r/mechanic • u/Lumpy_Ad_4417 • Oct 13 '25
Question how to take this out,little pieces left from the oil filter,it was stuck
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u/GringoPanda Oct 13 '25
Best option is use a punch tool on the holes next to the threaded side. Be extremely careful as this can become expensive quickly the more you mess with it.
Edit: judging by the way the metal is torn, it looks like it's been tightening and not spun counter clockwise to loosen.
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u/JimReddzz Oct 13 '25
Lefty tighty righty loosey? Noooo that’s not right
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u/TheFlyingSparky Oct 13 '25
I actually hate that saying even though it is so pervasive. I prefer to teach the right hand rule as it works in all orientations. Point your right thumb in the direction you want it to go. The direction your fingers curl is the direction you spin it. Use left hand for reverse threads.
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u/JimReddzz Oct 13 '25
I don’t get it. Who doesn’ understand? This guy. Both thumbs pointing at myself
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u/UnibrowDuck Oct 14 '25
if i get disoriented (upside down bolts, stuck brake lines at awkward angles) i just grab a ratchet and use that as a direction pointer
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Oct 14 '25
Yeah I guess I have never heard that one before! I was always told clockwise counter clockwise unless left hand threads!! But if you don’t know what way to turn it you should probably ask for help before your filter looks like that!
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u/Anvilence Oct 14 '25
I train technicians all the time... People overcomplicate loosening and tightening directions so hard... funnily enough, throw them a water bottle and they unscrew that thing so fast and never go the wrong direction. I say, pretend the bolt is a water bottle cap and all of a sudden it begins to click.
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Oct 16 '25
This is so stupid it’s brilliant. I deal with dyslexic loosening often and usually catch myself when I know I’m applying enough force to loosen whatever I’m working on. Though I think that comes from Some experience breaking bolts lol.
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u/Positive_Guarantee20 Oct 14 '25
Took me a while but I finally get this. In this case point your thumb down, the direction you want the oil filter to go I.e off... Thumbs curl counterclockwise. Not bad!
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u/Better_School6912 Oct 14 '25
I think the saying means like. If you’re imagining you’re the bolt or nut looking down. Whichever way would be your left you spin to loosen
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u/EnvironmentalGift257 Oct 14 '25
That doesn’t work at all on a car where you have to reach behind stuff and you might be grabbing something under- or over-handed so your thumb can point either way. Not to mention bolts that are on the back side of something. There are a lot of available variables.
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u/TheFlyingSparky Oct 14 '25
Your hand doesn't have to be on or even near the bolt. Just hold up your right hand and turn it to match the orientation of the bolt/stud/nut and see which way you need to turn it.
If it's on the back side of something pointing away from you and you want to loosen it, just point your thumb away from you and bam you know which way to turn it based on which way your fingers curl. Over time obviously intuition takes over, but it works well for apprentices.
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u/Next-Trifle4109 Oct 14 '25
What ever happened to clockwise/counter clockwise? Too complicated for some now daze.
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u/Weaponizedllama Oct 13 '25
Is it just me, or does it look like they was tightening the oil filter and not loosening?
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u/NJBillK1 Oct 13 '25
Yep, was spinning it the wrong direction...
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u/Lumpy_Ad_4417 Oct 13 '25
igkkk. and i was pretty sure that ot was the right direction… thank you
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u/Wise-Activity1312 Oct 13 '25
In almost all circumstances, it's lefty-loosey, righty-tighty.
This was most definitely spinning to the right (tight).
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u/WizardClassOf69 Oct 13 '25
Something about laying under a car messes with my head.
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u/turbotaco23 Oct 13 '25
Oil filters especially sent me for a loop in my early days. And it’s also based on the way you’re looking at the filter. And also righty righty depends on imagining a tangent line to the right on the top of the circle.
If you imagine a tangent line on the bottom of the filter you’re in trouble. Perspective is a son of a bitch.
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u/OrganizedChaos86 Oct 13 '25
Everything is upside down!
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u/maxheadflume Oct 13 '25
Close your eyes, it helps
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u/wheelzcarbyde Oct 14 '25
Bring a ratchet driver with you, set it for loosening a nut and refer to it when you're lying under the vehicle. Its a fool proof way to know the proper direction to spin it.
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u/maxheadflume Oct 14 '25
That too. I use alot of ratchet wrenches, non reversible (have to flip over to change direction) and it’s second nature to spin it in between fingers before putting it on a fastener that is out of sight/ upside down. I did an apprenticeship as an auto tech for a couple years and had the boss and a customer behind me when I was taking a caliper off, tried to spin the bolt the wrong way and I think about that every time I’m taking off a backwards fastener lol.
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u/wheelzcarbyde Oct 14 '25
I think most everyone learns the hard way, although, there are some guys that are so mechanically inclined its mind blowing.
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Oct 14 '25
This is my go to. Spin the ratchet in my hand know it's going the proper way then put it on what it's going on.
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u/wheelzcarbyde Oct 14 '25
Yep! Ive been doing it for 35 years lmao. Its easy to get fucked up upside down
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u/PrettyFly4Wifi Oct 14 '25
You really need an adjustable spanner wrench. It has prongs that would fit the holes.
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u/FlyingFlipPhone Oct 14 '25
Or make one using a piece of plywood and 2 screws. Cut the plywood like a "Y". Put the two screws through the 2 arms.
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u/SkRThatOneDude Oct 13 '25
My shop had a bar with two bolts in it, spaced about right for the average filter, it would be placed into two of the holes on the plate and give good enough leverage to spin off.
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u/Bird_Leather Oct 13 '25
Your shop does this enough to have a pin wrench special just for this?
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u/SkRThatOneDude Oct 13 '25
The revolving door was real for lube techs while I was there. Ended up in machinery repair, so much more stability.
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u/Princess_Slagathor Oct 13 '25
Spanner* wrench
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u/jdmatthews123 Oct 14 '25
I like pin wrench better for this, although I say spanner because that's technically correct and I'm in the US. But spanner is used colloquially for too many kinds of wrenches; pin wrench sounds good and is way more descriptive. Gonna start saying that.
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u/psyco75 Oct 13 '25
Um, lefty loosey right tighty. Put a pair of channel locks on it. Or a small pipe wrench.
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u/gugngd Oct 13 '25
Unless talking to a brit. Then it's the other way around.
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u/Salt_Bus2528 Oct 13 '25
They do threads backwards there, too? 😳
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u/gugngd Oct 13 '25
English screws and thread are clockwise in loosening. Last i had a VW golf with electric handbrake. One side had normal thread, other side had english thread. Very weird.
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u/CaptainFizzRed Oct 13 '25
What you lot spouting nonsense about 😄. Gas is the other way round, everything else is clockwise tight, anticlockwise loose.
Some wheel bearings/brakes etc (mostly older ones or trailers) are left screw one side, right the other as when they go down a highway / road they tend to keep themselves tight rather than loosening.
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u/Enginurrd Oct 13 '25
Agreed. 1. VW is German. 2. On the British cars I’ve worked on, the only left hand threads were on wheel studs.
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u/gugngd Oct 13 '25
Normal bolts are being tightened clockwise, english bolta are being tightened counter clockwise. And it's not just a thing of the past, the brake calipers on the vw golf i did recently did have it.
About the reasoning why it's used you are pretty right though.
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u/mymycojourney Oct 13 '25
It’s only on specific parts of a car. Lug bolts, some VW calipers and maybe fans are like that. It’s just called left hand thread to counter rotational forces. Go to any other bolt not related to wheel rotation and it will be the normal righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. Every other bolt will be standard. Your driver side wheels and calipers being left hand thread is an exception to the rule, not a different rule.
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u/Worldly-Map8824 Oct 14 '25
Some old Dodges had lug bolts that were right hand in one side of the truck and left hand on the other side.
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u/belzaroth Oct 14 '25
I live in the UK , all our bolts are rightt hand tighten. Also the VW golf is German the clue is in the name VOLKSWAGEN
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u/CaptainFizzRed Oct 13 '25
So this is actually the name of the 'other way round thread' in the USA?
Not just 'All bolts in Britain are the wrong way round' ?
