oil filter bolt won't loosen...

[UncleSpot]

'haven't changed my oil since March...

the oil filter bolt loosened (then) with a ratchet and 12mm socket.
When the new oil filter was installed it was 'snugged' but not 'torqued' real hard...

'tried to loosen it tonight so I could change the oil AND filter but with the socket it would not budge - the socket actually 'slightly rounded' the bolt head. The socket would no longer work, so I tried a 12-point closed-end wrench - it just got worse...

I remember a thread about an oil filter bolt that broke off in the engine block - deja vu is staring me in the face... I do not want to go there...

...any suggestions??

[jacksf]

This has happened to me many times in the past. The chances are that the bolt won't break off in the housing. I have used the Sears "bolt out set", item #952160. I think the #7 remover works, at least on my XJ. If it rounds off even more you can drop down to a #5. Might have to drive it on the bolt with a hammer, just don't use too much force.

In the past when nothing would work I ended up using a dremel and cutting the head off the bolt, pulling the filter housing off and then using a small pipe wrench.

It just takes time.

Jack

[Ken Talbot]

When you do get it off, take it to a welding shop and have them weld on a 19mm nut, right over the existing rounded-off 12mm. The bigger nut doesn't mean you will then have to tighten it up with gorilla torque, but you will be sure you will never have a problem in the future with it rounding off and getting stuck.

[mitch]

12 point tools

Throw them away and use a six point no more rounding of nuts...MITCH

[LoserShoes]

I'll second that! Get a six point socket, might have to tap it on with a small hammer. It REALLY makes a difference. Grips on the flats, not the corners.

Steve

[fxrer]

There's a filter cup and bolt for sale on E-Bay right now

[Snow]

Just throw that whole horrid filter housing away and install a TopCat oil filter adapter like I did

[skids]

Re: 12 point tools

I'll bet you can also get it to budge if you throw a strap wrench around the housing. It has about a quarter inch of play, one way or the other, before the allignment tabs stop it from turning. I would definately use a 6-point in conjunction with this however!

Originally posted by mitch
Throw them away and use a six point no more rounding of nuts...MITCH

[Geezer]

Re: oil filter bolt won't loosen...

Originally posted by UncleSpot
' 'tried to loosen it tonight so I could change the oil AND filter but with the socket it would not budge - the socket actually 'slightly rounded' the bolt head. The socket would no longer work, so I tried a 12-point closed-end wrench - it just got worse...
...any suggestions??

Drill an indent just off center of the chewed up bolt head. Then stick a center punch in the indent and lean it into the direction you want to rotate it and tap away with a hammer. It takes a little finesse but it's not all that hard either.

Geezer