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You shouldn’t tighten spin-on filters with tools because the walls of filters will collapse under the pressure of a tool, which is much greater than what you can develop by hand.
Watch an expert mechanic loosen a stuck filter with a strap wrench in the video version of this article.
We recommend installing filters (engine oil, hydraulic, fuel) hand-tight.
With a tool, you’ll end up tightening the filter excessively. Next time, it’ll be way more hard to take it off. It’s so difficult that even with pliers or a strap wrench, it won’t loosen. You’ll probably crush the filter.
Two alternative techniques to remove a stuck filter are:
- Pound the filter (at the threaded base) with a chisel and use a hammer to loosen it.
- Pounding a screwdriver through the filter and apply torque.
Neither exceed yourself when tightening spin-on filters by hand.
Rub the filter’s rubber seal with some fresh oil (to reduce friction when installing it), and once you feel the filter is tight, go an additional 1/4 turn. The rubber seal compresses and seals as you tighten the filter, and the heat during operation will further expand the seal.
For more tips on best practices and safety at the job site, check our article on The Equipment You Should Wear as a Heavy-Duty Mechanic.