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[Raymond]

Hello, I am looking for a bit of advice. After reading many maintenance guides on this excellent site it has given me the confidence to start doing my own servicing on the car. It is an 03 2.6. I am in the middle of doing an oil change but have come up against a brick wall. I have drained the sump but I can't get the filter canister off. Any tips, advice will be more than welcome. Also any tips on changing the fuel filter.

Thanks in advance

Raymond

[Andy H]

This guide How2 to convert your new metal element oil filter, to an old spin on type might help if you destroy the metal housing while trying to unscrew the cap..........

I haven't had a problem getting the cap off my oil filter (yet) but if I did I would resort to pouring a kettle of boiling water over the outer housing (to make it expand) and then have another go.

[Raymond]

I would rather just change the oil without the filter for now and get the filter done at a later date. I need my car for tomorrow so I think that is what I will do. Why is it always so difficult, I mean its not rocket science to do but there always seems to be a problem like this, oh well another day wasted!

[Raymond]

Would it be easier if I let it cool down?

[Andy H]

I always warm any engine before I do an oil change to make sure that the oil is less viscous and drains quicker. I don't know if this has helped when I have removed the cap :-/ might just be coincidence. :-/

The consensus seems to be that the reason why the cap sometimes refuses to budge is due to overtightening at the last oil change but there was a recent post by a member who definitely didn't overtighten and still couldn't shift it

As both the cap and the housing are aluminium I would think that letting them both cool before trying to direct boiling water onto the outer housing (if that is possible) would be most likely to get it to release.

[Raymond]

Cheers Andy, the engine was warm when I drained the oil. Think I will give the boiling water a try!

[Raymond]

Gave up it won't budge, just changed the oil for now. Will have to look into a way of getting the cap off.

[Andy B]

Gave up it won't budge, just changed the oil for now. Will have to look into a way of getting the cap off.

get a strap on the body of the housing and give your 24mm spanner on the nut of the cap a sharp knock/thump/clout with a 2lb hitting stick. 

[PxMetro]

Gave up it won't budge, just changed the oil for now. Will have to look into a way of getting the cap off.

get a strap on the body of the housing and give your 24mm spanner on the nut of the cap a sharp knock/thump/clout with a 2lb hitting stick. 

You will need to use a "Metal" strap type to ensure all of the knock-shock is transferred to the lid of the housing, and not absorbed by the strap. (as would be the case if using a reinforced flexible type)
 

When you come to refit, make sure you don't over tighten. Recommended torque is 15Nm. There is a "O" ring that seals the lid to the housing, which locates into a groove in the lid and seals to the inner diameter of the housing, so is NOT dependant on how tight the lid is fitted.
 :exclamation

[V6 CDX-er]

Gave up it won't budge, just changed the oil for now. Will have to look into a way of getting the cap off.

I've recently had the exact same problem, ( 2003 2.6 motor as well). The following is how I did mine.....

With the front of the car up on axle stands, (and the rear well chocked), turn the steering either full left or full right, (sorry, cant remember which one it was). This will give you just that few extra mm in which to be able to turn your breaker bar without it hitting the steering arms.

First off try an impact socket (24mm?), as I found that the 12 sided regular sockets just kept on slipping.

With mine the impact socket still wouldn't budge the bloody thing, so I then just used the 1/2" square drive part of my breaker bar into the square hole in the canister cap and pulled with all my might.

This managed to break the canister cap clean in two;



It is then possible to 'just' get an angle grinder in there and start to cut away the damage canister and cap bit by bit. Be very very carefull doing this, as you really don't want to drop the angle grinder on your chest!

Once the cap of the canister is removed, you can then pull out the old filter element and undo the hex bolt that hold the canister to the engine block. From there just follow the guide on the 'How to convert your oil filter'. The hex drive that you will need to remove the canister from the block is a 12mm hex.

Another option, (and perhaps easier) would be to try using one of these; http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/oil-filter-wrench-set-cup-style-15-piece

In regards to the fuel filter, make sure that you also buy the little plastic 'end clips' that fit over the fuel lines and clip over the ends of the fuel filter. Make sure to take note in which direction the old fuel filter fits, and make a note on the new fuel filter with marker pen, (the differences are subtle, especially when your under the car getting covered in fuel).

I tried using normal pliers as suggested in the OOF guide, but failed to remove the old filter and started to badly chew up the fuel lines.

Instead I would strongly suggest investing in a set of these; http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht441-3pce-fuel-line-disconnect-set  it will make the job so very much easier!


Hope this helps?

[V6 CDX-er]

Maybe these pictures will also help?

Parts of the oil filter canister lid when they had been removed;



The remains of the oil filter canister, (with filter element removed), still attatched to the block;



And then the canister once removed from the engine block;

[Raymond]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am only going to run around 1000 miles with this oil anyway, it was only cheap stuff to flush the engine. I will have another go at it when I am putting the good oil in.

[jonnycool]

Mine was stuck fast as well, same engine. I got the longest breaker bar I could get hold of to turn the cap, combined with a molegrip-type filter wrench done up as hard as humanly possible, jammed against something nearby (can't remember exactly what) to stop the body turning.
 It took a fair bit of effort to get the cap off, I held onto something with both arms whilst pushing on the bar with both legs, but it shifted 

Keep at it