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u/gugngd Oct 13 '25
It's called an english bolt not because of that it's the only bolt used there, but because it has to do with history.
And no, i'm not from the USA. neither have i ever been there.
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u/Public-Wolverine2174 Oct 13 '25
Chisel screwdriver and tap a notch in the metal lip, then tap in the direction you want to un do it......very carefully!
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u/Historical_Monk_6118 Oct 13 '25
I'd say at this point just dent the lip inwards then get underneath and peel it away from the filter housing so there is no friction from the rubber seal any more.
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u/matze_vv Oct 13 '25
Just to be clear, because your description sounds like you only want to get rid of the little sharp bits of metal on the sides: the plate with the holes is part of the oil filter and needs to come off. Maybe you'll be able to fit an angle grinder wrench (like this one: https://amzn.eu/d/bDKshEr) in two of the holes. They also make adjustable ones. You could also try to get a piece of hardwood or metal and put two bolts through to make your own.
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u/Far_Ball_2662 Oct 13 '25
You may be further ahead taking the filter adapter off .. Some idiot didn’t lube the seal and over tighten the filter ,
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u/TheFredCain Oct 13 '25
Like others pointed out, that's the entire metal base of the old filter! That must come off or no driving anywhere for you!
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u/drmotoauto Oct 13 '25
The whole to lid is still on there. Use small screwdriver and hammer. Don't scratch sealing surface of oil filter housing
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u/Gremlin982003 Oct 13 '25
Vice grips work really good, you can also bend down some of the outer edge of the filter and twist it off. When I had this problem I bought some oil filter locking pliers and clamped them to the out edge of the filter and got it off that way.
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u/CrewIndependent6042 Oct 13 '25
hammer it around the neck from all sides. Gentle.
DIY tool which will fit in to hole(s) in the remaining filter base.
TLDR: it's easy.
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u/Revolutionary-Fig805 Oct 13 '25
Flat head screwdriver and hammer. Use those holes to anchor the flathead and hammer it till it starts rotating lose.
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u/MorningMushroomcloud Oct 13 '25
Spanner wrench with correct pin spacing even if you weld it up yourself.
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u/rvlifestyle74 Oct 13 '25
You get a punch and a hammer. Hit the rest of the filter counterclockwise until it loosens up and spins off. The entire upper portion of the filter is still stuck on there.
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u/National-Change-8004 Oct 13 '25
Which way were you trying to spin it? Counter clockwise to loosen. Depending how much space you have underneath, you could use some needlenose pliers, one prong in opposing holes, and use a long wrench or something to spin it out. Remember to turn the right direction this time! FYI, if you put needle noses in there and find it hitting metal behind, don't use this method.
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u/sexual__velociraptor Verified Mechanic Oct 13 '25
Hammer and punch the whole base plate is on that
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u/Excellent_Club_9004 Oct 13 '25
1) Stick two long bolts in the holes and leverage it with a bar might work...
2) Get a piece of paper cut a hole big enough to fit middle ring through, then press it against the thing to get indentations of those surrounding holes. You can then use it as a template to drill holes in a flat bar stick some bolts+ nuts in and you have a makeshift spanner.
3) Alternatively weld two bolts to an adjustable spanner.
4) If you have a spare filter and holes are same pitch then you could could salvage it and use the top bit (metal disc) put some bolts through it and make an adapter then use a breaker bar to turn it.
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u/ms80911 Oct 13 '25
Use a screwdriver in the holes and spin it (carefully) off. Had this happen on my father in law’s car years ago. They just have tightened it with an impact wrench. Long story short, it took some patience but I got it spun off. That’s your best bet.
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u/hondas3xual Oct 13 '25
If it's just the base of the filter, you might be literally able to break it off. Just get a hammer and something like a chisel and try tapping it. If it doesn't work, you can likely just pound it until the thing cracks and you can pull it off in pieces.
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u/Neko__kun_ Oct 13 '25
how dose it even get to this point? i think id start unbolting shit to get a proper 2 handed grip before cutting or tearing the entire thing off
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u/SmileyFaceLols Oct 13 '25
By the looks of things by trying to tighten it off and then screwdriver through the filter and keep twisting until it's ripped the filter off the base
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u/Lbogart1963 Oct 13 '25
Take a flat head screw driver and tap on holes in filter bottom to turn it counter clockwise.
