- 5 Comments
- HOTNESS UNHOT
Today only. Kmart has the Craftsman 51121SA706 Universal Auto-Adjustable Oil Filter Wrench for $13 - $6 off in cart = $7 with free in-store pickup only. Automatically tightens when torque applied in either direction and is compatible with filters from 2.5" to 4.75" (62mm to 121mm).
$7
Retail: $13
Tip: Put a rubber-band around the wrench to pre-set it against the filter. That'll help it engage as you start twisting.
LOVE this wrench, it's a good way to recover when some gorilla overtightens the filter.
Yes these are definitely superior to the old-school band strap type filter wrench, though most of the time I can manage to get the filter off by hand thanks to increased traction from wearing a rubber glove.
Then again most of the time I'm changing oil on a vehicle I've already changed oil on before, so I'm the gorilla that didn't overtighten the filter.
It's amazing that, to this day, oil filters are way over-tightened by the factory. There's a freakin' torque rating on those things (usually not more than 26 ft-lbs), and if they'd just adhere to whatever it is, it'd be possible to get the damn things off the first time the oil needs to be changed.
They're not overtightened, they're put on dry. When a filter is put on dry without coating the gasket with oil first, it will be as hard to take off as an overtightened filter. This is a very common misconception.
The best and fun part of oil changes is WHERE actual filter location and than come Gorilla or put on dried. Both combination will give all of us many @#$%@# while under the car.