OK, so I guess attempted my first oil change on my evo and I could not get the filter off for the life of me. I got two different tools from advance auto parts to try and take it off as well as using a belt for more leverage with no luck. I ended up just filling the car up with the new oil but still the old filter.

Are they any tricks to get it off?
Is there a better tool out there that anyone uses to get it off?
Is it so tight because it's the original filter that was put on in the factory?

If I do get it off, can I just put back in the oil that I drain when I change filter or should I get new oil again?

Also, with using jack stands, if I have the jack holding up the car in the designated spot, how do I get the stand in that same spot if the jack is there?

Sorry for such noob questions, but you have to start somewhere I guess. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

use an oil filter wrench that fits the filter.. make sure you car is cold.. dont try and take it off while hot.. hot means expansion so it is expanded and will be hard to get off.. if you way til it cools down it will shrink enough to take off.. still hard but much easier

 

I was able to take off the filter with a basic filter wrench. You just don't have much room for leverage. Keep tweaking the position of the filter wrench until you can get a bit of leverage and it should begin to turn. The handle on the wrench I have can rotate 90* for getting into tight spots ... I found this out AFTER I finished the first oil change. I tried to find one of the ratchet attachments that fit over the bottom of the filter, but I couldn't get one the correct size.

I wouldn't suggest running for long with the old filter in place. Also, fully replace the oil when you finally get the filter off. It probably wouldn't hurt anything, but you never know what may be floating around in there. Better safe than sorry.

I would suggest placing the jack stands on the frame rails closer to the center of the car. My frame rails were marked up a little when I climbed under there, so I assume thats how the dealer lifts the car. You really don't have enough clearance to safely fit jack stands on the pinch welds (where the tire change jacks is used).

there is also a dedicated lift point at the front of the car, but I believe it requires removal of the plastic under tray to gain access.

Hope this helps.

 

I work in a dealer as a c tech. So I do a million oil changes a week. You can try and buy the cup which you hook up to a rachet. You can also buy a filter wrench. I have a cup a wrench and when all else fails, even at work i use a huge *** channel lock. Make sure you turning counter clock wise. Just dont grip the hell out of the filter cause if you rip it, it will be even harder to get off. Make sure it doesnt leak either when you tighten it. Youll be alright just dont blow that motor. I would be careful of just changing the oil with out new filter. You'll be ok as long as you keep your eye on the pressure. Some times you can blow the seal if you dont change filters, happened with my last car when I couldnt get the filter off. But all in all a big *** channel lock withh give you plenty of leverage.

 

If at first you don't succeed try try again.

 

When you do finally get the filter off....check the smooth surface the gasket makes contact with. My 1st filter was a bear to get off too, and once I got it off, you could see and feel a visible gouge in the smooth surface. The filter was on soooo tight, they completely crushed the gasket, and the metal surface of the filter made contact with the metal surface of the engine. I had to use a nail file and gently smooth the surface so there would be no leaks. Of course Mitsubishi denies anything, and of course it was my fault. You know, b/c I put the first filter on?? (I'm really getting tired of Mitsu's lack of standing behind their cars) best backed cars my a@@.

 

on one of my old cars i took a big screw driver and banged it through the filter and slowly turned it loose, i learned not to over tighten the filter again

 

I had the same problem with my first filter. I had to use a huge pipe wrench to get it off. The great thing about those is the harder to turn, the tighter it grips what you are turning. It came off with ease, although the case was pretty marred up.

 

not a lot of oil is lost with removal of just the filter
if i remember correctly 1/2 to 1 quart
dont reuse this oil



jack near the designated spot and then add the jack stand

 

use as last resort. messy but does work
gl

 

I use something similar to this http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...108732650_.jpg
to get the filter off.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will just shop around this week for a better tool and hopefully that will get it off and then top it off with fresh oil.

TouringBubble, can describe more about what the frame rails look like? I am really paranoid about jacking in the wrong spot.

 

Yeah man, not much oil comes out from the filter. Make sure that you dont double gasket because a lot of times when a filter is over tightened, the gasket will stick to the block. Just make sure its clean, and rub some new oil around the gasket of your new filter to help it seal.

The frame rail are the sturdy looking bars that extend down the length of the vehicle. When you look at them you'll know because you'll also find them on the other side like a mirror image.

Sorry, its hard to explain with out a pic to show you...

 

 

Oops