Decided to do an oil and filter change today. Thought it would only take about half an hour, Boy was I wrong!
3 and a half hours later, after wrestling with the filter using a chain wrench and destroying it, trying to chisel the seal away and finally managing to hammer a long screwdriver through it, the friggin thing came off! It was so awkward its unreal, I started with the chain wrench, but couldn't get a decent purchase on it because of the angle as everything was in the way. All I managed to achieve was the chain constantly slipping off the hook, or just denting and piercing the filter. After about an hour of that I gave up and had a brew and festered a bit more.
Anyway, went back out to try and the same kept happening. I was trying from top, middle and bottom of the filter, going from below the car, and above. Thought it was probably the seal that was stuck, along with the lip of the filter as it seemed a bit corroded. Put some penetrating
oil on it, left it for 5 minutes, and tried to slide a stanley knife around. Again, because of everything in the way, I could only manage about an inch top and bottom. Tried the chain wrench again, same thing as before. Started to panic a bit :embarassed: as I couldn't have driven to the nearest garage for them to do, as I had already drained the oil and it would have just pi**ed out all the holes in the filter if I tried to fill it back up. On to last chance saloon, so I just hammered a long screwdriver through the whole thing. Managed to just about get my hands each side of it to use as leverage. After a massive amount of effort, and a massive amount of blood lost through my smashed to bits hands
, it moved about 2mm!
Drove the screwdriver through again from another angle, as I had run out of room for leverage from the previous one. Again expelled a massive amount of energy, and added to my shredded hands, and it moved a couple more milimeters! Almost there I thought! Got the Chain wrench back on it, and it finally began to turn.
Seems like the chimp that changed it last didnt bother to put any lub on the seal, so I made sure I put a generous dollop of silicon grease on there for next time. First time I have ever encountered a problem doing it, so thought I would share with all you fine people in case you come accross some such problem. Had a search and there is nothing on here with what to do if it happens, (Maybe everyone else knows what to do, but I didnt!) So possibly even a sticky thread. All the best!
