As a part of our Instruments Below 30 {Dollars} Present Information Sequence, we’re showcasing an important device for folk taking their first step into DIY automotive upkeep.
The common-or-garden oil filter wrench.
What’s an Oil Filter Wrench?
An oil filter wrench is a specialised device that’s designed for eradicating and putting in canister-style, spin-on oil filters. And although upkeep intervals differ by car make/mannequin, many of the engines we’ve come throughout require a filter change with each oil change.
So yeah, you’ll most likely want one in all these wrenches each 3,000 miles or so.
Typical spin-on oil filter wrenches like those pictured right here include a steel band that self-adjusts towards the filter housing as you flip the deal with. Because of this, you’ll often must flip the orientation of the wrench round, relying on whether or not you’re tightening or loosening the filter, however that’s simple sufficient to get the cling of.
Extra importantly, you most likely don’t wish to use a wrench like this to tighten down the filter. In most functions we’ve come throughout, getting the filter cosy with simply your hand works nicely sufficient to keep away from over-tightening the canister, which might prevent some frustration in a while, when it’s time to take the filter off.
Since engine oil filters are available in a bunch of various sizes, so do oil filter wrenches. And plenty of oil filter wrenches can accommodate a spread of filter sizes, as a result of they are going to self-tighten to the edges of the filter as your rotate the deal with round. (That’s excellent news should you’ve bought a various mixture of autos in your loved ones motor pool.)
Meaning it’s best to assess the dimensions of the filters you autos use. Most spin-on oil filter producers will provide you with the outer diameter (OD) measurement, which you’ll be able to then use to find out the dimensions of oil filter wrench you’ll want.
Different Forms of Oil Filter Wrenches
Past the normal type wrenches pictured right here, there are a handful of different flavors on the oil filter wrench menu, they usually all have their very own execs and cons.
Strap-style oil filter wrenches could be fairly versatile. They work the identical manner, however as a substitute of a steel band/collar, they use a versatile strap that ratchets tight to the oil filter physique. This function makes them actually helpful for odd filter sizes wedged in tight spots. As an added bonus, strap wrenches can be utilized for different functions, like tightening tubing or pipe sections too. The disadvantage with strap-style wrenches is that they are often cumbersome to make use of and it’s a must to guarantee they’re actually tight for a very good grip—which can dimple the comparatively skinny steel of an oil filter housing if used improperly.
One other fashionable possibility are pliers-style oil filter wrenches—although we’ve discovered that these wrenches are most helpful when eradicating cussed, caught, or over-tightened oil filters that had been…maybe put in by the rookie store tech. In our expertise, a typical oil filter wrench will work fantastic for many of the jobs we’ve come throughout.
What’s Higher: An Oil Filter Wrench or Oil Filter Socket?
There’s a closing matter price discussing right here too. Some time in the past, we launched you to this device’s equally-important counterpart, the oil filter socket.
Whereas each an oil filter wrench and an oil filter socket are each fairly helpful, reality is, there are conditions the place one (or the opposite) merely received’t work, given the house necessities inside your engine bay.
That stated, it’s often not a query of which one is best, moderately which one works to your utility.
So it’s best to take a peek at the place your engine’s spin-on oil filter is positioned—generally each will work nice, and generally both an oil filter wrench or an oil filter socket will work finest.
You’ll be able to see what we imply within the three photos right here:
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Relying in your car, spin-on oil filter wrenches could be an absolute necessity if you wish to begin doing your individual oil modifications. And contemplating how helpful they’re, they are often nice items to provide AND obtain. However the most effective information is, oil filter wrenches are comparatively low cost too. In reality, you shouldn’t have any hassle discovering a very good oil filter wrench for nicely below 30 bucks.
