Wix oil filter- WTF?!

[Frenchy]

I'm no expert, but why not switch to yo the Motocraft Filter? It's designed for the vehicle as we speak and Motocraft doesn't skimp on the filters.

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[TJC]

After having one filter that was seemingly welded to the engine, I got the 3 arm type for filter removal and it works like a champ.

When installing, I lube the gasket with fresh oil and only use my hand to tighten them. Never a wrench.

That's why I was flummoxed when the one was on there so tightly.

Every cap wrench I tried just spun on it.

I ended up destroying the filter to get it off the engine (screwdriver + pliers + a huge mess).

I honestly don't know if any other one has seized to the engine like that as the 3 arm wrench just clamps tighter if the filter is stubborn.

I've had that experience years ago and never want to have it again.

And that 3 armed (flat arm) wrench just keeps getting tighter the more pressure you put on it, and works like a charm for me.

I noticed that the ratchet or extension does touch the filter top when removing it, an annoyance, but something I never thought much about it... but Airline Tech has put a bug in my ear and I'm now thinking about a solution to a problem that I really don't have, but my mind won't let it go! I'm going to try a couple of things to make that filter wrench better... or maybe worse! Whatever I do will be reversible....

Maybe I have too much time on my hands... fixing a problem that doesn't really exist, or maybe it is simply polishing the stone.

Off to change the differential fluid in my 2005 Ranger 4x4. I recently changed it to a light synthetic and the front has since developed a slight leak. I've seen it before when I used synthetic oils. Going back to 75w-140 in it. I just put it in the 2020 Ranger as well, and a lot of clunking disappeared.

I'm becoming more and more convinced auto companies are sacrificing reliability for fuel mileage, and maybe there is a dab of planned obsolescence in their engineering recipe as well. Consider:

- Instructions that tell you NOT to change your transmission fluid
- Heating transmission fluids so hot that the additive packages quickly decay.
- Using unprotected magnetic shift solenoids designed to fail from clutch disc particles
- Auto Stop Start
- 70% battery charge limit
- No dipstick on transmission
- No oil/fluid drain plugs in vital drivetrain components
- Single rear leaf spring
- Shocks with no damping
- Plastic intake and other engine parts
- Rotting suspension hoses on key cables that should be protected
- Water allowed to flow into the top of the engine
- Key Parts made with rat food
- Belt tensioner placed on an unsupported cantilevered timing chain cover that snaps off when the tensioner fails, when a previously designed and engineered head mount location existed but was not used.

I'm sure if look closely that I could find more.

One or two, or even three could simply be chalked up to poor engineering... but more than that points to a trend, a conscious decision chasing an objective. Consider it a mix of government requirements with a dash of "how do we maximize earnings" from these new constraints. Planned Obsolescence. Make them come back every 3 years. They used to do it with styling changes. Nothing underneath dramatically changed, but the sheet metal sure did.

We are now no longer considered customers... We are now simply "consumers"! Very much like employees who were once valued members of a company, but now are simply "resources" to be used and ultimately discarded.

The transformation is nearly complete. We have engineers for products of all kinds. I wonder if we have societal engineers hard at work, planning, implementing, streamlining the machine that is the collective us. I wonder what the Wizard of Oz is doing behind the curtain. Do we dare lift the curtain to take a peek?

Boy! Have I wondered off the reservation! Snap out of it! Back to your regularly scheduled programming....

 

[TxOTRRanger]

I've had that experience years ago and never want to have it again.

And that 3 armed (flat arm) wrench just keeps getting tighter the more pressure you put on it, and works like a charm for me.

I noticed that the ratchet or extension does touch the filter top when removing it, an annoyance, but something I never thought much about it... but Airline Tech has put a bug in my ear and I'm now thinking about a solution to a problem that I really don't have, but my mind won't let it go! I'm going to try a couple of things to make that filter wrench better... or maybe worse! Whatever I do will be reversible....

Maybe I have too much time on my hands... fixing a problem that doesn't really exist, or maybe it is simply polishing the stone.

Off to change the differential fluid in my 2005 Ranger 4x4. I recently changed it to a light synthetic and the front has since developed a slight leak. I've seen it before when I used synthetic oils. Going back to 75w-140 in it. I just put it in the 2020 Ranger as well, and a lot of clunking disappeared.

