Pro tip: Changed my oil filter pliers after 10 years

I used the same old strap wrench on engine oil filters for a decade. Finally swapped to a set of 3-jaw pliers last month after a stuck filter on a Cessna 182 at my shop in Phoenix. The difference is night and day. No more slipping or crushed filters. Any other mechanics out there swear by one type of filter tool over another?

3 comments

3 Comments

rosel8318d agoMost Upvoted

Gotta admit I was a strap wrench guy for years and thought the 3-jaw pliers were overkill. But after dealing with a filter that was torqued down by someone who clearly hated their job, I finally got a set and it changed my mind completely. It's just way more grip and control, no contest.

barnes.shane2mo ago

That night and day difference after a decade is wild. You ever run into a filter that was so stuck even the 3-jaw pliers wouldn't budge it, or was it just the strap wrench that was the real problem all along?

the_sandra2mo ago

Oh man, speaking of stuck filters, I had one on my old Jeep that was on there so tight I ended up driving a screwdriver through it just to get some leverage. Messy as hell but it worked. The 3-jaw pliers are great until you meet the one that was put on by Thor himself.