Changing Your Car’s Engine Oil Filter is Easier Than You Think
July 17th, 2009. Published under Cars and Trucks. No Comments.
The most difficult side of driving is not everyone can be a car mechanic.
There are all too many cars that have specific individual problems, and these problems can create difficulties that affect the running of the car. In order that everything runs smoothly, there is a lot of importance placed on the engine oil, as this keeps moving parts moving. That oil itself is never much use unless you have a good oil filter in the car’s engine. There is all the more importance placed on the quality of the oil filter in a powerful car, as these cars are considered high-performance vehicles and depend on the moving parts performance more than ever.
Changing the engine oil filter is projected to be easy, and that anyone can do it, even the non-mechanically oriented like the rest of us. In fact, the filter is said to be replaceable by hand, and it would not be far from the truth except when the filter is slick and slippery with oil — and most car owners do not know how.
Thus filters often cannot be loosened by hand, but there are special filter wrenches that may be used. They come in two general types: the jointed pincer style and handle-and-chain style. Either is a handy tool to unscrew an oil filter, a task extremely difficult to do even when using latex gloves. At any rate, work gloves of leather, denim or latex are recommended when using filter wrenches as they minimize the metal’s bite on the hand when applying pressure to unscrew the filter. They also protect the hand from oil spills, a good thing for those who are allergic or averse to oil on their skin.
For one, you will find the filter to be screwed on very tight, the effect of the constant heating-cooling cycle the engine undergoes when in use. Wiping the filter with a rag before attempting to remove it is advisable, even if wrenches are used in the process.
When the filter is loose enough, remove it by hand. Ready a container beforehand to catch the residual oil that will drip from the nozzle or opening as you remove it. You can also turn it upside down as soon as possible to avoid more oil drips. Wipe the drops of oil off your hand as soon as possible.
At this stage, again, it will be worth using a fresh rag to wipe the nozzle and the sides of the new filter for the purposes of ease of handling. You will be well-advised to smear some oil on the rubber surface of the gasket, as this will smooth the twisting of the filter on to the nozzle. A few drips will do, and if you smear them over the whole rubber surface it will create a firm contact point.
Place the filter on the nozzle and turn the new filter a few times counterclockwise to find the start of the thread before twisting it clockwise to thread it in. This will ensure it is screwed in correctly. Hand-tighten the filter until it is snugged up and you are done replacing your engines oil filter.