Over a fair few years working on my own (and a few others) motors I have done a few oil changes in my time and the perennial question keeps coming up!

What's the best device to remove an oil filter?

I have over the years tried quite a few such as;

• Cheapo chain ones - crap & slippage
• chain wrench with a ratchet - slippage & awkward
• strap wrench with a ratchet - slippage & awkward
• filter pliers - pretty good but needs room to move

I believe some form of wrench that uses a ratchet is the way to go but which one?

Been looking at the "self tightening" three legged ones as they look pretty good.

Also been looking at the cup type, but do these work on canisters with flats as well as flutes at the bottom?

So there you go, any proven methods greatly relieved. Oh apart from the dirty great screwdriver through the side trick

 

Depends on the car,working in the trade one tool won't fit all!

I have the 2 of the band type that 'self-tighten' but they don't work on the smaller filters.

3 legged 'claw' type for filters that hang down vertically.

Proper VAG 'cup' type for Err VAG diesels.

Big water pump pliers for anything else.

Lot of the Ford/Hyundai stuff (diesels) just have a 27mm hex where a normal socket is used.

 

One like this. Look like shite, but grip far better than any chain / strap filter etc will!

 

They're the 'band' type I mention, they're ok if you have room to swing the handle round.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys

Guess I should have said its mainly for the Escorts both CVHs and an HCS both with filters on the back of the engine

The only other cars I need to get filters off (at present) is my 04 Vectra which is so easy to change its a dream and my old 1957 Sunbeam mk iii which again is simple

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FACOM-U-48...item232a633f3d

These are good, sure mine was cheaper.

Also try these, a lot cheaper, my mac version was about Ł20

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ADJUSTABLE...item256d2275df

 

Cheers bud will have at look at the first one, the second is the "filter pliers" I have already but the mk4 Escort yields little room for them

 

I'd recommend band type as per RichieST's post, be careful though, they do different sizes, I have a red handled blue-point one that's for large filters (old Transits etc) and a black handled blue-point one for CVH/HCS size filters.

Measure your filter ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverline...item5894405c7f

 

You dont get many easier than mk4 escort oil filters

 

I shall have a look at that cheers mate

 

i prefer the band type myself i also have a small one for jap style filters

 

i have a band one which is good if you have loads of access, but i find my claw type one much better in most situations. the three legged one that is.

 

I've always preferred the claw type, followed by the band type, don't like the chain type at all.

 

The strap type for me hands down

 

I have the chain and recently bought bluepoint oil filter pliers which seem to work great.

 

screw driver and a hammer works every time

 

Only seen it done once. The look on face of the bloke that did it when he realised he had bought the wrong filter was priceless

 

Halfords 3 legged removal tool, works 95% of the time if accessible with a ratchet/Extension, can sometimes slip on small filters like subaru but can usually shove something in to pack it up and give it grip.

 

They should be only hand tight anyway. I make sure to lube around the seal of the filter when doing the oil change. I've used the screwdriver method twice, and it's not fun .