My Recommendation For The Best Oil Filter Removal Tool

Alex’s tips How to Choose the Best Oil Filter Removal Tool for Spin-On Oil Filters

There are lots of oil filter wrench styles out there. Here’s how to buy the best oil filter wrench for spin-on oil filters. Every year, someone comes out with another oil filter wrench and claims it’s the only one you’ll ever need. Take it from me: no “one-size-fits-all” oil filter wrench exists. But a few types work best with all spin-on style oil filters. I’ll show you my top pick for the best oil filter removal tool.

Identify whether you have a spin-on oil filter or a cartridge oil filter

A spin-on filter, on the other hand, is an oil filter element housed in a disposable metal can. You unscrew the entire unit and install a new one.

Look up the filter for your vehicle at any online auto parts store and look at the picture.

My choice for the best oil filter removal tool for spin on filters is the Lisle #63250 Wide Range Filter Wrench or the Lisle 63600 wrench

The 63250 fits Filters from 3-1/8” to 3-7/8” diameter.

The Lisle #63600 Import Car Filter Wrench fits filters from 2-1/2” to 3-1/8”

These two wrenches work with all oil filter sizes and fit into tight places.

I’m not a big fan of band-style filter wrenches

The band wrench is an oldie but a goodie. It works like a plumber’s strap wrench: the tighter you turn the wrench, the tighter it grips the filter. To use it, you slide it over the spin-on filter and operate the lever.

PROS:

• inexpensive
• gets the job done, most of the time.

CONS:

• Hard to use in tight spaces
• The band can slip on the painted surface of the oil filter

Cap style oil filter wrenches are my least favorite

Spin-on filters have “flutes” at the bottom of the filter. Cap wrenches grab the filter by the flutes along the bottom edge. These wrenches are perfect for working in tight places. Slap on a ratchet and fit the cap wrench to the oil filter flutes.

If you’re working in a tight space and don’t have room for a band-style filter wrench, a cap wrench can save the day. The cap wrench fits over the flutes on the bottom of the filter. You insert a standard 3/8″ drive ratchet and extension bar into the cap wrench and unscrew the filter.

This wrench works great if you stick with the same oil filter brand and get the cap that fits it. Unfortunately, no two filter manufacturers use the same size can or flute arrangement, even for the same year, make, and model engine. So, it’s really a free-for-all for finding the right cap wrench for different brands of oil filters. If you want to use cap wrenches and you buy whatever filter brand is on sale, you’ll need a complete set of cap wrenches or a universal cap wrench shown below.

The Lisle 61450 cap wrench set includes 17 pieces for:
61600 65mm – 14 Flute 
61540 65/67mm – 14 flutes
61640 68mm – 14 flutes
61520 73/74mm – 14 flutes
61560 74/76mm – 15 flutes
61570 76mm – 14 flutes
61650 76mm – 30 flutes
61550 80mm – 15 flutes
61530 82mm – 15 flutes
61610 86mm – 14 flutes
61660 86mm – 16 flutes
61620 88.4mm – 15 flutes
61580 93mm – 15 flutes
61590 93mm – 36 flutes
61510 93mm – 45 flutes
61630 96mm – 18 flutes
61670 100mm – 15 flutes

Pliers-style oil filter wrenches for spin-on filters

This is a grab-and-go type pliers tool. Just reach up, grab the oil filter, and crank away. A pro of this wrench is that it saves lots of time since all you have to do is grab and twist. A con, of course, is that if the filter is stuck, there is a potential to crush and puncture the
outer can. Then, in an oily mess, you must figure out how to remove the torn-up and battered filter.

Lisle #50750 two-position slip-joint pliers style wrench

Two-position, slip-joint handle produces the range of three separate conventional filter wrenches. Overall range 2-1/4″ to 4″.  The jaws are bent at a 20° angle to fit more applications. Sure-grip teeth prevent slipping. Cushioned handles provide comfort. Overall length of tool is 11-1/2″

Cartridge-style oil filter wrenches

Cartridge filters can be mounted under the engine like a traditional spin-on filter or on the top of the engine. All cartridge-style filters have a cap that holds the filtering element in place. On late-model cars, those caps are plastic, so using the correct wrench is critical. Use a universal wrench, and you’ll strip the hex bolt or even crack the plastic. Worse yet, some car makers locate the filter cap in such tight quarters that you can’t use an ordinary socket to loosen the cap.

In these cars, you’ll need special low-clearance sockets. Other car makers don’t use a hex bolt and instead use a series of flutes and grooves. You’ll need a special wrench for those too.

Lisle #13270 7- piece Low Profile socket set for cartridge style oil filters

The set contains very low profile, 6 point 24mm, 25mm, 27mm, 28mm, 29mm, 32mm and 36mm sockets for use on oil and fuel filter canisters when replacing the element. Use with 3/8″ drive.

13280 25mm for Fleetgaurd Filter on Motorhomes, Buses, and some Medium Size Trucks with Cummins Engine. Also some K&N Filters 13290 28mm 2010-2018, 6.7L Dodge Cummins Fuel Filter Canister
13310 24mm Cadillac and some BMW
13320 27mm 2003 and later Mercedes 1.8L, Smart and some VW 14500 36mm Ford 6.0L Diesel Fuel & Oil Filter Housings, Mini Cooper, Some BMW Oil Filter Housings, Mack Truck Oil Filter Housings, and 2016-2018 Duramax Fuel Filters
14600 29mm (1-1/8”) for Dodge Cummins Fuel Filter Housing 14700 32mm (1-1/4”) for GM Ecotec, 2.0L 2.2L and 2.4L Four Cylinder Oil Filter Housing; Some Saturn & Saab.

Lisle #40600 Low Profile, 6 Point Wrench with Offset wrench set

3/8” Square Drive for Clearance in Hard-to-Reach Spaces.