Oil filter - cant get it off!!
 

Ok - I'm used to changing the oil/filter on my sti5 - for me its a 5 min job

Just thought I'd give the wrx04 an interim service myself at 5k miles - just an oil/filter change

First thing I note is that I have to take an undertray off (dont have this on my sti5- never had) - but ok not a problem......

The Oil filter looks different though - usually I can grip this and undo it - usually its handtight so no problem

It should just twist off should'nt it the oil filter?

Also is the oil filter different on the 04 version cars compared to say a 1999, as it looks like its got something coming out the side of it?

Any help/pointers as I have the car up on the ramp at the moment - expected this to take me 10 mins!! but I dont want to have to force the filter off..........

Not necessarily. It depends who put the last oil filter on. Like somebody replied in my thread about oil changes, if a dealer put the last filter on it's likely they hired King Kong to screw it tight! :D

I did an oil change on Sunday and could not have just screwed my filter off by hand if I had to. Luckily I had one of those filter-removal tools. The passage of time and pressure in the system makes them tighter I think.

I can't help you with the type of filter on 04 cars and whether they are different as I have a MY00. Wearing latext gloves makes a difference as you can grip the filter a lot tighter, or failing that bang a screwdriver into the side of it and use that as a lever to unscrew it.

Thanks

Its a smaller design.........so as to avoid potential warranty issues I'll order the Filter from a Subaru garage

Yes - its on damn tight!! - Your only supposed to hand tighten them!! - I thought I was doing something wrong - but its been confirmed to me that it should just come off.........I'll get it off!! - like you say - with a scewdriver if I need to...........Just need to get that pesky undertray out of the way......... its fine for the oil sump plug as you have a removal bit on the undertray but I cant say the same for trying to get at the filter!!

Use a leather belt. Thread the belt through the buckle, (dont use the retaining pin through any of the holes), then pull the belt tight. The belt will pull up on itself, and grip the filter without damaging it!! :)

No need for fancy tools :)

I don't do mine up murder tight when replacing either! No need.

Well the extra tight oil filter is courtesy of Spar****s of Botchup in Soton.......on the 1k service.............

Leather belt - hmm will try that tomorrow - after I've got the filter - hopefully there wont be a wait for a filter!! - but you never know with Tileys of Bristol

I bought one of those three legged things that fit 1/2" drive rachets that tighten their grip as you tighten them - bought off ebay for £8. Brilliant for where the scoob filter sits. Bought it after having to remove a filter by driving a big scewdriver through it. Like someone said above, depends who fitted the filter previously - in my case it was me:rolleyes:

A chain whip from a bike shop is ideal, as is punching a screwdriver through as previously mentioned :)

hammer a screwdriver through it and turn :D go on steve!

just put the screw driver through near the bottom of the filter, furtherest away from the engine as the thread on the oil cooler it screws to is fairly long!

I have an over grown pair of pliers bought for the job.

Yeah - it'll be off this afternoon..................!!!

I used to use the screwdriver everytime.. but got bought these over grown plier things as a present, came from Halfrauds.. they sell a few types.. have tried a friends chain which was a paint to get right, the plier type works very well.

Believe the newage filter btw is the same, they have switched to small filters (Subaru that is) and replaced the old ones now, even for the classic shape, might be that last time you changed it on the STi5 they were the bigger ones still? changed earlier this year I believe.

It's well over 12months since they switched to the smaller type.

I use one of those 3 jawed oil filter wrench things that fits onto a 1/2" square drive, saves getting hot oil all over your hands like you use a screwdriver through the filter technique.

Andrew...

over 12months!! time has flown.. :)

I bought a filter for the sti5 a few weeks back - but its not a Scoob official part - think it is 'Fran' or something like that - costs about £4...........although I see that Subaru have just put down their prices - £6.19 for oil filter and washer which seems very reasonable (I needed this for my wrx04)

Why dont you get a strap wrench, i use one all the time and they never let me down, even if a proper monkkey has had a go before! :)

Comper100

Same here mate, works fine!

I had tried the patent rubber belt on a plastic handle, and chain on a hook type, but on previous cars no room to rotate! Screwdriver method works ok on those tho!

The 3 legged jobbie works great on the Scooby!

I've been playing with the screwdriver just 2 days ago and was happy doing so.

I first put a hole in the underside and one on the side to drain the oil, and than used the hole on the side again to loosen it. No probs.

Derk

ps. I think I might try the belt technique next time. See if it'll hold.

you can get arrested for that :)



If you have a Fran filter on the STi that would explain why the MY04 one looks so different as it is one of the newer OE smaller ones and the bit sticking out the side you refer to is part of the oil cooler.