Over tightened filters....

You never should need an air gun to break your drain plug loose.

I think you have to be insane to use an air gun to tighten up the drain plug.

Of all the things that you do not want to strip the threads out of...

 

If you have the room, a giant set of channel locks may break the filter loose.

 

I’ve experienced filters that I’ve personally put on come back off over tight. Had to use a hammer and chisel on the top lip of a fuel filter once or twice.
I guess the filter top sometimes deforms just enough to put a load on the gasket and the threads when in use to make it tighten up.

Either that or I was stronger the days I put them on.

 

Often times I hand tightened them on or a slight twist with a filter wrench if it’s tight in there.

But sometimes the filter gets crunched when trying to remove them.

I’m guessing it has more to do with the rubber gasket.

Some rubbers swell when they’re oiled, making things tight.

Like installing sleeves into the bores, they use rubbers that swell when coated in oil to seal the sleeves in place.

Installs easy with a couple taps, requires a puller to remove them.

 

It could be a fluid reaction with the rubber. It seems to happen with the fuel filters more often. The new fuels eat the insides of rubber hoses and the rubber parts in mechanical fuel pumps. Makes sense.

 

Fuel filter and oil filters are very thin and they flex. I try to grab the fuel filter as close to the flange ### possible and its its tight but no problems with taking it off. For oil filters i got a tool that goes on the end off the filter(looks as a big socket) and this thing works great. Great investment. Something similar to this VOLVO TRUCK OIL FILTER WRENCH (1/2" DR 15 POINT 107mm 466634 ) A1247 | Air Impact | Ireland
or this
Laser 6607 107mm Oil Filter Wrench Socket Tool 15 Sides For Volvo Iveco Scania | eBay

 

I use a smear of Lubriplate on the seal, and then follow the instructions - spin till it contacts, then 3/4 turn.

I might give it another 1/8 to 1/4 with both hands, but don’t use a filter wrench unless I can’t get hands on it.

 

Always check to be sure the old seal comes off..Sometimes they stick to the housing..Especially the center seal on a Fuel Filter...