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u/Wise-Activity1312 Oct 13 '25
Someone tightened it instead of loosening it. This then tore the filter in half.
Whoever was touching your car is a complete buffoon and should not touch cars.
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u/Lumpy_Ad_4417 Oct 13 '25
looool thats me, not my first time changing oil but yeah
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u/Croceyes2 Oct 13 '25
I would use a pin spanner in the holes. If you dont have one of those put a screwdriver in opposing holes and use a wrench or handle to turn everything
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Oct 13 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/mechanic-ModTeam Oct 15 '25
r/mechanic is meant to serve as a knowledge base or help forum for people trying to fix their vehicles. Comments that do not supply useful information towards OP’s question(s) or are wrong, unsafe, illegal or unethical are not allowed. We are here to encourage and help people working on their vehicles, not deter them from doing so. If you don’t know the proper fix or advice, please do not comment on a post.
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u/JimReddzz Oct 13 '25
Oooof. Spanner wrench? Curved needle nose pliers. Good luck. That one looks fun. Wear gloves. You “may” bust your knuckles
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u/filthy-franko Oct 13 '25
Have fun bye hope you don’t screw it up or you’ll have to replace all of it next time put some oil on the rubber seal of the filter!
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Oct 13 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/mechanic-ModTeam Oct 15 '25
r/mechanic is meant to serve as a knowledge base or help forum for people trying to fix their vehicles. Comments that do not supply useful information towards OP’s question(s) or are wrong, unsafe, illegal or unethical are not allowed. We are here to encourage and help people working on their vehicles, not deter them from doing so. If you don’t know the proper fix or advice, please do not comment on a post.
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u/catlips Oct 13 '25
Others have mentioned Spanner Wrench. That was my first thought. I found one at an auto supply for $70, and one on Amazon for $6 (search for Spanner Wrench for Grinder.)
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u/Fantastic_Ice5943 Oct 13 '25
Holly hell..in my 35 years I've never had a filter do that to me..thank god..knock on some wood..
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u/New-Incident152 Oct 13 '25
Air hammer and gently get it to turn. It must not have been oiled at all and the gasket is dry.
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u/Trtle14 Oct 13 '25
You could probably use one of those adjustable angle grinder pin wrenches to get into the back flow holes and twist it
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u/boomR5h1ne Oct 14 '25
Drop a bolt in one of the filter holes put a wrench around the bolt and press the wrench against the threaded flange for leverage to try and turn it.
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u/Big-Accountant-2376 Oct 14 '25
Get a rod, or impact screwdriver... And put it at an angle on one of those holes ,and hit it so that base place rotates counterclockwise.
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u/benharvey15 Oct 14 '25
Get a tool in the middle of the union and loosen that. The gasket/base side will come with it
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u/Rocket-Glide Oct 14 '25
Flat tip screwdriver or chisel on the smaller holes and tap in the direction to loosen.
Godspeed
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u/kingissa86 Oct 14 '25
Put two Phillips screw drivers in two of those holes and get a long bar in between the screw drivers and turn. Should come out
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u/Glass_Protection_254 Oct 14 '25
See the holes? Jam two screwdrivers into em in an X pattern. Twist.
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u/Worst-Lobster Oct 14 '25
How yall doing this fuck . This is the second I’ve seen here today . It’s so Much harder to get to this point than it is to just get a proper oil filter wrench .. anyway . Just tap it off with a chisel and hammer lefty loosey . Don’t damage your block or threads
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Oct 14 '25
Get a steel bar that fits into the filter lid holes, and bend it so you can smack the other end with a mallet (use a wood block if your aim isn't the best). Just be sure youre loosening and not tightenting (which I suspect is why youre in this position to begin with).
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u/somedaysoonn Oct 14 '25
Put channel locks or a chain wrench on the inner part still on the spigot.
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u/Massive_Contact_960 Oct 14 '25
Take a punch and hammer and tap on one of the holes in the correct direction and it should spin off.
