Oil Filter Won’t Budge

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ThatsSoMint

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Hello.

I’m an A-body newbie with a new to me 67 Barracuda with a 273.

It’s leaking oil from the oil filter adapter gasket so I am looking to replace the gasket and the filter while I’m at it.

Problem is I can’t get the old filter off. Have tried from above and from below. Very hard to find any room or get any leverage. Have tried all the tools I have and all the tricks I know - strap wrench, filter pliers, top cap, WD-40, letting it warm up, etc.

I worry that if I try the screwdriver trick it will just tear through the metal of the can.

Wondering if there is any specific tip or trick here that I am overlooking?

Thanks in advance.

IMG_9900.jpeg
 
Odds are that whoever installed that oil filter forgot to lube the gasket on the filter base.

If the filter gets destroyed to the point of not being able to clamp or grab anything on it, you can remove the whole assembly and work on it out in the open. It would be nice to clamp the whole thing in a big vise with wood so the mounting/gasket surfaces don't get hurt.
 
ThatsSoMint said:
Hello.

I’m an A-body newbie with a new to me 67 Barracuda with a 273.

It’s leaking oil from the oil filter adapter gasket so I am looking to replace the gasket and the filter while I’m at it.

Problem is I can’t get the old filter off. Have tried from above and from below. Very hard to find any room or get any leverage. Have tried all the tools I have and all the tricks I know - strap wrench, filter pliers, top cap, WD-40, letting it warm up, etc.

I worry that if I try the screwdriver trick it will just tear through the metal of the can.

Wondering if there is any specific tip or trick here that I am overlooking?

Thanks in advance.

View attachment 1716437441
Click to expand...
Yep, some of those are hard to get to because of the location and then you can't get the leverage you need. A quality strap wrench should do the trick but put it down towards the base. @dd70340 has a great idea to move the base for a better angle.
There is a good chance that the filter got installed without any oil or grease to lube the seal.
 
Thank you all! Some really helpful suggestions here. Going to try loosening/removing the adapter first - if I have any success there I will be able to avoid buying more tools.

But great to have suggestions of some more heavy duty equipment to try next if needed.

Thanks a ton.
 
I usually cut a flat in the metal ring with a file and use a screwdriver and hammer to get it started. If you take off the adapter then you will need a new adapter gasket and bolt seal, someone just had a set of DC gaskets on here for sale so you can see what you need if you do that...
 

Get a filter wrench and get it as close to the filter base where it screws on as possible. Put a cheater bar on it if you have to.
 
I've had a couple of worst case scenarios where everything about the filter is destroyed except for the base plate. I ended up using a punch, or chisel to work it lose.
 
1754190412286.png

Never fails, if you can get it in there.

Smart thing to do at this point is just take off the entire filter and adapter, since you were going to take it off and put on new adapter gaskets anyway. Then you can put the adapter in a vise and crank the old filter off without worrying about clearance, access, getting good leverage, etc.
And I agree with the above mention of getting a new bolt- some of the originals were seriously weak and sixty years hasn't helped them any.
And when you put on the new filter, oil the rubber gasket. Spin it on until it makes contact, give it another eighth to a quarter turn. No more. Done.
 
ThatsSoMint said:
Hello.

I’m an A-body newbie with a new to me 67 Barracuda with a 273.

It’s leaking oil from the oil filter adapter gasket so I am looking to replace the gasket and the filter while I’m at it.

Problem is I can’t get the old filter off. Have tried from above and from below. Very hard to find any room or get any leverage. Have tried all the tools I have and all the tricks I know - strap wrench, filter pliers, top cap, WD-40, letting it warm up, etc.

I worry that if I try the screwdriver trick it will just tear through the metal of the can.

Wondering if there is any specific tip or trick here that I am overlooking?

Thanks in advance.

View attachment 1716437441
Click to expand...
Many years ago, I bought a new 1980 Datsun 310 GX. It was a great car. After 3,000 miles, I decided to change the oil. I could NOT get the factory oil filter off. So I drove a big screwdriver through it and it would not turn. I thought to myself, "Oh no. Now what do I do?" Well, it started to tear a bit, but it eventually came off. I would have been up **** creek if it had just torn and not come off. So I would not recommend the screwdriver thing.
 
Have you considered hitting the adapter with a torch?
And get a remote filter relocation kit so you don't have to go through this crap again.
 
CFD244 said:
I've had a couple of worst case scenarios where everything about the filter is destroyed except for the base plate. I ended up using a punch, or chisel to work it lose.
Click to expand...
Ive been in that position as well after the filter got destroyed using the "screwdriver through the body method", thankfully only once or twice
 
Professor Fate said:
View attachment 1716437539
Never fails, if you can get it in there.

Smart thing to do at this point is just take off the entire filter and adapter, since you were going to take it off and put on new adapter gaskets anyway. Then you can put the adapter in a vise and crank the old filter off without worrying about clearance, access, getting good leverage, etc.
And I agree with the above mention of getting a new bolt- some of the originals were seriously weak and sixty years hasn't helped them any.
And when you put on the new filter, oil the rubber gasket. Spin it on until it makes contact, give it another eighth to a quarter turn. No more. Done.
Click to expand...

Leaning in this direction.

Thanks everyone for your advice and stories. Nice to know I’m not alone

Will keep you posted.
 
I collected about a dozen or so of all different types (various size caps, rubber and chain straps, 2-jaw, straight 3 jaw, etc) before I got a Wilmar W270. There are much cheaper chinese versions with plastic over the jaws, but you want the jaws to bite.

Wilmar W270 3 jaw filter wrench
 
I'll add this, but it's totally your decision. I don't like remote filter kits. I've never seen one that didn't leak eventually and that's up to and including factory remote mounted filters. The oil always seems to find a path around hose ends and threaded connections. I've used every sealer I can think of through the years and always, sooner or later, some dampness shows up.
 
junkyardhero said:
no tricks, just brute force.

i don't know what kind of strap wrench you have, but i've found every.single.one.of.them to not be worth a ****.

except for this one (or one like this)

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get that puppy on there, use an extension from the back side and give that sucker what for and it'll go.
Click to expand...
Yep, mine is like a piece of tow strap attached to 6" length of square tubing that 1/2" square drive fits in. Of course you want it as close to the business end as possible. I have turned it with a pull bar and held it with adjustable to reposition the pull bar. It will crush the absolute crap out of a filter but always moves them.
 
When you install the new filter, use silicone grease instead of oil, if you can find it. Don't tighten it crazy tight! As far as getting it off, some of the above suggestions will work, but, every time with one of these, something is a little different.
 
MV8 said:
I collected about a dozen or so of all different types (various size caps, rubber and chain straps, 2-jaw, straight 3 jaw, etc) before I got a Wilmar W270. There are much cheaper chinese versions with plastic over the jaws, but you want the jaws to bite.

Wilmar W270 3 jaw filter wrench
Click to expand...

I’ve used one just like this for years.
Just broke it on a filter on a motor that was luckily on a stand.
So i drove a screwdriver through the filter to get it off.
Need to get another of these filter wrenches though… they work well.
 
cookietruck said:
I’ve used one just like this for years.
Just broke it on a filter on a motor that was luckily on a stand.
So i drove a screwdriver through the filter to get it off.
Need to get another of these filter wrenches though… they work well.
Click to expand...
Lol, I've broken a screwdriver in an oil filter. The filter was so stuck on it looked like a big metal twisted raisin when I got it off.
 
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