Oil filter too tight

N

National Holiday

New Member
May 3, 2011
10
Texoma
Boat Info
Signature 210, 220 HP Mercruiser I/O
Engines
5.0 Mercrusier I/O
Does anybody know any tricks to loosen a filter that was put on too tight? My Mercruiser 5.0 has the filter upside down in the back of the engine, hard to get any leverage on? Boat is a 210 Signature. Thanks!
 
here comes the mess..get a long screwdriver puch it all the way thru the filter and push.. make sure you are turning in the correct direction...
 
What are you using to loosen it? I would think that any of the band type clamps would give enough grip. Now as to access I can't help you there.
 
My son and I went thru that on his 2005 240SD. Had to remove the oil filter mount from the motor and beat the crap out of the filter before we could get it off. Not much fun. Forgot about a band wrench, you are probably going to have to get tough with it to get it off. Good luck!
 
sdarc said:
What are you using to loosen it? I would think that any of the band type clamps would give enough grip. Now as to access I can't help you there.
Click to expand...

I have had to use the tong style before on my 320DA like these: http://www.amazon.com/Channellock-215-2-Inch-Filter-Plier/dp/B0009WG5T4/ref=pd_sbs_auto_6

The vice grip style work well too: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B003771FZM/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive

Good to have in the tool box just in case...
 
HUMPH said:
I have had to use the tong style before on my 320DA like these: http://www.amazon.com/Channellock-215-2-Inch-Filter-Plier/dp/B0009WG5T4/ref=pd_sbs_auto_6

The vice grip style work well too: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B003771FZM/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive

Good to have in the tool box just in case...
Click to expand...
+1 on the tong style I have a pair on the boat just because of this reason... Ken I really like the Visegrip style never seen them before... great another boat expense... oh well gotta love it:thumbsup:
 
I have had this happen. used a utility knife to cut the rubber gasket. the filter spun off easily. Sometimes the filter fuzes to the mount and it is the cause of the problem.
 
wvsundancer said:
here comes the mess..get a long screwdriver puch it all the way thru the filter and push.. make sure you are turning in the correct direction...
Click to expand...

Although this can be done, (I've had to do it on a vehicle), Please exhaust ALL other options before using this method. If you rip the can open & still cant get it off then you will have real problems. Another option is to puncture the can in an area, very close to the base, that will allow you to "spin" the filter by hitting a chisel with the hammer. Again, try everything else, a third time, first.
 
Mine were on so tight at my first change, that I had to put two band clamps on and two of us had to pull/push. If you have room, put them on opposite sides. I recall having to use a foot to push on one of them while my dockmate, the Judge, pulled on the other one...
 
Had this happen. I had a cheap strap wrinch and it slipped and would bend. I bought the best steel banded strap wrinch and took a centre punch and dimpled it all the way around to were lots of burs on the filter side. I then pulled like heck for some time and it came off. Bent the strap wrinch slightly. The strap winch I got was worth about $20 big solid well made. It did not slip with all the burs on it.
 
Get a second band clamp then line them with 1" wide 80 grit emery cloth put both on the filter with one as close to the mating surface as you can get it. Go slow and use steady pressure.

If you puncture the filter can and that doesn't work, you end up tearing the can and that pretty much exhausts all other options since the filter can will have no structural integrity and will bend as you try other ways.

Next time use only engine oil on the filter gasket.................
 
+1 Jerry.
There is no magic solution for this problem. I've used everything from a band wrench to a blow torch (used the latter on my brothers '73 Plymouth fury) not recommended! The screw driver technic works, but very messy.
 
2 way carpet tape also works. If you can clean filter enough so it sticks to filter and filter wrench. Looks like you have enough ideas. Hope it works out/ OFF!
I use the Fram filters with the Grip on the bottom. I can usually get them off by hand.
 
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Last year two of the boats in our group had the Mercury Quicksilver filters fuse to the remote mount filter base. I put them both on, so I am positive they were oiled and not over tightened. The other two boats I did used Napa filters. They came right off. I think the nitril rubber used in that batch of filters was bad. We ended up using the screwdriver and chisel method on one after the can shredded from all the filter wrench attempts. The other we had to take the remote mount off the boat, and use a Dremel to cut into the gasket to get it to let loose. I hope you don't have the problem Quicksilver back there. You can use some pb blaster or equivalent to try to help ease the bonded or fused gasket.
 
One of the sevice training courses I attended at Cat Tractor Co. was taught by an old timer who experienced as much as one can imagine. In the course of our class one of the techs. asked about remedying the "frozen" filter condition, whereby he proceded to take out the Rigid filter cure tool which he urged everyone to consider for service work. I procured the nylon strapped (1-1/8" wide) unit with 5" o.d. capacity and have never failed to remove a filter. It is critical that the strap be positioned as closely to the base as possible to ensure positve contact. It appears that the current Rigid part# is: 31345
 
paulswagelock said:
Last year two of the boats in our group had the Mercury Quicksilver filters fuse to the remote mount filter base. I put them both on, so I am positive they were oiled and not over tightened. The other two boats I did used Napa filters. They came right off. I think the nitril rubber used in that batch of filters was bad. We ended up using the screwdriver and chisel method on one after the can shredded from all the filter wrench attempts. The other we had to take the remote mount off the boat, and use a Dremel to cut into the gasket to get it to let loose. I hope you don't have the problem Quicksilver back there. You can use some pb blaster or equivalent to try to help ease the bonded or fused gasket.
Click to expand...

I have to agree that the rubber o-ring fused the filter to the seat. On my sons boat motor, the filter was not about to budge. We had to use the screwdriver and chisel method. Unless you have actually had to deal with one of these rascals, you can't imagine how that filter can seem to be "welded" on.
 
No one has mentioned this or I missed it but did you warm the engine before you tried to remove the filter.
Warm oil and warm filter makes a huge difference in filter removal.
Doug
 
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