Can't unscrew oil filter WTF!!!

[curlyfrieS4]

I'm stuck.
Cant unscrew filter.
Any suggestions?

[jakecro]

Use a filter wrench or stick a long screwdriver through it.

[mrbogangles]

stick a long screwdriver through it.

thats what i would do

[A4 Meets 27t]

Yea jab at it with a screwdriver, who cares if you fuck it up, its done anyway. I use these oil filter tongs that get a nice grip into it, my 1.8T is a real bitch to get off sometimes but always come off with those.

[curlyfrieS4]

Jab it?
Like through the sides? Cus i tried stikin the screw driver but it is seriously that tight thta there is no space between the filter and the pan.

[A4 Meets 27t]

Take a hammer and use the screwdriver as a chisel and hit the outer edge of the filter until it comes loose.

[curlyfrieS4]

which edge. the edge closest to the pan where its screws in or end of the filter?

[Boris]

no no, just stab it like its a pigs belly, and then turn it out.. I did that though and just magled it...

You need to get a filter wrench man, save yourself the mess.

[A4 Meets 27t]

Whichever edge you can hit on the oil filter to get it to turn to get it off.

[GetAwayFromMe]

Go to the parts store or wal-mart and buy a filter wrench. It's $10 bux and it will save you from the mess. Buy one that you think it will do the job.

Do you have some big plyers?

[S4 in_lowplaces]

Go to the parts store or wal-mart and buy a filter wrench. It's $10 bux and it will save you from the mess. Buy one that you think it will do the job.

Do you have some big plyers?

Agree. Your going to get oil all over the place. No worth it IMO.

[curlyfrieS4]

Im going 2 try the plyers.
if not. This filter is going to die with my hands

[jakecro]

Like this:

[A4 Meets 27t]

Tip: Next time make sure you lube up the rubber ring with oil and its on hand tight.

[mholme]

Buy a filter wrench first before you stab it. Do that as a last resort. I broke a wrench on a filter once and had to stab it and it wasn't pretty..

[02alltoad]

and make sure the oil cooler does not start to spin if it dose use another pair of plyers and hold it, if it spins it could cause the seal thats behind it to leak. just my 2 cents

[curlyfrieS4]

thank you guys for all the help mission accomplished
after an hour of frustration it came off.
decided to go with the filter wrench only because i had stabbed it and it looked like a bloody horror movie.
p.s. IMO the S4 splash guard has by far the worst design of screws.(the ones right next to tires)

[MacDaddy]

wow, you guys are cave men when it comes to working on cars. but after that story of the guy cutting his control arms with a sawzall i'm not surprised.

So, your problem is caused by a filter that wasn't lubed, or lubed with used engine oil instead of new, and most likeley tightened on way tighter than finger tight when it was first installed.
the screwdriver method i would never use, if for whatever reason you can't get the filter off and you jab a screwdriver through it your car is completely useless until you find another method or buy the tools necessary to take it off. besides, the filter is made out of pretty thin metal and its possible to just bake a big gash in the filter and not actually remove it (not to mention make a big mess)

first method is pretty neat, get a hose clamp and put it on the filter as tight as you can (closest to the base as possible, its the strongest area and least likeley to crimp) the screw part of the clamp would be accessable so you can position a flat head screwdriver on it and give the screwdriver a good whack and loosen off the filter.

second method, the metal band oil filter wrench, these things are the best, for really stubborn filters, use two and have your buddy help. this method has never failed for me.

last method i've never really used is the metal band filter wrench that uses a 3/8 extension, you could use one of those and a breaker bar, should work but i've never tried it.

[S4_NE]

Aslo you can get a pair of oil filter pliers from napa and they are slip jaw and make oil filters change an easy deal,

[Frizo]

Aslo you can get a pair of oil filter pliers from napa and they are slip jaw and make oil filters change an easy deal,

Similar to what I'm using.. Its a oil filter vise-grip from harbor freight, works like a charm. Had to use it for the first oil change on the S because of the PO had tightened it down too much. Like others had said you should rub clean oil on the rubber gasket before installing it and hand tighten it. Makes the next oil change easier.

This same tool I mention helped me get the big screw on cap off for the fuel pump to access my fuel sender. Nice little tool and was cheap!

[wheel366]

Be carefull when stabbing it. The oil cooler is what the filter attaches to. You don't want to bust that. I had mine leak into the coolant. $650 job to get it fixed.

[jeproks]

Get this wrench at Sears before you do your next oil change.

