I've tried a couple of different filter wrenches and none go small enough to fit the filters on my 2000 max. Where can I get one that will do it and what's the cheapest one to find...?

thanks!

 

If you take the plastic housing off. 2 bolts one screw, you should be able to "bare hand it" off. I only use my hand to take it off and put it on. But if some guy at a quickie lube put it on you might need an adjustable strap type filter wrench.

 

The plastic housing bends pretty easily so I didn't bother removing it to get decent access at the filter, but the filter is on there still far too tight to bare hand it. The filter wrenches I've tried are:

1) It's got a "tooth" that auto bends in towards the filter. Doesn't work because it's just too large a wrench. I use this one on my 93 sentra.

2) Adjustable rubber-rimmed filter. If it would contract just a TINY bit more it would work but as it is it doesn't. Guess I gotta return it to walmart!

Does autozone/advance auto parts have some really small ones before I drive there?

 

I don't take the housing off either, but if my filter was being stubborn, I would take it and the wheel off, that way you can really put some leverage on it.

I would drive drive the auto parts store, grab a filter and try them out.

 

Take a bulky cloth and wrap it around the filter. Then place the adjustable rubber-ringed filter wrench over the cloth and filter and loosen.

 

I used newspaper. Wrap newspaper around the oil filter and then put the tool over it to get grip.

An easier method is to just stab the oil filter with a screw driver and turn. Good for releasing aggression as well.

 

I had this problem also...was so use to my S10 and toyota truck size that none of my tools fit. I was kinda freaked out how small the dang thing is.

I found a oil filter "socket" that fits on the end of the filter which allows a 3/8 socket wrench to be used to unscrew the filter. Pretty nifty and especially handy if the filter is hot and oily. Oh, I found it at checkers but I also saw it @ walmart a bit cheaper.

laterz

 

That's a good idea on the cloth to make the filter "bigger" to the wrench. What I ended up doing was what guchi recommended. Advance auto parts had a nice filter socket for our tiny 65mm filters and the thing is really nice. Although it fits only the one size it's nicer than using a standard filter wrench

 

Good lord. Just go to AutoZone. They sell some metal cap wrenches for oil filters. About $3-4. Usually located right next to the oil filters. I think the brand name of the cap is Purolator, believe it or not. Don't buy the plastic or nylon ones. They have a tendancy to slip & spin on the filter as you turn it to remove it. The metal ones grip nicely. Heck, you can even test fit them on the filter of your choice while there, even though the cap has a label on it with the brand names and part numbers of filters it fits. These cap wrenches are simple and they work. Can probably buy them elsewhere too.

 

My filter was on there good on my first oil change. The wrench i have is adjustable but still wouldn't fit on that tiny filter. So as any shadetree mechanic would do, i grabbed the screw driver and hammer. You know what i do next! Wham, wham, wham, and screw driver is now through the filter. It's easy to remove with a big ole screw driver in it. Now as long as i keep doing my own oil changes. It will always go off and on by hand.

 

Couldn't find anything that small not quite 2 years ago. And that thing is even smaller than the smallest my old universal filter wrench used to be able to grab. Another example of Nissan going out of their way to be a PITA to the DIY'er, I guess, if having to mod the damn tool first is the fastest unmessy way to do it.[/end rant]

Norm

 

Take an oil filter with you and go to WALMART. You'll find the right size there. It is where I bought my oil filter wrench.

 

I have a spring type Filter wrench. It looks like a deep socket with teeth in it. will adjust to pretty much any type of filter. My filter usually comes off with hand torque. You can try the channel lock type filter wrench.. they work good too. I got mine from Pep ***s

 

I tried PepBoys and they did not have anything small enough for the filter. Ended up buying one from Nissan for about $10.

 

Just stab the oil filter with a screw driver and turn. Its cheaper and more fun! Good for releasing aggression.

 

I can't believe there is a thread about how to remove an oil filter. We are all a little dumber for having participated.

 

Funny. I felt better for having vented a bit . . .

 

We can all use a little common sense from time to time.....

 

Try one of those strap wrentches...they're pretty nifty.

 

A large adjustable plier wrench would also work to remove stubborn oil filters.