Which oil filter removal tool and procedure?

[Doug]

you sure that one on he right is not from the bedroom nitestand

[rip]

When I eventually found my oil filter, after a lot of cursing I decided to access it from above. I placed some elastic bands around it and put on a rubber glove, which made it possible to remove the filter by hand.
I find it a bit OTT to remove the roadwheel or raise the whole car just to change the filter.

[ailwyn]

How did you get access as I wouldn't imagine my arms are long enough or thin enough to get down there from the top.

A.

[algirdas]

Dear All:

Having done an oil change myself last weekend, I began to wonder if anyone had thought of doing a remote oil filter? They are used on race cars quite often and I would be very surprised if someone does not make a remote filter take off plate for the Isuzu motor.

Having said that, I am now drawing a blank as to where I would move it since the engine bay is beyond cramped.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[John_W]

Algirdas,
One of our Aussie cousins mentioned his car had "remote oil filter under drivers wheel arch" (ie right hand side). See this thread.

Think Automotive in UK do remote filter bits & pieces (http://www.thinkauto.com/) so it might be possible. I imagine it would be more trouble to fit one than to do the normal change procedure.

Also sounds like Doc Fizzix might be worth asking: here.

John

[paza1]

I know of someone who changed his from above. I tried and failed, however. Upto you and your arm size/strength and how tight it is on in the first place.
Mark

[ailwyn]

Keeping in mind that the engine should be fairly toasty when you dump the oil, pressing my body across the top in order to stretch down the back doesn't seem that appealing.

I think for the moment I'll stick with warming my forearm on whatever part is hot at the back of the engine whilst trying to will extra swivel in my elbow.

[Specky]

Take it off by hand.. It's more fun...

I love the choices to get it out of the wheel arch..

a. Just drop it. Or

b. Try and get the filter back through the suspension... Eventually it sinks in.. “You’ve got fat fingers and big hands”... still try and squeeze the filter through the gap... Dam it ,you've dropped the liitle blighter.. sigh deeply, it fell inwards and what's more it's stuck just out of reach... pick it up again... eventually get it out.. Realization that oil is now everywhere...

You then think I've got to put a new one back in...Eventually get the new one fitted... start thinking, "Is hand tight that really good enough"


TTFN

[paza1]

Top tip from somewhere on the site is to put a plastic bag over it to catch the drips
Mark

[Oliver]

Iv`e always found it fairly easy to get the filter off from the top. Just put a rubber glove on, and hope it`s not too tight. The hardest part i find is getting the old one out without spilling the old oil.

[Ekapol]

The hardest part i find is getting the old one out without spilling the old oil.

Run the new oil for a while then remove the old filter

[muley]

My normal method is to let the hot, oily filter slip out of my hands and let it drop onto the ledge behind the steering rack - if you're lucky you can get oil splashed everywhere, before you fish it out and drop it on your head.

I've also noticed if you do it with the car on ramps it is almost impossible to thread the filter past the suspension arms, drive shaft and rack - so I recommend the use of ramps for more fun.

Back to topic, though - I use a chain type wrench that fits onto a ratchet handle, but I have to reverse the wrench and have the handle working 1/2 way down the filter. Sometimes I use the one-handed band type.

I don't think I've ever done it exactly the same way twice, to be honest!

Cheers

Jim

[Specky]

My normal method is to let the hot, oily filter slip out of my hands and let it drop onto the ledge behind the steering rack - if you're lucky you can get oil splashed everywhere, before you fish it out and drop it on your head

It's not just me then..

I bet Chris.T never has this problem..

TTFN

[ailwyn]

I bet Chris.T never has this problem..

Perhaps he could find out how his mechanic does it? Sorry Chris, couldn't resist

[Enright]

My normal method is to let the hot, oily filter slip out of my hands and let it drop onto the ledge behind the steering rack - if you're lucky you can get oil splashed everywhere, before you fish it out and drop it on your head

It's not just me then..

No it's not, as the fresh big black stain on my drive will testify.

[John_W]

I've just found a good way to remove all traces of the oil stains from changing Elan oil filters on my driveway. I've just had 20 tons of new granite chips spread on it.

Comes up a treat.

John

[Ellie]

[quote="muley"] I use a chain type wrench that fits onto a ratchet handle, but I have to reverse the wrench and have the handle working 1/2 way down the filter. Sometimes I use the one-handed band type.

Having been born with only the one elbow located halfway down each arm, I've always let my dealer deal with it! But I think I may just find the time to give it a go.

On the subject of tool (the thing at the fingers end of the arm) I've usually found a bit of plastic parcel strap around the filter body, with the ends wedged in a gap in a socket set 'universal joint' and twisted tight by ratcheting in the appropriate direction, works a treat - useful if needed at the roadside with any car.

Having not tried this with the Elan I don't know if it works given access restrictions.

[lotusgirlmarie]

I use a clamp type oil filter socket from Snap-on. Works great. I hand tighten the new filter from below as its easier to get my girlie arms in there than a wrench. As for the remote oil filter biz, Pretty easy to source parts as our car uses the same oil filter as all Honda's 4 bangers from 1985-2007. Any import speed shop would have access to such parts... even Summit Racing.

[rip]

I hand tighten the new filter from below as its easier to get my girlie arms in there than a wrench.

All manuals I have read recommend hand-tightening only anyway. I have always done this and never suffered from a leaky oil filter seal.

[ailwyn]

I always hand tighten, but have yet to manage to remove a filter by hand alone

A.