I have a bad situation that is getting worse by the minute. I went from not being able to remove a stuck oil filter to now completely destroying the filter. The problem is not just the oil filter being tight as a drum but there is no space to use any useful tool nor to get my hands in there. I've tried every tool imaginable and nothing seems to work and slowly every tool seems to mangle the filter more. The suspension bar that connects to the idler pulley and pitman arm seems to be in the way and I don't want to start removing suspension parts but I may have to. The other problem is that the tray that ford uses to help the oil drain leaves very little to no room for most tools.

I've been changing my oil for years and never had a problem until I went with a bigger oil filter because of necessity, no one seems to carry the smaller one.

Any help will be appreciated.




Ed

 

YOW!!! How did the filter get on there so tight? What all can you unbolt to get better access? houldn't be bad unbolting things. If that was the original filter, I can see it being over tightened, but a replacement filter should not have been tightened more than a 1/2 turn after the gasket contacts the flange.

 

Happened to me once also. I finally drove a long screwdriver clear through the filter to get a hold of it. Had to do it a couple of times to turn it enough to get it off. Good Luck.

 

Like I said, I've changed my oil on this truck and other vehicles for years and this is the first time I've had this problem. I always use a little oil on the seal and only tighten 1/4 turn past contact. This is a WIX filter which I got online that is suppose to fit my truck so I can't imagine what happened. I'm not even close to 3K miles from the last oil change which I used the same brand. Perhaps it was just a fluke or the filter was old? I really don't know. I'm going to have to remove a few of the suspension components in order to get some leverage and room I guess.

Thanks for chiming in.

 

I had the same on a new 360 in a Power Wagon at the initial oil change. Like you, I drove a screwdriver through it as well.

 

I'd be VERY careful doing this, but can you get a chisel or long screwdriver on the flange of the filter? it looks from your photo it may still be relatively undamaged?

 

Yep, once the can collapses no tool will hold it. You might have to go Medieval on it.

 

Are you turning it the correct way? Lefty-loosy, righty-righty?

 

I have a giant set of channel locks just for stubborn oil filters. I can’t tell from the pictures if that would let you get in on the base of it with channel locks or not.

 

I too have used a chisel on the flange edge to loosen a mangled filter.
It's scary but does work.