[peterc23]

yea dont jab i done that and ripped most of it lols
end up having to use hose clamps clamping a lever to undo itt
this was at likeee 12am and i had work the next day
bought an oil filter wrench after that

[AWD Mike]

I had to annihilate my oil filter last week. None of the usual filter wrenches would loosen it. Just took a pipe wrench to it and broke half of it off, stabbed the rest with a screwdriver, and wah lah...

That was the Audi's first oil change. There must have been no oil on the filter when it was first put on.

And by the way, Macdaddy -- I always use the old engine oil to lube the oil filter, and not once had a problem. Care to shed some light as to why old oil should not be used? (Not trying to be sarcastic, really asking the question)

-Mike

[AWD87]

just get a filter wrench from walmart, seriously. It's only about 5 bucks anyways

[gmabbasi]

Tip: Next time make sure you lube up the rubber ring with oil and its on hand tight.

Hand tight ?? I did it once and then when i started the car almost half of the oil gushed out of OIL Filter seal, I had to refill the oil and then tighten the filter with wrench.

[Dimcorner]

I stabbed it once on my old ass honda... Will never do it again.
I basically shredded the outer cannister, but the dang base was still on TIGHT.
Took me 1.5hrs just to get the base off.

[KNaudi]

jesus guys, just get a filter wrench for $4 that fits the filter you use. I don't even struggle to get mine off.

[Seerlah]

thank you guys for all the help mission accomplished
after an hour of frustration it came off.
decided to go with the filter wrench only because i had stabbed it and it looked like a bloody horror movie.
p.s. IMO the S4 splash guard has by far the worst design of screws.(the ones right next to tires)

Use a nickel. Saves the trouble of having to manuveur around the tire for a flat head screw driver.

[AudiSportB5S4]

The filter wrenches will usually work on the OEM filters as mentioned above. There was a time period when I would buy the PureONE Purolator (I don't anymore for this reason) and the damn thing started crushing from the pressure of me trying to turn the wrench. Then I went from the smooth wrench one you're used to seeing to a claw type one which made it worse. Took a long flathead and a hammer and went through the sides, turning the handle and repeating.

Now I only use MANN filters and I haven't seen this problem. The PureONE was fine but it was way overtightened. I only handtight as much as I can then give it a 1/2 turn with the wrench.

[alm001]

I wonder how many oil changes the OP has been through in the last 2 years.

[fshowcars]

i think the screws are a decent design... just have a stubby screwdriver set or turn the wheel? :dunno: and LOL @ stabbing the oil filter... realistically the S4 has a great location for a stuck oil filter... easy to get leverage on it and whatnot...

[BlkdoutS4]

The filter wrenches will usually work on the OEM filters as mentioned above. There was a time period when I would buy the PureONE Purolator (I don't anymore for this reason) and the damn thing started crushing from the pressure of me trying to turn the wrench. Then I went from the smooth wrench one you're used to seeing to a claw type one which made it worse. Took a long flathead and a hammer and went through the sides, turning the handle and repeating.

Now I only use MANN filters and I haven't seen this problem. The PureONE was fine but it was way overtightened. I only handtight as much as I can then give it a 1/2 turn with the wrench.

This just happened to me when I tried to remove my Bosch filter. Thing crumbled like a soda can. Put on the replacement Mann filter and it seems like much nicer quality.

[NOTORIOUS VR]

Now I only use MANN filters and I haven't seen this problem. The PureONE was fine but it was way overtightened. I only handtight as much as I can then give it a 1/2 turn with the wrench.

What? You tighten as much as possible with your hands and than give it an additional 1/2 a turn with a filter wrench????

And people wonder why filters don't come off. There is absolutely no need for that. Hand tighten the filter and leave it be. It will not come off on it's own.

[AudiSportB5S4]

Lol it's like a last security measure. I tighten the hell out of it by hand so I'm probably OK as is. I meant to type 1/4 turn too, I honestly just am flipping between internet, and work.

[bps4]

Get this wrench at Sears before you do your next oil change.

this thing is the man!

[tosh2.7]

is this really happening

[csosnowski]

fwiw k&n hp-3001 is what I use.

1" nut on the end in case it decides to be too tight.

the first oilchange I ended up having to chisel the base around (after impaling the filter and tearing it apart) until it was loose enough to come off. PO gorilla'ed the filter on.

[RONDAL]

this thread scares me

[eWock]

The best I came across is Channel Lock's Oil Filter Pliers. Good grip and torque.