Guys, just a reminder....do not over tighten your filters....someone put the fuel filter (on my new to me truck) so tight i'm not sure if i'm going to be able to get it off. Its on so tight that currently its twisting the can trying to get it to turn. I'm actually going to have to get my 8" jaw Chanellock slip joint plyers from my tool box in storage as a last ditch effort to get it off....if those dont work i may have to cut it off in pieces to get to the mount then use a punch and hammer to drive it off.
Strap wrench hasn’t failed me yet. First oil change on my truck I had to use a 3/4 impact on the drain plug. The fuel filter was a strap wrench with a 2’ ratchet.
If I get a PM at a truck stop they always over tighten my filters for some reason. In fact, once they over tightened the primary fuel filter so much that it broke the weld on the shaft and when attempting to take it off the filter and shift would turn. They paid for the filter housing and put it on, but it was still a pain in the butt!
This one is on so tight the strap wrench didnt even touch it.....had a bit of movement (i think) using Chanellock filter plyers with a piece of pipe over them but space is too limited etc... No way you could ever deal with this in a parking lot while hauling load.
Worst thing is they write the installation instructions right on the filter 99% of the time. A little lube on the gasket is EXTREMELY helpful as well. Installed to the proper tightness with a dry gasket is as much of a b#### to remove as an over-tightened one.
Sometimes I’ve had to drive a large screw driver through the filter near the top as I’ve crunched the filter body.
The worst of it is as another said...its written right on the can how far to turn it PLUS they put numbers on it so you dont over do it.... Jeeze, a drop of oil or grease on the gasket, spin it on till it stops, then a little twist and its good to go....not rocket science but it seems like it is to some people.....no tools are needed to put it on and if it leaks once put on as per instructiond you probably have the wrong filter!
Shops overtightening them is paranoia about legal liability. We've all heard of oil filters and drain plugs falling out of cars after visits to the quickie lube. This is another reason I really like to do my own services.