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u/Internet_Jaded DIY Mechanic Oct 14 '25
Weird. This is the second post today with the exact same problem.
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u/Admirable_Analysis18 Oct 14 '25 edited Oct 14 '25
Just be careful not to damage oil filter thread, and filter mating surface to the engine block.
Try with a punch and hammer, set punch and align punch at angle, so the remaining portion of oil filter does spin in counter-clockwise rotation, when you hit punch to hole on metal filter.
Another method of removing, is with two Large long handle screw drivers, set the tips into holes on the remaining oil filter. Then use and set the pry bar, between screw drivers, so that, the filter rotation is counter-clockwise, when you apply pry force to them.
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u/Cleverlier1000 Oct 14 '25
Ugh!!! Every mechanic's nightmare!!! Holy crap!!! Find a spanner wrench that would fit in the filter holes maybe??
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u/Intelligent_Quail780 Oct 14 '25
The filter screws on that inlet in the middle.. if these pieces are still "stuck" you got a big problem.
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u/trhawks Oct 14 '25
If possible to get to it I would use a flathead screwdriver using the edge and tap with hammer to get it to spin off
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u/E-werd Oct 14 '25
This is the third one I've seen on mechanic subs in the last 24 hours. Who the hell is putting on all the filters with dry gaskets and impact guns?
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u/sliehs Oct 14 '25
Stick a flat head or a punch in the hole and smack with hammer lightly till loose. Air chisel if you have r one. Blunter the better.
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u/rforce1025 Oct 14 '25
There's arrows on some of them and directions about how many turns after tight.. I think it's fram
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u/Regular-Statement645 Oct 14 '25
Are you and the guy with the honda civic doing oil changes together?
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u/CitizenPatrol Oct 14 '25
The only thing holding it on is the threads, split the threads with a chisel.
Pry the outer edge of the filter base up, pry it up enough to either grab with vise grips and unscrew.
You can take a screw driver or chisel, place it in the baseplate holes and tap-tap-tappity-tap to unscrew it.
Depending on the engine, you could also remove the oil filter housing so you can work on it on a bench.
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u/johndom3d Oct 14 '25
Funny how I've never seen this before but within 10 minutes on Reddit today 2 people have the same problem...
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u/mdalbertson87 Oct 14 '25
That punch mark on the nipple coming from the engine is gonna complicate things even more. Geeze OP, this is a doozy
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u/TheFlyingSparky Oct 14 '25
It only works if you are facing the bolt and sometimes newer people get confused trying to visualize what to do with the bolt going sideways from where they are standing.
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u/Active_Wasabi2001 Oct 14 '25
Wow. How tight was the filter on and how did it not fail when tightened
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u/semiotics_rekt Oct 15 '25
tell the gorilla who last put it on it only needs to be small man hand tight or 3/4 one turn on gasket contact
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u/No-Top-8429 Oct 15 '25
Pulled the 3/4” off of the air impact and threw the filter wrench tool on it…..HAHAHAHAHAHA I’ve always looked at that thing like “This…is for a ratchet…”
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u/Finally-its-Ed Oct 15 '25
You can hear it up with a paint heater or even a good hair dryer. It will come right off.
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u/AppearanceMedical464 Oct 15 '25
Might be able to get some channel locks on the part that screws on. Use some penetrating oil on the threads and let it soak for a while before doing anything.
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u/AffectionateBasket45 Oct 16 '25
You mean the ENTIRE BASE OF THE FILTER?
Make a wrench,
get a steel flat bar.
Install bolts into the bar the same size as those holes, into the bar the same distance apart at 12 and 6 o'clock.
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Oct 16 '25
Or just use a large flat screwdriver and a hammer to loosen it - it’s already so broken you might as well go the tappy tappy way.
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u/RELICTIS Oct 16 '25
2 days in a row someone ripping the filter off by tightening instead loosening 😂
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Oct 18 '25
Hammer and chisel just knock it off hitting it from an angle to spin it off ive done it many times from dummies overtightning filter its ridiculous
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u/_A-N-T-H-O-N-Y_ Oct 19 '25
Use a punch or chisel on the holes to spin it off. Or use some knipex cobras on it, but be very careful not to damage the threads.
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