Oil Filter Housing Cap

[anm3itbe]

It seems the previous owner of the car, captain planet, and his super strength must've tightened down the cap on my oil filter housing. I've tried the 36mm socket and vice grips with a rag on the teeth so far, but I can't seem to loosen it. In fact, trying to turn it with the vice grips caused the cap to chip on one point of the screw head.

Any ideas? I really have to change the filter.

Thanks all!

[VA//M3]

Just making sure.

Are you turning it Counter-clockwise?

[danewilson77]

Socket, 6" extension, breaker bar, and proper use of countertorque.

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[anm3itbe]

Just making sure.

Are you turning it Counter-clockwise?

Is lefty-loosey wrong for this situation? Still used to working on the e36.


Socket, 6" extension, breaker bar, and proper use of countertorque.

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Now I'm confused...

[johnrando]

Lefty-loosey is counter-clockwise, so that is correct.

[anm3itbe]

^ Gotcha - I guess I'll attempt it with the breaker bar next.

[mimalmo]

Yup, it goes on/comes off just like the cap on a jar of peanut butter.

I'd stop with the vise-grips and instead use Dane's method. Your 36mm socket should be a 6 point one so that should offer the best grip on the cap.

[anm3itbe]

Yup, it goes on/comes off just like the cap on a jar of peanut butter.

I'd stop with the vise-grips and instead use Dane's method. Your 36mm socket should be a 6 point one so that should offer the best grip on the cap.

Thanks Eli, and everyone else for the quick responses! Unfortunately, the only local, readily available 36mm I could find was a 13 point. May have to just order one.

[Hermes]

i was about to order one too... this is the one i'm gonna get - $15 (s/h is $5.50-16 depending on how fast you want it)

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00929877000P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00929877000P

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/public/PwaEho1QCXzY2_C0znQ_GyZMge-q2ZSGHkb0b9CKW3aSwMuwWwle5AYAUlNxxAtW3sWy__lzYF3EJ nUntNHkFGbork6V0OsmxiZHTZwfkiu1Xo6_x6jiT4kwBhVGWTt XQYURcBFOsneyDxFRdmZTs9PSM3C7

[llll1l1ll]

Mine was stuck on, but then I just took a longer bar and as I pushed with my left hand I gave it a couple of good whacks with my right. Popped loose.

PS It's possible that Captain Planet decided to get his car serviced at a quick lube shop. They have a tendency to tighten the crap out of those things.

[danewilson77]

The 6" extension just allows you to apply your counter torque, above the cap......just gives you more room.

[VA//M3]

The cap should be tightened to 18 ft lb. Just a tad past fully seated. There is no point in overtightening the cap since the o-ring inside is what does the sealing, not the lip on the cap.

[az3579]

18ft-lbs is a very small amount, so if you hand tighten it, that will definitely suffice. In fact, that is probably a little more than 18ft-lbs.


The breaker bar is probably the #1 tool in my inventory. :biggrin

[danewilson77]

18ft-lbs is a very small amount, so if you hand tighten it, that will definitely suffice. In fact, that is probably a little more than 18ft-lbs.


The breaker bar is probably the #1 tool in my inventory. :biggrin

Hand tighten it? O rly?

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[VA//M3]

Hand tighten it? O rly?

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yep pretty much sir.

[danewilson77]

With a new o-ring on there...I don't think I could put mine on by hand.

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[az3579]

With a new o-ring on there...I don't think I could put mine on by hand.

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I'm sorry to hear that; perhaps you should try using a wrench with it. That's what I meant by hand tighten; I don't know about you, but when I hand tighten it (with a socket wrench :p), my torque that I'm feeling out isn't far off from what it's supposed to be. Needless to say, it can be tightened much more if you tried hard enough, but that's not necessary. :)

[danewilson77]

I'm sorry to hear that; perhaps you should try using a wrench with it. That's what I meant by hand tighten; I don't know about you, but when I hand tighten it (with a socket wrench :p), my torque that I'm feeling out isn't far off from what it's supposed to be. Needless to say, it can be tightened much more if you tried hard enough, but that's not necessary. :)

You frustrate me sometimes BP. Really.

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[anm3itbe]

haha you guys rock! Thanks for the tips

[danewilson77]

haha you guys rock! Thanks for the tips

So long as you know...the only thing the 6" extension does for you is give you a little more mechanical advantage.

[anm3itbe]

So long as you know...the only thing the 6" extension does for you is give you a little more mechanical advantage.

Thank you kind sir. I believe I have one, so I'll give it a shot.

[bcleaver]

Thank you kind sir. I believe I have one, so I'll give it a shot.

I'd try to be as cautious as possible while loosening that and really avoid using vice-grips or a crescent wrench or anything as it's pretty easy to damage the oil filter housing gasket if you really wrench on it. From my reading, taking the oil filter cap off incorrectly seems to be the cause for many of those failed gaskets and they're a real hassle to replace. Anyway, looks like you don't have a ton of options now, but exercise as much caution as you can, and good luck.

[Hermes]

so the socket I talked about way earlier in this thread came in today. was this box necessary for such a small thing?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/a92b7dcb.jpg

[Newjack]

so the socket I talked about way earlier in this thread came in today. was this box necessary for such a small thing?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/a92b7dcb.jpg

Good thing it isn't broken. I would have expected them to use a bigger box.

Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk

[danewilson77]

so the socket I talked about way earlier in this thread came in today. was this box necessary for such a small thing?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/a92b7dcb.jpg

Yes. Now you can use big box to ship me presents.

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[Hermes]

Hahaha, don't think I can get the interior you want in that box

[danewilson77]

Hahaha, don't think I can get the interior you want in that box

Schucks.

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