Ok what's the secret to getting that stupid black top off the oil filter housing? Octavia SLX TDI 110. Smashed sump so just replaced that and am trying to replace oil filter but simply cannot undo the housing to get at it. I have a chain wrench which just slips on it and even bought the special tool to do it http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?item=1694. That tool does not seem to fit quite right and needs a bang with hammer to get to push on but then is a bit crooked and just slips. Drving me mad so advice gratefully received. Making me wonder if the quick fit garage has bothered to replace oil filter last couple of changes at all!

Ok what's the secret to getting that stupid black top off the oil filter housing? Octavia SLX TDI 110. Smashed sump so just replaced that and am trying to replace oil filter but simply cannot undo the housing to get at it. I have a chain wrench which just slips on it and even bought the special tool to do it http://www.lasertools.co.uk/item.aspx?item=1694. That tool does not seem to fit quite right and needs a bang with hammer to get to push on but then is a bit crooked and just slips. Drving me mad so advice gratefully received. Making me wonder if the quick fit garage has bothered to replace oil filter last couple of changes at all!

EDIT: Now got a strap wrench which you put a 1/2 drive on and that won't budge it either. I think I will somehow have to wreck this to get it off. IS it possible to just buy the plastic screw in filter cap?

I removed mine using the following process:

strip of sandpaper wrapped around the plastic filter holder

strip of aluminium around the sandpaper

chain-wrench around the aluminium strip

Socket into chain-wrench and gently undo.

When refitting I put some oil on the oil-filter housing o-ring, and did up hand tight.

I believe you can get a proper tool for removing the filter housing....

Edited 7 June, 201115 yr by mbames

Sadly oil filters and the covers in our case are something that garages seem to delight in over tightening. As Mbanes says, it doesn't need to be much more than hand tight when you put it on.

When I changed mine, and the old boys, we made a strop out of wood and webbing, not the nylon stuff, but that wasn't enough. Luckily he's got a stinking great Footprint wrench which just goes large enough.

Tom

Hmm yes thanks for that. I purchased the special tool to do the job from my local motor factors but it doesn;t seem to fit properly and doesn't do the job! Getting really frustrated with this and can't see any way aroudn it but having to drill hole through and put a bar through and then try to source new plastic cap part!

Edited 7 June, 201115 yr by plum2pudd

Can you follow Mbanes example and put a sheet of sand paper between any of the tools you've got and the plastic?

And if the tool rides round and another.

Tom

Edited 7 June, 201115 yr by tomsimmons

Thanks guys for advice. Borrowed a better "special tool" from a neighbour. Mine just had ribs inside and didn't sit properly on top. Theirs had flat faces and was better engineered and did the job with ease!