oil filter removal in SW20 MR2's fitted with rev2 3sgte

[touge rolla]

Did my 4th oil change in the mr2 today. And for the first time it took me less than half an hour and 100 swear words to get the oil filter off (all on the side of the road in busy "mum" traffic).
I was wondering how other mr2 owners went about removing theirs?
The first time I did it I attacked it with screwdrivers and a hammer. Not ideal, so i got my self one of those self adjusting claws (see pic). which unfortunately don't work unless you have a rag over the filter as the filter is too small for them to grip it. So that is how i do it. It still really doesn't work that well. Thought maybe the more veteran MR2 owners may have a few tips or interesting techniques.

^^my weapons of choice

[TRDGT4]

If you use Genuine Parts you can buy the Genuine tool that will remove it will save you alot of time and swear words
ask Revhead i sure he can sort you out with the right gear.

[Mr Revhead]

yes, the right tool makes a world of difference!!!

sounds like you bought the wrong tool.....

[Dell'Orto]

Those small spider wrenches are crap, there is a longer armed version that has knurled arms and grips much better.
Can't help other than than, mine were never that hard to remove.

[Truenotch]

Yip we sell the longer armed ones at work and they tighten up a lot more then the stubby ones. Or get a normal "Band type" filter wrench. Works fine for my AW11.

[Mr Revhead]

i think a band type one would be a challenge on SW20s!

[Dell'Orto]

Band ones are no go, just cant get enough leverage.

[Ae92typeX]

just flex your arms a little...only had one oil filter in my life I couldnt undo by hand.

[Truenotch]

just flex your arms a little...only had one oil filter in my life I couldnt undo by hand...... which happened to be on an sw20

[Ae92typeX]

bmw actually lol

[touge rolla]

yes, the right tool makes a world of difference!!!

getting burnt hands, frustrated, and teaching the neighbours children some new words for them to share with their school friends is part of the fun isn't it??

Ok I guess not, how much for one of these tools then?

[Truenotch]

lol on special for $15 here I think.

[pureadrenalin]

Thought maybe more veteran MR2 owners may have a few tips or interesting techniques.

I give it to my mechanic to do

[Mad Murphy]

Never done one on an SW but if the engines the wrong way round like it is in an AW (well right way round really) then it's a real bitch. first time I did it it was done up insanely tight and took me hours too. My trick is to get an old leather belt and wrap it round the filter then pull it tight through the metal ring then pull. Make sure it's as close to the base of the filter as possible too. I tried a few tools but the old belt is the easiest and cheapest.

[Snoozin]

I use a strap type filter wrench, which is effectively a pice of 1/2" box section with a loop of seatbelt type material attached. Works awesome, you use a 1/2" drive ratchet with it, can even fit it up to where the filter is on a DC2 Integra.... which is the cuntiest filter I've ever had to change.

[Al]

Ummm once you get the first oil filter off. Don't do it up so bloody tight next time.

Used to be able to remove mine by hand, which was every 5000kms or before a day at Ruapuna, which was sometimes once a month

[Mr Revhead]

yeah they should only be done up hand tight...
and not vein popping-both-hands-tight....

read the structions. iirc 1/4 turn past where gasket makes contact

[Akane]

It's a 3S-GTE, instead of doing regular maintanaces, just do engine swaps.

[touge rolla]

it's not like you even can do it up tight, can only reach it with figure tips and hands are usually covered in oil by that stage.

Interestingly this is probably the one thing that is easier to do on the 300zx.
I guessed there was probably a special tool, just thought there might be some interesting and innovative ways people might have come up with.