WHEW.

by **makethemusic72** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:36 pm

alright. so today i woke up and decided to change my sparkplugs. So as i was getting the plugs, i also remembered that it was time for an oil change., so i decided to get new oil and a filter and do them both today.

I change the plugs out in about 15 minutes, no problem.

I start on my oil, drain it, and when i tried to take the oil filter off, it was STUCK. i mean like stuck with the strength of the Greek Gods combined.

Solaras have in my opinion the worst placement for an oil filter.

anyway, I tried everything, sticking a screwdriver in it, taking a badass looking wrench and trying to pry it off, nothing was working. So, PISSED, i go back to the store and pick up a oil filter (socket?) its like a claw that fits on a 3/4" ratchet. I tried working with that and to no avail. It just kept on slipping, not catching the oil filter.

So now I'm infuriated.

I'm also an idiot for putting it on there so d@mn tight.

However, 3 hours later, covered in oil, my hair is soaked in automotive oil, I give that filter claw thing one more shot, but this time, i decided to take one of those rubber things that help you grip the lid of the jar that you can't open and use that.

IT WORKED.

so, 5 hours later, im finally finished, and lesson learned. don't tighten the oil filter too much.

so. question.

I have Autolite XP Iridium plugs. part # XP3923.

do i have to torque those down? at what foot pounds? I looked everywhere, and couldn't find anything.

thanks!

by **yaddadaimsayin** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:48 pm

makethemusic72 wrote:
However, 3 hours later, covered in oil, my hair is soaked in automotive oil...

ewww.. shoulda lit a cigarette at that point to relieve the stress a little bit 8-)

by **makethemusic72** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:54 pm

believe me. if i had a pack, i would have smoked them all.

by **gnegroni** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:16 pm

Well, when I decided to change the oil and filter myself on my Gen2 2AZ-FE, I had a similar experience, but I gave up in 30 minutes the first day.

I had to purchase a wrench the next day (I had date that night), one of those that you wrap around the filter to tighten the grip...I mean, I never though that it would flex, tighten and stretch so much. They didn't have the exact size cup so I went with that. So much force was applied that the filter bent and crushed a bit (I'm strong as an OX haha), because I damaged the filter a bit with other wrenches earlier.

In the end, I put up the new filter and I'm sure I'll be able to remove it easily next time.

by **D-money** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:06 pm

thats why I use K&N oil filters they have a nut on the very tip so tyou can use a sockett

by **solara90** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:35 pm

only put it on hand tight, i have one of them black socket ones filter things and it works wonders on my 2az

edit.. get one that looks like these.. only ones i had success with

by **Ilovemylara** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:59 pm

^K&N filters FTW

by **makethemusic72** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:06 pm

yeah i saw those. it was just an unbelievable experience (although its perfectly believable to pretty much everyone here.) My arm is still sore and my hand still hurts from almost breaking it in half trying to get it off.

but do you guys torque the spark plugs down? or just tighten them?

by **Ilovemylara** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:13 am

makethemusic72 wrote:yeah i saw those. it was just an unbelievable experience (although its perfectly believable to pretty much everyone here.) My arm is still sore and my hand still hurts from almost breaking it in half trying to get it off.

but do you guys torque the spark plugs down? or just tighten them?

I usually just tighten them down the best I can. Havent had any problems yet.

by **makethemusic72** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:09 am

cool man. Thanks a lot!

by **Ruski** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:31 am

first time changing my oil on my gen2 was a pain in the ass. i had the same problem as you. i actually burned the skin of my hand in between the thumb and index finger . if the oil wrenches aren't working grab a screw driver and hammer and smash through the filter(through and through) and twist and it comes right off

by **makethemusic72** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:40 pm

i tried that, but the dam filter is in the most hard-to-reach location EVER. it was just a pain.

by **DaTwUnKrAziEpInOy** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:52 pm

Usually you only hand tighten oil filters as much as you can. Also putting some fresh motor oil on the gasket of the filter will help removal easier on the next change.

by **gnegroni** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:43 am

makethemusic72 wrote:i tried that, but the dam filter is in the most hard-to-reach location EVER. it was just a pain.

Well, if it makes it easier, remove part of the cover.

DaTwUnKrAziEpInOy wrote:Usually you only hand tighten oil filters as much as you can. Also putting some fresh motor oil on the gasket of the filter will help removal easier on the next change.

Emphasis on the word HAND TIGHTEN! I guess they missed that on the oil change manual on the Dealerships...

by **SleeperSolara** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 2:51 pm

Yeah you should hand tigthen first, then tighten a 1/4 turn wit the socket wrench wit the oil filter cap.

Neva cheap out on an oil filter, i found out the hard way thanks to my dad, when i changin' the oil for our Sienna van wit 5 full quarts of oil in it......

I've also had my fair share of crushin' oil filters also.

I do agree that Toyota did put the oil filter location in a weird spot.
It's just as bad as the 3SGTE oil filter location.

WHEW.

WHEW.

Re: WHEW.

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