FourTrak 95' F78 Oil Filter - Overtightened

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Hi

I know the oil filter problem is as old as the hills (on all engines) but it had me foxed for a few hours so I thought I'd write it up in case it helps someone else.

I suspect some monkey had overtightened the oil filter on my vehicle as, at first, it would not budge. I also discovered that space is at a premium above and around the filter on this 2.8TD and, try as I might, I could not get both hands on it. I decided to try the old screwdriver trick but struggled as there wasn't really space to swing the hammer to get the screwdriver thru' both sides. When I did, there wasn't then the room to move the driver anti-clockwise enough.. and it simply tore the filter casing.

Ok, new tools…. I tried a filter strap wrench but the handle of the wrench was too long to get in between the filter and inner wing. Likewise with a stand-alone filter strap and small socket rachet. I then tried to squeeze underneath the vehicle but even with my athletic (..ahem..) frame, I just couldn't reach up to get both hands in to get the strap wrenches on (ahh.. for my old ramps!). Now, in desperation, I tried to chisel a notch in the filter and nudge it round to loosen it…. still no joy… with air box, inner wing, heat sink et al, I just could not be accurate enough and risked damaging the housing.

Hmmm. I thought, I'll take front wheel off! It looks as though I might be able to get it from there…. only to find someone (probably the same monkey) had put locking wheel nuts on but not provided the key! Just as well I found this out now!

OK, new tools… this time a chain filter wrench.. quite short handle…. the trouble with these things is, that in order to get the chain tight and attach it to the handle, you really need to use both hands and, short of extensive orthopaedic surgery, there was no way I was going to get it on properly! I started to dismantle the air box… but lost heart when one of the bolts snapped!

It's at this point when you need a little helper. In my case, I convinced my other half to get underneath the vehicle! … I think she thought it was better then having hammers flying across the garage Smile … I wrapped the chain around the filter one-handed from the top and was able to pass the handle of the wrench down thru' the engine bay past the bulge in the inner wing. Between one of my hands and one of hers we were able to connect the other end of the chain tightly onto the wrench. At this point I could just get some fingers on the handle which was still at the bottom of the bay…. and by a miracle managed to rotate the damn thing a few degrees…. and by another miracle managed to wangle the handle past the inner wing bulge without the chain slackening on the filter. Filter now off!

On the down side, what a waste of a day!… on the up side, we now have a new circus act!!

HTH someone out there!