Oil Filter Torque Spec

[Ken B]

Is there a torque spec on the oil filter? Or, what is the best rule of thumb for making sure it's on correctly? I'm tired of DC 5 Star shops asking to hold my vehicle over till the next day for a simple oil change... it's not my fault they overscheduled! Sorry for the vent, but any helpful hints would be appreciated on the oil change and filter tightening. Thanks in advance, -Ken

 

[Fireman Dave]

Ken,



I put it on hand tight - as tight as one hand will get it. Then I mark it with a marker that lines up with a mark I put on the filter housing. That way I can easily check to see if it has loosened at all. Never has happened to me, but I've heard of it happening to some guys.



Dave

 

[24V-DSL]

Ken

I recently did my fourth change at 20K.



I have a "torque stripe" marked with a black felt marker on the filter housing right in the middle looking at it. I hand tighten the filter, snug, then put a very small felt pen mark on the lip of the filter where it is aligned with my filter housing mark. I then slip the strap wrench back on and slowly turn the filter tighter until the mark is one quarter turn farther. Then I put a larger stripe on the filter lined up with the housing mark so I can quickly glance under the hood and see if the filter has moved. This has worked fine, and the filter hasn't been hard to remove at the next change.

 

[chuck3]

A lot of auto filters have marks on them, ours do not. With the marked filters you tighten till the seal on filter touches the metal houseing,then tighten 3/4 of a turn. Myself I just tighten as tight as I can by hand then put filter wrench on and tighten 1/8 or so, still tight when I take them off.

 

[Happy Camper]

I hand tighten with both hands (small hands). Make sure you put oil on the filter gasket. I tightened 1/4 turn extra with the wrench and found it likes to hang on tight when it comes to taking it off.

 

[Big K]

Be certain that the old filter gasket comes off before installing new filter. Also, be sure that you pre-fill the new filter. If you're new to this, get a friend w/ experience to watch over your first time. Lots of them here. Routine maintenance is easy, once you are comfortable with the procedures.

 

[3dracer]

NEVER USE A WRENCH. I cuss those guys that do... lol! I hate it when iI buy a new vehicle and the put alot of umph, into tightening a filter down. Just my opinion but I just screw it on untill i can feel it hit the gasket and then tighten tight with my fingers only. I just changed the oil on my 98 and i cussed the drain plug 1st. THEN i got to the filter and I had to put a wrench on it. It was so tight that i twisted the filter before it come loose. Later I found out that it was a 5 star oil job. They probably used an impact!! Just my opinion. I have never had one come loose, and is just as tight when it comes off as I tightened it. .

 

[Bob Cochran]

Well if you have ever had the filter come lose or fall of you will understand how much a problem and pain that is. I have on my other gasser truck. Nothing wrong with using a tool to tighten reasonable amount!!!! Emphasis on REASONABLE!

 

[chuck3]

Yes Bob your right, I know a guy who's filter was backing off, but he was lucky and saw the oil on the ground before it came off completly, makes a heck of a mess.

 

[cwarner]

Well I did my second oil change today on the new truck. And much to my surprise the oil filter was loose !

Is this a common problem ? I know I tighten the filter like I normally tighten filters.



In all my years of wrenching on car,trucks and boats I have never seen a filter come loose. Luckly it wasn't too loose , there was some oil leaking from it but not enough to show a loss on the dipstick. Hopefully I did not hurt anything by allowing air into the oil system. Wouldn't that cause the oil to foam ?



I just did a search on oil filters and landed on a couple of threads about how hard the first oil change is.

Mine didn't go too bad, yes the filter was on tighter that it should have been but after about a 1/2 hour I finally got it