chisel to remove them on two separate occasions, one was put on by another dealer and the other by jiffy lube.

 

[aussiek2000]

I use the sunex set on a daily basis. The 24mm has held up to my impact multiple times.

 

[fflintstone]

I was baffled when I first went to change the oil in the wife’s new to us Saturn. 1st I put it on ramps and still couldn’t fit my chest underneath it. Then I looked and looked and looked, where is the flippin oil filter?
Found out it was a canister on top, Sumbitch. I could not get a 32MM socket in there is no room for a wrench. I had to borrow the neighbor’s crowfoot to get it.
I bought the 3pc set that cripes sells for $15.

 

[Hootbro]

I have been changing oil filters on trucks, cars, tractors, mowers, engines sense the mid 50's and I have never torqued one yet. I have never stripped one and I have had to tighten 2 that I can remember and I am not sure the dractor did not vibrate them loose. Who in the hell torques an oil filter? I have never torqued a lug nut. I have had huge John Deer tractors. International trucks, Dozers, loaders, forklifts, trailers, cars and 101 other things with wheels including my hose real. I have never torqued a lug nut in my life and I have never had one come off.

Yes I do own a dozen torque wrenches and they all have been checked.

Do all these new cheap little **** 35 thousand dollar cars really require a torque wrench for lug nuts and filters. I have aluminum rims on my 2 Town ars and I never have even given it a though,. I have drive to Alaska and all across Canada and the US dozens of times and never had a wheel come loose. ****** blazing saddles. I have never stripped a lug nut or striped a lug bolt. I was a tool and die maker in my former life and I have rebuilt a lot of large machinery and not once torqued a nut or bolt.

You have lived a charm life and your "calibrated" arm has gotten you by it seems. With that said, in most of the places I have worked, your habit of forgoing torquing anything would have you labeled as a ''hack" and summarily would have been fired if found to engage is such practices on paid customer work.

Your anecdotal experiences are not ones to emulate just because you got lucky in your life. It does make one wonder what kind of precision work and tolerances you held yourself to as a tool and die maker if such silly things as proper torque values were not deemed important enough for you to follow.

 

[joecon]

I have been changing oil for over 40 years and yes some filters need to be torqued
when the Eng. is worth more than your house you need to do it right the first time.
what works on a Chevy or ford is not right on a Ferrari.

 

[aussiek2000]

I have been changing oil for over 40 years and yes some filters need to be torqued
when the Eng. is worth more than your house you need to do it right the first time.
what works on a Chevy or ford is not right on a Ferrari.

I wish people would torque the aluminum filter cap on 3.6 GM engines. I get tired of having to use my impact or air hammer to get them off.

 

[yost69]

I am a newbie, and I dont really understand why these exist.
Do the strap wrench that everyone else uses not work?

not sure how automotive shop guys would do it, but after using different oil filter sockets, lots of different strap wrenches, even chain wrenches. my absolute favorite tool to get oil filters OFF (not installed unless its a super hard to reach place, but still can be done gently ), has been the oil filter pliers. by far the easiest to use, no trying to get a wrench into a tight space on the back of an oil filter socket. and couple different handle lengths available.

I mainly use oil filter straps, pliers in need be. I own a few of the cups and have not used them one since I've been in the business. For 5 years. But everybody has a different way of doing things, and whatever works best for you.

I am assuming that none of you have changed oil in a trailblazer that last had its oil changed at the dealer. I don't understand why the dealers think they have to crank the filter on so damn tight.

I would love to see someone get a pair of pliers or a strap in there and be able to turn it.

 

[6-Speed]

I am assuming that none of you have changed oil in a trailblazer that last had its oil changed at the dealer. I don't understand why the dealers think they have to crank the filter on so damn tight.

I would love to see someone get a pair of pliers or a strap in there and be able to turn it.

I used the pliers type filter wrench to remove the factory installed oil filter from my 2006 GMC Envoy. I find the filters installed at the factory are some of the most difficult to remove.

 

[shoggoth80]

Yeah, I run across filters that are cranked down waaaay too tight at work all the time. This is part of why I have a 3 jaw tool for external filters. I put them on by hand, so hopefully the next jerk doing the job doesn't have to fight it off like I did. Lol.

I bought a Lisle 32mm one on the way to work the other day... used it on a Chevy with a 2.2L later that day. So I'll piecemeal a set together...one or two sockets a payday, because money is tight. If money becomes not so tight...I'll throw down for a nicer set. Lol.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

You have lived a charm life and your "calibrated" arm has gotten you by it seems. With that said, in most of the places I have worked, your habit of forgoing torquing anything would have you labeled as a ''hack" and summarily would have been fired if found to engage is such practices on paid customer work.

Your anecdotal experiences are not ones to emulate just because you got lucky in your life. It does make one wonder what kind of precision work and tolerances you held yourself to as a tool and die maker if such silly things as proper torque values were not deemed important enough for you to follow.

I with on this Hootbro....

 

[jfcasey]

I am assuming that none of you have changed oil in a trailblazer that last had its oil changed at the dealer. I don't understand why the dealers think they have to crank the filter on so damn tight.

Its so when you give up and bring it back we can sell you blinker fluid and rob your great grand mother blind

 

[muskaman67]

On Toyotas you can't beat the AST tool. For you guys having trouble with the Siennas, i'm assuming they are the v6s.. those are usually pretty easy to get off even when over tightened. If its any help the torque spec on those IIRC is around 14ft/lbs. If you lube the o ring up nice, just crank it down with your hand and you will be fine. Any time it takes that much work to get one off make sure it hasn't cracked, because it doesn't take much.

On the other hand, because of the angle Toyota put the filter housing on the 2zr motors that come in Corollas, they ALWAYS get over tightened by idiots. I have had to use an air chisel to remove them on two separate occasions, one was put on by another dealer and the other by jiffy lube.

yup. i have used my breaker bar on those countless number of times to get them off. i had to weld a socket to my sst tool that i got from toyota because i was splitting the drive end so frequently from people tightening the corolla filter. its a horrible design that allows you to lean back and tighten the filter making you always wayyyyyyyy over torque it.

 

[m33p0n3]

I prefer the three claw style tool for overly tight spin-ons. The AST tool for toyotas is pretty trick, but I've never quite understood why there's a 24mm hex to spin the thing. Seems like overkill and an invitation for stupid people to use a 1/2" airgun. I can't complain too much; I got mine for free from someone who left it on the engine.

 

[mas17795]

True fact on the aluminum cartridge cap on the Camaro 3.6L. I've had to use my 1/2 2ft. breaker bar to get that sucker off. Some guys out there do gorilla grip the heck out of caps. I've also come across over tighten filter canisters on the Duramax diesels where the canisters pretty much crush when I use my belt wrench.