K&N oil filter "nut" FTL

[captainofiron]

So when I first saw these K&N oil filter I thought hey sweet they have a nut on the bottom

Since I put longtube headers on my Trans Am, its a real pain to get the oil filter off, basically I have room for my hand and thats it

So last oil change I decided to grab one of these K&N oil filters

then it happened.

Friday I decided to change my oil as it had been a long time since I put some in there.

So I finally get under there (which is a task because its so low my regular jack doesnt fit, I have to lift it a few inches with the screw jack that comes with the car in order to get my hydraulic one in there)

So I drain the oil, then I get ready to take off the filter, and it happens

I put the 1 inch socket on there and put some muscle on it, and it strips the "nut", well its a 12 point socket, so I think hmm, maybe if I put a regular 6 point socket, put that on there, and it strips the remainder of the nut off

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN

so I have one of those "claw" oil filter wrenches, BUT it doesnt fit because the "nut" makes it too deep and the "fingers" on the claw dont reach the filter body

So I beat the oil filter to death with a ball peen
so now the nut is recessed into the filter, so NOW FINALLY my claw fits

Its on there so I really put some muscle on it, and Just as I think its starting to spin I hear some unnerving cracks, and the claw spins, but then I look and the filter is still stuck, guess what, the gear inside my claw just stripped all the teeth

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN #2

so I go to autozone and get a beefier looking claw and a good old strap style wrench

and finally got the stupid K&N filter off

GEEZ

[Blubird]

Yeah ice only used one a few times,k&n filters are hard to find here,but the same thing happened with me

[tlinville]

maybe just maybe the filter was on to tight... In the service staton business we run into that a lot, i have had to drive scew drivers and use strap wrenches to get filters off. A half to a full turn after hand tight is all you need i usually tighten with both hands and if i can't get both hands on it i use a wrench

[MeanGreen94Z]

hand tight... NEVER wrench it on...

[gregrob]

You're filter was too tight. On a seperate note, the K&N is a really good oil filter for our cars filters AND FLOWS well...

[KissMyWhtSS]

So I finally get under there (which is a task because its so low my regular jack doesnt fit, I have to lift it a few inches with the screw jack that comes with the car in order to get my hydraulic one in there)
Before I bought a low profile "racing jack" I use to drive put a board across my garage floor (2x4) and park my front tires on it. Made it much easier to jack up and change the oil (though it takes a little finesse to park it on the 2x4) The low profile jack makes it much easier, and my car is VERY low.

I've only used Wix and Mobil 1 filters on my car, it comes out very easy with a oil filter wrench. ;)

http://media.rd.com/rd/images/rdc/family-handyman/2003/05/car-oil-change-guide-05-ss.jpg
(Not a LTx car)

[jaysz2893]

i use a racing jack too. Car wont fit on my lift withhout a hassle. I too use the style wrech shown ^^ i posted about them a while ago.
http://ltxtech.com/forums/showthread.php?10076-Best-tool-i-bought-so-far
They are a must for a car with LT headers.

I have used K&N a lot on other applications and never had a problem. It must have been too tight or the gasket was dry. We used the on our Beechcraft cause of the nut and the ability to safety wire them.

[captainofiron]

You're filter was too tight. On a seperate note, the K&N is a really good oil filter for our cars filters AND FLOWS well...

you are filter?

lol

[captainofiron]

Before I bought a low profile "racing jack" I use to drive put a board across my garage floor (2x4) and park my front tires on it. Made it much easier to jack up and change the oil (though it takes a little finesse to park it on the 2x4) The low profile jack makes it much easier, and my car is VERY low.

I've only used Wix and Mobil 1 filters on my car, it comes out very easy with a oil filter wrench. ;)

http://media.rd.com/rd/images/rdc/family-handyman/2003/05/car-oil-change-guide-05-ss.jpg
(Not a LTx car)

When I first saw the picture I was like WHAT? thats not a f-body, but then I read the note, haha

yea I need to get a low profile jack, I just cant bring myself to spending so much on a jack when mine works fine, especially since I would buy this jack JUST for my Trans Am

[captainofiron]

I dont know what happen or why it was so hard to get off

I always hand tighten the oil filters, thats like one of the main things I remembered from our Auto Tech class in high school

[Chris]

I used to always use wix filters. Then I switch to Puralator/Bosch Filters. I used the K and N on my suv twice and didnt have one problem though I can get both my hands on it and just crank it.

[CamaroGirl]

i use the K&N filter on mine, changed the oil 3 times since the headers have been in. haven't ran into this issue.

[Fixxer99TA]

i use the K&N filter on mine, changed the oil 3 times since the headers have been in. haven't ran into this issue.

This has to be a case of just a little too tight combined with sitting there for awhile. He even said it had been awhile since the last one. Especially if the gasket has no oil on it when installed, that REALLY hurts a few months down the road.

I had to also nearly destroy the filter on my 7.3L when I bought it, mainly because some jackass WAY overdid it with the "handtight" and apparently put no oil on the gasket. Never had a problem since.

[KissMyWhtSS]

When I first saw the picture I was like WHAT? thats not a f-body, but then I read the note, haha

yea I need to get a low profile jack, I just cant bring myself to spending so much on a jack when mine works fine, especially since I would buy this jack JUST for my Trans AmI just bought a cheap one (~$80) and it's worth it's weight in gold not having to deal with getting the fbody up. I have a nice fullsize craftsman as well but never use it as I never have to jack the truck up. I just crawl under it and work. :laugh: