TheSamba.com :: View topic - Type IV alternator tensioning tool? Mahle oil filter tool?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:40 pm

VDubTech wrote: If you need a wrench to remove your oil filter it's on too tight. They should be installed by hand, with thte o ring lubricated, one full turn past contact, nothing more. You should also be able to remove that same filter by hand, using no wrenches whatsoever...
My full-flow TIII setup, my Mk.III Jetta, the B5 Passat, and two Porsche 914-4's, all get up to a full turn of the oil filter max but I've yet to get a complete 360-degree turn, usually it's just a hair past 3/4 turn, and there's NO WAY I can get that sucker off come oil filter change time. By hand? Seriously? Except for my Squareback, those filters are in challenging spaces and there's no way they come off by hand. That's just crazy talk! And yes, I pre-fill them and smear the seal w/clean oil.

Besides, what's wrong with using a tool to remove a filter? :roll:

Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:42 pm

I use a three-fingered contraption that works with my ratchet. It grips the can and has never, ever slipped! Naturally, in the confines of the Bus engine (with the heat exchanger in the way), this tool doesn't work as well. That 90-degree handle strappy thing may be the ticket.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:19 pm

Thanks Air-cooled nut.

Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:46 am

Air_Cooled_Nut wrote: Besides, what's wrong with using a tool to remove a filter? :roll:

I don't think I have had to use a wrench to remove an oil filter from one of my own rigs in decades, on other peoples rigs yes, frequently. It does help on a bus to use a longer oil filter. If I am doing straight highway driving I just run a Motorcraft FL-1a or equivalent. It's an inch or so longer and sticks down a bit and makes removal a breeze. I don't recommend it if you are running 4wd roads though.

Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:44 am

I haven't seen these mentioned yet.

This one is interesting as well, I wonder if it goes down small enough? I guess for that price you could cut the band and weld it up shorter and if it still didn't work toss it out.

Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:49 am

Air_Cooled_Nut wrote: I use a three-fingered contraption that works with my ratchet.

fyi, this is a knock-off of the hazet 2172.