OIL FILTER WRENCH

I seem to have an affinity for making things or improving them. This is certainly true for wrenches used to remove and replace the oil filters on cars, tractors, and mowers, etc. I have an even dozen different wrenches for changing filters on all these different engines, and I'm not a professional mechanic. I just work on my own stuff.

Step 1: PARTS & TOOLS NEEDED

PARTS NEEDED:

Old 1/2" drive deep socket, size 11/16" or 3/4"

2.5" to 3" X 3/4" diameter black steel pipe. If you buy a new pipe nipple, you should buy a longer piece, so you can cut off the threaded ends of it.

A 2 foot piece of 2" wide seat belt strap.

TOOLS NEEDED:

Electric or Oxygen / Acetylene welder. I use a MIG welder.

Chop saw with 1/8" wide blade preferred, but you could use a hack saw and multi-blades to make cut 1/8" wide.

Step 2: GETTING STARTED

I have 2 different engines that that have very limited access around the oil filter. This wrench works great in applications where you can get to the filter from the side of it and have about 3" open area below the filter. It was completely made of scrap material. If you don't have the socket, a good source is a pawn shop, garage sale or swap meet. A new short piece of steel pipe can be acquired at Lowes or Home Depot, Buy black gas pipe, not galvanized. The zinc on galvanized pipe gives off fumes that are a breathing hazard when heated or welded.

Step 3: CONSTRUCTION

This tool was made from an old 11/16" X 1/2" drive socket I bought at a pawn shop for 50¢. I welded 2.5" piece of 3/4" pipe to the end of socket and cut a 1/8" slot lengthwise through the piece of pipe. I cut a 2 foot piece of seat belt from an old car. To get the length calibrated, I wrapped the strap around a new oil filter and threaded both ends through the slot in the pipe. I left about 4 inches between the pipe and the filter so that the strap would wrap around the pipe , giving more tension when being used. I burned the ends with a flame to prevent raveling.

Step 4: USING THE STRAP WRENCH

Using the strap wrench is as simple as slipping the strap onto the oil filter and turning the ratchet, tightening it to break the filter loose, then unscrew the filter by hand. Be sure to remove the old gasket, clean the surface the new filter and gasket will fit onto, and lightly oil the surface of the new gasket. When installing the new filter, just reverse the procedure by tightening filter by hand, then snug it down another 1/2 turn or amount the manufacturer suggest. Over tightening the filter is as bad as not getting it tight enough. After you get the oil changed, start engine, let it run a few minutes while checking for any leaks. Check again after a few miles for any leakage. If this is your first time changing your filter and oil, get a friend or neighbor to oversee your work. If I can do it at age 81, YOU can too.