Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: ABCDEFG on 07 June 2025, 19:32:56
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Hello all,
I attempted to change the oil filter on my Corsa, while unscrewing the oil filter housing, the top section of the housing sheared clean off. Leaving me with a nice round bit plastic with no way to remove it. I have a new filter housing on the way as the current one is an obvious write off, but does anyone know how to remove it? I ordered these special pliers that are made for ripping off persistent filters but there's so little room or access I can barely fit a screwdriver down there let alone chunky pliers. I am very inexperienced with working on cars, and having a mishap on something like this isn't great, but also I acknowledge I was likely doomed from the start when it was way over tightened on its last service by the garage. Please could anyone advise on how I should proceed? Thank you.
What the snapped filter looks like (Its not an exact photo from my car but essentially identical to my issue): https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/oil-filter-cap-nut-snapped-off-cap.387922/
Pliers that I am using: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007ENEAT8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
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Some people have had luck fitting a massive jubilee clip around the filter cap, and then attempting to turn that. You must slide the jubilee clip right down to the flange where it meets the filter body, tighten the clip and then use either pipe grip pliers or a strap wrench.
If that fails, resort to butchery. Good luck. :y
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Being very mindful of it being an oil inlet to the rest of the engine you want as little debris as possible around.
Could you put a pair of tiny pilot holes opposite each other and then wind a big self tapper into each... To give you something to lever against?
Chain strap round the edge with an extension to the top?
If you have a hot air gun (and a fire extinguisher next to you) the warming the plastic housing will.help.it.move but you'll have to be super careful not to incinerate the car if the oil catches
File a flat on each side to give you some purchase with a hammer and chisel, just keep hitting it round?
Creative use of some Stilsons or water pump pliers?
If all else fails smash it into pieces and unpick them, then hoover the inside for any fragments.
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/US-PRO-Filter-Wrench-diameter/dp/B0791GKFRP/ref=asc_df_B0791GKFRP?mcid=24161f230b4934df976e8c51677b39c7&hvocijid=7776827706986576388-B0791GKFRP-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7776827706986576388&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006948&hvtargid=pla-2281435177098&psc=1&gad_source=1
Looks like it could work.
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I appreciate space is limited, but as it's a plastic housing, can you get in there with a hammer and chisel or flat headed screwdriver and whack a notch into the edge and then as Glastro suggests, keep knocking it round until it's loose? ??? :-\
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Being very mindful of it being an oil inlet to the rest of the engine you want as little debris as possible around.
Could you put a pair of tiny pilot holes opposite each other and then wind a big self tapper into each... To give you something to lever against?
Chain strap round the edge with an extension to the top?
If you have a hot air gun (and a fire extinguisher next to you) the warming the plastic housing will.help.it.move but you'll have to be super careful not to incinerate the car if the oil catches
File a flat on each side to give you some purchase with a hammer and chisel, just keep hitting it round?
Creative use of some Stilsons or water pump pliers?
If all else fails smash it into pieces and unpick them, then hoover the inside for any fragments.
I attempted the smash it to pieces approach as it was just not going anywhere no matter what I tried. Sadly I pieced the plastic housing and snapped the metal below. Not quite sure how it happened as I was careful, but obviously not enough. Needless to say its beyond my abilities now and has to be towed to a garage and hopefully it's not major. Thank you for your advice though.
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Bummer. :(
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Some people have had luck fitting a massive jubilee clip around the filter cap, and then attempting to turn that. You must slide the jubilee clip right down to the flange where it meets the filter body, tighten the clip and then use either pipe grip pliers or a strap wrench.
If that fails, resort to butchery. Good luck. :y
Resorted to butchery but despite my best efforts, sadly snapped the metal section below the housing, has to be towed and hoping its not too major. Thank you for replying.
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Bugger. Is the metal piece replaceable on its own? If it's like the Omega it'll have a Torx or Allen bolt in the bottom of the housing that connects it to the block.
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Bugger. Is the metal piece replaceable on its own? If it's like the Omega it'll have a Torx or Allen bolt in the bottom of the housing that connects it to the block.
Just looked at the diagram and it looks like it has three bolts holding the bottom of the housing to the side of the block so probably an absolute pain to get access to unless you're Mr Tickle.
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Bugger. Is the metal piece replaceable on its own? If it's like the Omega it'll have a Torx or Allen bolt in the bottom of the housing that connects it to the block.
Just looked at the diagram and it looks like it has three bolts holding the bottom of the housing to the side of the block so probably an absolute pain to get access to unless you're Mr Tickle.
It's a shame as the replacement part isn't too costly from what I've seen, but half of the filter housing is still in there, I hadn't managed to get it all off. I hate to admit defeat but probably beyond my control now.
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Yup from memory its just 3 bolts and easy to get at from below, its a common place for a leak from the housing to block joint.
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Yup from memory its just 3 bolts and easy to get at from below, its a common place for a leak from the housing to block joint.
I never even thought about going from underneath. Excellent idea. I had assumed it was all down in a tight void but this could be worth a go.
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This is what I meant regarding the jubilee clip method. The jubilee clip provides a stop point so the chain wrench doesn’t keep slipping, although I grant you that the clip might slip. I take it that you didn’t try this method? By butchery, I meant a hole for a screwdriver as a lever but hey ho, it’s damaged now. ;(
Hopefully not too expensive to sort out. :y
(https://i.ibb.co/whC9c8LL/IMG-2193.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Qvn2Dhcc)
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They are only three bolts and not that hard to get at, have done a few to change the gaskets
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This is what I meant regarding the jubilee clip method. The jubilee clip provides a stop point so the chain wrench doesn’t keep slipping, although I grant you that the clip might slip. I take it that you didn’t try this method? By butchery, I meant a hole for a screwdriver as a lever but hey ho, it’s damaged now. ;(
Hopefully not too expensive to sort out. :y
(https://i.ibb.co/whC9c8LL/IMG-2193.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Qvn2Dhcc)
Unfortunately I didn't try that no, the access was so horrific I could barely fit my socket down there so not sure if I would have had the space to angle the wrench like that. I did attempt the screwdriver through the middle of the housing but was only possible access wise from underneath car and even then it was difficult to apply leverage and move it. Good news though, the parts were only £60 and hopefully labour for the mobile mechanic won't be too much more and I may have a lucky escape. Thank you for your help.