Oil filter cover

[Stevie t]

Hi all again ,am getting set to do my first oil and filter change.Whats the best way to get the filter cover off,its as tight as buggery.Its the smaller filter and the cover has a square plastic nut on top approx 30mm across the flats and some flutes lower down.I don't want to put too much purchase on it with an open ended spanner or is there a specific tool to do it on the nut.Thanks.

[johnnyroper]

You can get a proper tool to slide over the flutes.
Have you tried a socket instead of a spanner?

[Stevie t]

Not yet, haven't got one big enough,may be able to borrow one of my pal.I had the proper tool on my other car but this one's different

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Use a socket wrench with a 2 metre long piece of copper tubing slipped over the handle?

[johnnyroper]

If you need a 2m piece of tubing to get filter cap off then you need to change the cap as itââ,¬â,,¢s been seriously over tightened, also I canââ,¬â,,¢t imagine a 2m piece of copper will be any more beneficial than a breaker bar as the copper tube will just fold over. Torque is about 20nm if I remember correctly.

Half inch socket and ratchet should slacken it off.

[brianh]

If its the type with a nut fitting on there, I've generally found a socket to be the best bet, ideally a 6 pointed hex one of the right size as that reduces the chance of rounding it off. As said, a 1/2 inch socket with the ratchet should be sufficient to get it undone, they are only plastic after all.

If your struggling to find the right tool to do it, see if you can find another cap and take that somewhere to find the right socket to fit it. Halfords are usually good for single sockets though not the cheapest. Or take a tape measure or ruler to the nut fitting and buy a socket that size (30 mm sounds possible, I've known some to be 27mm, but have got the petrol not diesel Galaxy and that has the metal cartridge type so can't tell you the right size)

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Would an impact driver be useful in this sort of situation?

[Stevie t]

Thanks all for your replies,had a quick look on line to see if there was a specific tool but struggling,think I'll just find a suitable socket from somewhere and that should do it,just didn't want to round it off.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

If you push the socket down onto the nut to make sure it doesnââ,¬â,,¢t pop off when you exert force then it will be less likely to round off

[Stevie t]

Just an update to help anyone else with this type of filter cover the socket needs to be 32 mm.

[brianh]

Would an impact driver be useful in this sort of situation?

No, if anything it would be an awful idea, as it risks breaking the plastic, and even if it didn't break, if it came off easier than you expected you'd be spraying used engine oil everywhere.

Its only a case of having something to fit the fitting properly - as said above, a 32mm socket. Its not that its tight (or shouldn't be tight) just that you don't want to round it off.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Thank you, Iââ,¬â,,¢ve always wondered about buying an impact driver but everyone seems to be saying the more traditional way of undoing nuts are the best.

Are there any more tips for undoing stuck on nuts and bolts please? One of my main tips is to soak it in WD40 but that wouldnââ,¬â,,¢t be advisable on an oil engine cap because it could contaminate the engine oil. Thank you

[Mirez]

Impact drivers are perfect for taking off rusty nuts, just not anything plastic!