Oil Filter Wrench Comparison

[nate379]

Used the plier style on hundreds of cars and only found it to be a problem on the super cheap filters. The ones that the metal was about the thickness of a beer can.

If you are changing oil on automotive, get the cup style that is specific for that vehicle. As far as oil filter pliers, I hate them. THey don't work that well and if you pull a filter off in the field without having the exact same filter then you're screwed. I say that because the company I work for gets different brands of filters and even though they are suppose to cross, sometimes they don't. If you put a hole in the filter with the channellocks then the machine is completely down and you are in deep sh*t.

 

[jamesemery728]

I like this one from HF. Over the years I have accumulated about a dozen oil filter wrenches and this is the one I use most of the time. It is set like a vise grip and allows you to just bite into the filter w/o crushing it.

 

[PhilR1957]

This is my "go-to" tool..

http://www.channellock.com/acb/stores/1/212_-_12_inch_Oil_Filter_Plier_P20C5.cfm

If I cannot use that tool because of the filter position, I use a metal cap wrench.

I have a couple of the end cap styles, and a couple of the kind that go around the filter, but I never saw one of this style before. I went to the link. There is a 9, 12, and 15 inch. Is that the length of the handle? Is the 12" the size that fits most car, and truck filters?

 

[gofastman]

I have used both and I can tell you that IMO the second one that you posted *****. It works great at first but then eventually it wears out and wont grip the filters very well at all. I have two of the first style you posted (a big one and a small one) and they have worked great for me. I believe mine were made by Lisle and I have never had any issues with them.

I second this. I find the 3 jaw type work well on super tight filters, but other than that they ****

 

[TA^Guy]

These are my favorites.

I have 3 or 4 differnet sizes of these that I usually use. I have a strap wrench but hate it. And if worse comes to wosre I'll use water pump pliers or hammer a screw driver through it and turn.

 

[JayL]

I've had these for a couple of months now and they work ok.

 

[toolfreak]

Used the plier style on hundreds of cars and only found it to be a problem on the super cheap filters. The ones that the metal was about the thickness of a beer can.

I don't consider the Wix and Cat filters cheap that we use, I have had problems with about every brand of filter collapsing when using the pliers.

 

[murph64]

look into a fomoto drain valve. used on alot of 7.3's i see

The N version of those valves are the cats a$$. Use a length of 3/8 hose and no more messy oil changes on windy days.

Andy

 

[alberto]

I've had these for a couple of months now and they work ok.

Who makes that?

 

[Dust]

Don't know about the top one, but that claw in the 2nd picture isn't worth the time it takes to talk about it.

I replaced all my cap wrenches for the Craftsman version of that claw. Works a bit too well, as it punctures the filter if some monkey strong armed it on there on the last oil change.

For filters where I can't use The Claw, I just use a flexing strap wrench. I think I've used my pliers maybe once in the last six months.

 

[JayL]

Who makes that?

Wolf's Head

http://www.toolsland.com/product.detail.php?lang=en&id=175527

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GWSZFS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Elroy]

If this style wrench fits the filter then the filter is coming off:

To the best of our knowledge these type filter wrenches are made in only two sizes so they won't work in every application but Elroy can assure you though, if it fits, the filter is coming off!

 

[truckdriver]

I never really had a use for anything other than filter pliers till I bought a truck with a DD S-60. Detroit actually has a service bulliten about filters coming loose and against everything I have ever been taught I have to really tighten the filters with a wrench. I ended up buying the KD 1/2 dr "sleeve wrench" that was pictured earlier. Nothing else would work. I even had a homemade strap wrench made from 4in strap and it only slipped.

 

[superautobacs]

I do my own oil changes so they come off by hand.
When it's snugged up real good, I use the typical oil filter pliers (provided there's enough clearance).
I've also got this vintage one:

 

[Shadowdog500]

My two favorite swivel handle oil filter wrenches are on sale at K-Mart for $4.99 each.

Chris

 

[z28snksknr]

I use these first:

Then switch to these:

70% of the time, it works all the time!

 

[Monte]

 

[cruiser808]

I use these first:

Then switch to these:

70% of the time, it works all the time!
'

Well Samson, I'm certainly impressed. Back in my younger days, to save a buck, I'd do the same thing. But, then I recall a story that an old mechanic told me. You see, there was this young bull and his father, the old bull. They were looking over the hill and saw a herd of young heffers. The young bull said to his father, " Dad, why don't we run down to the herd and
f!@#k one of them?" The old bull then said to his son, "why don't we walk down and f!@#K them all?" I hope you see my point.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I use these first:

Then switch to these:

70% of the time, it works all the time!

You must be a Shaolin Monk, because my filters are usually too hot to hold on to when I pull them off.

Chris

 

[cruiser808]

You must me a Shaolin Monk, because my filters are usually too hot to hold on to when I pull them off.

Chris

Well said, Shadowdog.

 

[z28snksknr]

You must me a Shaolin Monk, because my filters are usually too hot to hold on to when I pull them off.

Chris

Once you burn off the nerve endings once or twice, you don't feel it anymore.

 

[cruiser808]

Once you burn off the nerve endings once or twice, you don't feel it anymore.

Damn, that's not greepy at all.

 

[Elroy]

One additional point Elroy would like to make about oil filters. Specifically disposable filters that incorporate a "can". In other words "Spin on Filters".

If they have a dent in the case, even a small crease. Replace the filter at your earliest opportunity regardless of age or miles. The crease will flex in operation from the internal oil pressure. This flexing of the filter shell will cause a fatigue crack to develop leading to an oil leak.

Elroy tells me he has seen it happen, not occasionally but every time.

Elroy typically installs spin on filters as tight as possible with bare hands and an oiled gasket. In limited access applications, just a bump with a band type wrench. Don't dent the case !!!

Prefill the filter if you like. It can't hurt

Bleeding the by pass valve is SOP as well.

 

[ultgar]

The Facom U48 ratcheting filter wrench is the best one I've used.

See video at

 

[boostedgt]

You must be a Shaolin Monk, because my filters are usually too hot to hold on to when I pull them off.

Chris

i dont mind burning my hands at all i hardly even notice anymore. what ***** is burning oil running down your arm torwards your armpit

 

[alberto]

The Facom U48 ratcheting filter wrench is the best one I've used.

See video at

Very cool.

 

[ImportTuner]

The Facom U48 ratcheting filter wrench is the best one I've used.

See video at

I have the older model of this ratcheting filter wrench. Mine has a knob on the end which you tighten prior to ratcheting. The only problem is that you usually don't have that much room around the filter ..

 

[ultgar]

I have the older model of this ratcheting filter wrench. Mine has a knob on the end which you tighten prior to ratcheting. The only problem is that you usually don't have that much room around the filter ..

The U.46 Facom strap wrench was the first with the ratcheting action...I used that frequently on Porsche 911/930 filter elements.

The newer U48 is the next evolution of this wrench with auto tightening. I wonder how long it will be before Toptul and others decide to copy the design.

I can offer GJ members an additional 10% off this wrench and most other Facom items.....not quite as much discount room as Toptul as I have to air freight Facom in from Europe.

SD