Saab9-3

My car is up on jack stands with all of the oil drained out of it and I cant get the oil filter loose. I dont have an oil filter wrench- what can I use??? My car is stranded until I get it finished.

Indecision

Go into the kitchen find a yellow plastic glove - cut the collar so that you get one big elastic band out of them. Wrap it around your filter, turn. It should come off. Make sure to cut the other glove too so your wife/mom doesn't know

xviper

If that don't work, use the old "shadetree mechanics" trick. Take a screwdriver and pierce the oil filter all the way through in the bottom 1/3 of the filter. Then use this "T" to unscrew it.
ps. Get a filter wrench for next time. Every mechanic has one.or more in different sizes.

Flyin Wedge

Or...and this is messy but it will work.....get a screw driver and tap it with a hammer into the filter towards the top (stay away from the base of the filter.Once you get the screw dirver into the side of the filter about an inch,use the handel as a lever and turn it counter clock wise.

Flyin Wedge

Looks like we kinda think alike viper.I stay away from the base of the filter so I don't damage the threads on the filter mount,and it's messy because once you start pullin/pushin on that screwdriver handel that filter tears like a beer can.

xviper

Actually, we do think alike. We just called it different things. When I say "base", I DO mean the part that's away from the engine for the exact reason you just said.

Shinji

Whatever you use for leverage, I'd recommend you tap it with a hammer to unscrew it. Because you don't want to tear up the canister by using brute force.

Saab9-3

this is why I come to s2ki.com- I used the first suggestion and the filter came off after just a few tries. Thanks for the help.

Also, can I just use my hand to screw the new filter on, or do I need to use a wrench to make it tight enough?

Flyin Wedge

hand tight is fine,don't use the wrench.And remember to put some clean oil on the rubber gasket of the new filter to help it seal better.

littleton

Flyin Wedge,

Why do you say not to tighten with the wrench? I can never get the required 3/4 turn bare handed. And if I don't go 3/4, I am afraid that the filter might work loose over time.