Well, after buying my new Jag brand filter, and related supplies, I finally took the plunge and, reaching down to unfasten the old (Mann) filter, could not get it to budge at all, no matter how hard I twisted.
So, I went to YouTube to see the different approaches to try in that situation. I probably watched several dozen such videos, providing at least a couple of dozen of different tools, methods, tips, approaches, jury-rigged gizmos, etc. to get the job done. The one thing I walked away with from all those videos with is one burning question: assuming the PO put the last filter on correctly (fresh oil on gasket + HAND tightening only, 1/2 turn or so after P.O.C.) then how the hell do these filters get stuck on so tightly later on during their life? Seems a no-brainer - if hand-tightened on, it should come off by hand as well. Yet here are all these vehicles, of different makes, models, sizes, mileage, age, etc. and in some cases the filter has to be outright destroyed to get it removed.
I think its the heating and cooling that make it stick and hard to remove. I have a jeep grand Cherokee and the oil filler cap is plastic i put it on by hand but need a pair of channel locks and a lot of force to get it off .
As long as i have been changing my oil for 40 years, i tighten as much as possible by hand, and always need oil filter wrench to loosen. Pretty normal.
Kirbert
(Author of the Book, former owner of an '83 XJ-S H.E.)
4
I have sometimes resorted to getting a big screwdriver and pounding it clean through the filter in order to get it loose.
Havenāt had to do that in a good long while, though. Is it because Iāve learned not to overtighten? Or is it because I own Japanese appliances these days, everything comes apart like it should?
Par for the course. I have the usual assortment of filter wrenches, but the best is a fabric strap wrench which wraps around the filter and , using a 1/2 inch ratchet, tightens up around the filter. Never fails, and fits every size, too.
When my wife had the '96 4.0 ragtop, ran into the same problem - none of the filter wrenches I had would get the filter loose even with the help of PB Blaster soaking and choice words. So, I did what Kirbert did - grabbed my biggest and longest screwdriver and drove it clear through the can near the base (be sure to have something to catch the oil) and it came loose with a good pull on the screwdriver handle - I took pleasure in the damage caused to the oil filter - its not reusable.
My solution is kinda rough. Most respond to one of my filter wrenches. If not, I just drive a sharp punch through the sides and use it as a lever to pull it around. About half turn and it is freeā¦
A plumberās chain wrench is effective. Moreso than a soft strap.
60s - 80s was def a Ford vs Chevy allegiance here in the US. I was a Chevy guy. FORD stood for found on road dead. Chryslers were for losers. If you were AMC, weirdo!!!
Chevy/GM IMO had a better V8 and transmission. 350cuIn was bulletproof amazing engine. I had one in my Camaro. 454 was a powerplant. The TH350 and TH400 were also superior transmissions i think.
Problem is, the UK got the small inferior American cars. The bigger ones were where the quality was at. Escorts and Vegas were a joke here. Thats what you bought if you couldnāt afford a Camaro or Mustang, along with many other muscle cars.
Kirbert
(Author of the Book, former owner of an '83 XJ-S H.E.)
15
Chevrolet was notorious for its inability to build a small car that was worth a #%^. A couple of things became obvious: 1) They put their good engineers on the bigger cars and trucks, and assigned the losers to the small cars; and 2) They clearly felt that small cars were not to be taken seriously, even offering them in silly pastel colors rather than anything approaching an attractive paint job. No thanks, Iāll buy my small cars from companies that are serious about building small cars.
GM eventually gave up and created an entirely new brand, Saturn, for building small cars. At least they took the job more seriously ā until the recession of 2008 put them out of business.
If you think about the amount of load and compression on that narrow filter gasket - tightening by Johnny āThree Fingersā would do the trick without any leaks. Anyone ever seen leaking oil filter???
If your oil however - was chanfed by Johnny the āClawfingerā (or Greg) - you will struggle.
Have you ever wondered why youāre placing engine oil on the seal prior to assemble?
Here comes precious secret: next time when you feel your filter is stuck - simply grab it and try to twist of, with moderate force and donāt quit, just hold it and slightly wobble. Usually starts to move after minute.
There is plenty of space in AJ6 to work - after taking air filter housing / MAF sensor outā¦
If doesnāt work - go straight to extreme measures - guitar string or piano wire
Aināt just leaks, you donāt want that filter vibrating loose. Then youāll sure get a leak. Jag says 3/4 turn after seating. I can barely do that with two hands.
Kirbert
(Author of the Book, former owner of an '83 XJ-S H.E.)
21
Had a horrible case once. Unscrewed old filter, screwed on new filter, started it up, oil everywhere. Turned out the rubber seal on the old filter had been simply glued to the base, not crimped or anything. When it was removed, the seal stayed put! Then the new filter was screwed in on top of it, causing everything to get fupped. Couldnāt see any of this, this was one of those filter installations you do by feel. Anyhow, after the thing dumped oil everywhere, I took the new filter back out and looked at it to try to figure out where it was leaking. Didnāt see anything wrong, so I compared it to the old filter to see if it was the wrong filter. Then, and only then, did I notice the seal was missing from the old filter.
I donāt think Iāve seen a glued-on seal since. They all seem to be crimped on, even on the cheapest filters.
As to the original question, no, Iāve never seen a filter that had been properly installed leak. Iāve never seen one unscrew either.
Iāve had my share of issues with oil drain plugs, though. I wonāt even try using those silly plastic washers with the tang hanging off any more. Not terribly thrilled with aluminum sealing washers, either.
The one thing I walked away with from all those videos with is one burning question: assuming the PO put the last filter on correctly (fresh oil on gasket + HAND tightening only, 1/2 turn or so after P.O.C.) then how the hell do these filters get stuck on so tightly later on during their life? 
Seems a no-brainer - if hand-tightened on, it should come off by hand as well. 
Yet here are all these vehicles, of different makes, models, sizes, mileage, age, etc. and in some cases the filter has to be outright destroyed to get it removed. 
