Today I've had the oil change from hell. Can't remember the last time I had a problem like this, think it was on my brothers old MX5 4 years ago. The sump plug was well worn but luckily after a lot of spray it finally went before rounding off the plug. But the problem lies with the filter, it won't come off. It's so tight that the proper tool couldn't get a purchase on it and deformed the thin walls of the aftermarket filter. So I decided to use the screwdriver trick, and it started to rip through the filter. I'm now left with a damaged filter that won't budge. The fact that it only sticks out about an inch from the bottom of the casing doesn't help either. My plan is to heat it up a bit and buy a rubber strap wrench tomorrow morning as there's not much meat left to get anything else on to it. Failing that all I can think of is to remove the bottom of the filter and it's insides to try and get to threaded area at the top. Any other tips? It's damn tight! Cheers Haydn
Use a large jubilee clip and screw it to\around the bottom of the filter and angle the screw head to a position where you can get at it and put the screwdriver into the head. When you have done that you can hit the screwdriver with a soft blow hammer preferably. This is one of the best methods I have used and it's never failed to get a filter off. Never do the screwdriver through the body "trick" it causes more problems than it's worth. There's quite a long recent post about oil filters and getting them off on the forum
if you don't have any joy gripping on what's left of the 'tin can' part of the body then last resort is to snip it all away to get access to the sturdier base of the filter in which there are normally 6 holes.. Some have used long nosed pliers successfully by locating the ends in two opposing holes in the base but a purpose made tool is even better. I don't know where you are located but I have one you would be welcome to borrow.
Thanks Chris, I've just updated the thread "oil filter horror", basically I tried the pliers but it snapped them. I definitely need a tool. Cheers Haydn
