Cascade Crew

[Al Hasse]

While changing oil and filter today, I had the hardest time removing the old filter. Last time I had Firestone do this because either the weather was bad or I didn't have the time prior to a drive I needed to take. Since I never use a wrench on the filter, I couldn't find mine for the longest time. After I found it and got under the car, fit the wrench to the filter and started twisting. Still the filter wouldn't turn, then I slid the thing down toward the base of the filter, and again, the filter wouldn't turn. Finally, after a few grunts and 4-letter words, it started to turn. Now it has a few dents and twist marks from the wrench, but now it's off. I have a hard time believing that the oil filter needs that much torque on it to make a proper seal, and a harder time believing that a mechanic should think so.

[iansane]

I'd use the term "mechanic" very loosely when descrbing places like firestone, jiffy lube, buckys, etc. Some have excellent guys that know what they're doing and others have minimum wages guys that transfered from bestbuy stereo dept.

Sorry duder.

[Al Hasse]

Just venting. I did get the thing off, then I put a new WIX on without using a wrench. I did though, in the process of removing the old filter, break the wire for the sending unit, so my gauge read "EE" until I spliced it back together, now at 60psi cold.

[Richster]

Wow Al sorry to hear that!
It's amazing just how many folks could give a rip about the car!
I wont go to any of them, two bad situations...never again!
Insane has it right...low budget and no basic skills.

[chevymad]

Sometimes those gaskets swell as well. I almost never use a filter wrench. I've had vehicles come back for their next change and find it nearly impossible to get the filter off, and I know I put it on by hand last time.

[Al Hasse]

I've heard of the gaskets swelling, but I have my doubts that this one was put on by hand. The other car was done there too while i had them check for leaks in the new brake lines I put on. That filter came off very easy by hand.

[GREG DAVIDSON]

thats one of the many reasons i never let anyone else work on my cars

[Twilightoptics]

I had one I put on by hand that I had to disect down up to the threads to get it off.

Sometimes they suck. Mongo should not be allowed to work on cars however.

[Outlaw28]

al go to sears ive had pretty god experience with them in the past although our cars dont fit on there lift they have to get a bunch of boards and 4 guys and 20min later to get onto the lift...lol...i also have a special plastic cap that fits onto the bottom of our filters that you can plug a torque wrench into that fits the filter perfect and it works fantastic. i got it at the westbay/napa it was like 5 bucks. funny though i to have to do an oil change prolly do it tomarrow or later this week. he prolly used an air wrench to get it on. ive had that happen in the past only way i was able to get it off was by stabbing a screwdriver into the filter to get enough leverage to take the filter off.

[Al Hasse]

I normally do my own and only hand tighten the filter after moistening the gasket with oil. I forget exactly why, weather or time constraints, but last time I took it to Firestone. Normally I have excellent service there (store manager and service manager both know me on a first name basis), I also have an account there, so funding was easy. I have lifetime alignment service there for the 89 and I need to do the same for the 92 one of these days.

[BigBoi4Lyph]

Damn Firestone employees!(I work at firestone) HAHA.

Yea i donno about the shop you went to but, a combination of overtightening and the gasket swelling makes for a hell of a time getting the filter off.

Also just FYI The filters are made by champion labritories.

But they are actually upgraded because of the relabeled firestone printing on them. lol

[RSFreak]

I've had to do the old "jam a screw driver through the filter and twist" method before too.