Revived!!!

Ok, used my 74mm / 14 that I used on my Mercedes to get the filter off last fall, perfect fit. I left that wrench 250 miles away last weekend. Due for a change (5000 miles already) and I figured I'd just pick up another one. Went to Autozone and picked up the $5 74/14 and no dice, too small. Went back and exchanged it for a 76/14 and still too small. What am I missing? '98 2.5 plastic cartridge cover. I can probably get the 76/14 on with force. Seems like there's some hit and miss with these.

Get this one at Pepboys. Works fine. Sometimes it gets stuck on the filter after you torque it down. I just stick a flat head screw driver in the hole and pry it off.

Or get the LN Spin on adapter. I did that on my last oil change. Filters the oil 100% of the time.

Well, it is 74 mm, 14 flats.

I use Stahlwille 3045 which I bought in 1990s for Mercedes M103 engine (300E) which was a metal filter.

Then used it on Mercedes M112 (320) and M272 (350) and on VW New Beetle TDI, all of which are cartridge types with plastic cap.

Now I use it on my BMW R1100 motorcycle and my Boxster.

It's practically the German standard.

Btw, the German standard for plastic filter caps looks like 25 nm torque, too.

Germans are like that.

Thanks for the replies. Driving 1000 miles + over the next 10 days. No time for LN, I'll check out pep boys.

I always put mine on and off by hand. Never have had any problems.

Yeah, I generally use a rubber strap wrench. No leaks, seems to work okay.

Second this fix-- it works!
 

i went to pep boys, found this exact item, and even though it isn't a perfect fit, it fits well enough to do the job on my 2000 986. thanks for the tip!

i was amused to notice that tightening it by hand was about 29Nm, after i went to all the trouble to get the filter removal tool and find my torque wrench.

My hands are all I've ever used for tightening, both with the old paper canister and my new spin-on...

These work
 

http://www.amazon.ca/Lisle-63600-Oil-Filter-Tool/dp/B0002SR4Q8

Oil filter wrench

Oil Filter Wrench (70719) at Aubuchon Hardware

These work

If this can help someone else. I bought a 76mm 14 Flute Cap Wrench from O'Reilly.
Worked perfect. No issue with good torque.
Part # 19907
$7
Pennzoil 19907 - Cap Wrench | O'Reilly Auto Parts

Another one.
 

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/PEN4/19907.oap?year=1998&make=Porsche&model=Boxster&vi= 1317203&ck=Search_19907_1317203_3191&keyword=19907

This one worked perfectly for me: O Reilly ref: 19907 ( 76mm 14 Flute Cap Wrench )