Simple solution for oil filter removal

[Newsguy]

Why are we overthinking this? I just use one of those cheap stamped-steel oil filter tools with no problem.

[old911doc]

I recently acquired a 2001 Boxster S which still had the plastic oil filter can. It was on so tight that my Hazet oil filter wrench would ‘cam over’ at approximately 175 foot-pounds of torque. The cast-aluminum cap type wrench sold as ‘Craftsman’ at Lowe’s saved the day, and I was able to get the plastic cup off the engine, but I couldn’t get the tool off the cup.
My suggestion: under NO circumstance should you continue use of the plastic cup, and risk having either a permanently-installed oil filter, or worse, having the cup break off at its threads. Good luck removing the fragments. The aluminum spin-on adapter and filer should be fitted at the time the car is acquired.

Notice the M96 engine blocks for sale on eBay: they all still have the black filter cup in place. The sellers couldn’t get them off!

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by old911doc

I recently acquired a 2001 Boxster S which still had the plastic oil filter can. It was on so tight that my Hazet oil filter wrench would ‘cam over’ at approximately 175 foot-pounds of torque. The cast-aluminum cap type wrench sold as ‘Craftsman’ at Lowe’s saved the day, and I was able to get the plastic cup off the engine, but I couldn’t get the tool off the cup.
My suggestion: under NO circumstance should you continue use of the plastic cup, and risk having either a permanently-installed oil filter, or worse, having the cup break off at its threads. Good luck removing the fragments. The aluminum spin-on adapter and filer should be fitted at the time the car is acquired.

Oh My Gosh! What is it with these dealerships and shops whose employees crank on the oil filters with lug nut-level (or higher) torques! Hand tightening, it works. In over 80k worth of oil changes (@ every 3-4k miles) I have, after hand tightening, had one single solitary occasion where I got the slightest seepage and had to tighten it a smidgen more. The oil loss was infinitesimal—didn't have to top it off a drop.

And yeah, get the spin-on oil filter adapter. A definite upgrade.

[rexcramer]

My guess is most people never use their torque wrench (set at 19lbs I believe) to re-install the plastic oil housing. Most of them are/have been ridiculously over-tightened.