Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) World's best filter wrench

[WBusa]

Since I started doing my own tune-ups on the SLT (and puzzling over how best to get a wrench on the oil and fuel filters) I've been making a study of all the world's filter wrench designs (heck, I'm a scientist... making a study of things is what we do). I've tried the web straps (pretty good), and the metal bands (naah), and the end-caps (forget about it) and all the rest. Then I accidentally found the World's Best Solution. Try this and let me know what you think (some of you old-timers are probably way ahead of me on this):



1. Take an 18" length of rubber 5/16" fuel injector hose (other diameters will certainly work, too... this just happens to be what I had laying around).



2. Feed it around the body of the filter to form a "U". Because it is open on both ends and has nothing hanging off of it, its REAL quick and easy to thread around obstructions.



3. Grab both free ends of the "U" in one fist. Squeeze your fist closed around them... this tightens the hose around the filter body. Using the ends you're holding like a handle, turn the filter. Works every time Oo.

 

[Joe G.]

I just use a big screw driver on the upper rim of the filter. A few good licks in the unscrew direction and it's loose. I can do that before you put a wrench on the filter.

 

[DieselTweaker]

Joe G,



Thats a good way to get one free.



But here is one of the best filter wrenchs I have and yes it will work on our filters



http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1534&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[WBusa]

I just use a big screw driver on the upper rim of the filter.

Thanks, Joe... I've read about this, and agree it would probably be the fastest and easiest way of all. However, since I'm a relative newbie, its my philosophy to try not to break (during removal) something I'm intending to replace, on the chance that I'll need to back out of the job half-way done due to unforeseen circumstances (which, because I'm a newbie, happens sometimes... a sheared bolt, the wrong part, need a new wrench, etc. :{ ). I would guess that the screwdriver technique stands at least an outside chance of compromising the filter body, so it may not fit well with my hyper-cautious approach to things just now. Very probably, as I gain more confidence in myself, I'll try this out. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Joe G.]

The only thing that happens to the filter is that the upper rim gets skinned up a little. I've changed a lot of filters that way. No damage to mating surfaces or body distortions.