I'm becoming more and more convinced auto companies are sacrificing reliability for fuel mileage, and maybe there is a dab of planned obsolescence in their engineering recipe as well. Consider:

- Instructions that tell you NOT to change your transmission fluid
- Heating transmission fluids so hot that the additive packages quickly decay.
- Using unprotected magnetic shift solenoids designed to fail from clutch disc particles
- Auto Stop Start
- 70% battery charge limit
- No dipstick on transmission
- No oil/fluid drain plugs in vital drivetrain components
- Single rear leaf spring
- Shocks with no damping
- Plastic intake and other engine parts
- Rotting suspension hoses on key cables that should be protected
- Water allowed to flow into the top of the engine
- Key Parts made with rat food
- Belt tensioner placed on an unsupported cantilevered timing chain cover that snaps off when the tensioner fails, when a previously designed and engineered head mount location existed but was not used.

I'm sure if look closely that I could find more.

One or two, or even three could simply be chalked up to poor engineering... but more than that points to a trend, a conscious decision chasing an objective. Consider it a mix of government requirements with a dash of "how do we maximize earnings" from these new constraints. Planned Obsolescence. Make them come back every 3 years. They used to do it with styling changes. Nothing underneath dramatically changed, but the sheet metal sure did.

We are now no longer considered customers... We are now simply "consumers"! Very much like employees who were once valued members of a company, but now are simply "resources" to be used and ultimately discarded.

The transformation is nearly complete. We have engineers for products of all kinds. I wonder if we have societal engineers hard at work, planning, implementing, streamlining the machine that is the collective us. I wonder what the Wizard of Oz is doing behind the curtain. Do we dare lift the curtain to take a peek?

Boy! Have I wondered off the reservation! Snap out of it! Back to your regularly scheduled programming....

The thing is, everything that you stated right there.
Is completely True.
Very well said btw.

 

[dtech]

Ok maybe there is some room for improvement, but just consider all the useful features that Ford may someday incorporate into their products , a sampling :

• • Self-Repossessing Vehicles: A patent for a system where a car can autonomously drive itself away from an owner if they fall behind on loan payments—starting with disabling features like the AC and radio before physically driving back to the bank or a tow yard. [1, 2]
  • The H-Pattern EV Manual Shifter: A patent application for a traditional manual H-pattern shifter and clutch pedal designed for electric vehicles, which don't actually use multi-gear manual transmissions, purely to fake the shifting experience. [1]
  • The Patented Windshield: A design patent for a standard vehicle windshield, highlighted by the Electronic Frontier Foundation as an obvious and unoriginal claim aimed at controlling the aftermarket auto repair and replacement market. [1]
  • In-Cabin Biometric Surveillance & Listening: Patents detailing facial recognition, fingerprint sensors, iris scanning, and systems that listen to in-car conversations to trigger targeted ads on the infotainment screen. [1, 2]
  • Snitch Speed-Camera Cars: A system where the vehicle detects speeding cars around it, snaps a photograph with time and location data, and automatically reports the driver to law enforcement. [1]
• And of course the steering wheel that converts into a table for those who like to dine behind the wheel or more approriately dine on the steering wheel.

 

[TJC]

Ok maybe there is some room for improvement, but just consider all the useful features that Ford may someday incorporate into their products , a sampling :

• • Self-Repossessing Vehicles: A patent for a system where a car can autonomously drive itself away from an owner if they fall behind on loan payments—starting with disabling features like the AC and radio before physically driving back to the bank or a tow yard. [1, 2]
  • The H-Pattern EV Manual Shifter: A patent application for a traditional manual H-pattern shifter and clutch pedal designed for electric vehicles, which don't actually use multi-gear manual transmissions, purely to fake the shifting experience. [1]
  • The Patented Windshield: A design patent for a standard vehicle windshield, highlighted by the Electronic Frontier Foundation as an obvious and unoriginal claim aimed at controlling the aftermarket auto repair and replacement market. [1]
  • In-Cabin Biometric Surveillance & Listening: Patents detailing facial recognition, fingerprint sensors, iris scanning, and systems that listen to in-car conversations to trigger targeted ads on the infotainment screen. [1, 2]
  • Snitch Speed-Camera Cars: A system where the vehicle detects speeding cars around it, snaps a photograph with time and location data, and automatically reports the driver to law enforcement. [1]
• And of course the steering wheel that converts into a table for those who like to dine behind the wheel or more approriately dine on the steering wheel.

Clever!

 

[Friday yet?]

I got tired of chasing the correct socket for each filter. Went with a sturdy 3 arm self tightening job that squeezes the filter as you apply pressure to loosen it. Works great for me. Took me a couple of tries to find the best one in this design class. It works on all my cars. It looks like this one on Amazon. The flat feet matter.

This style one always works for me.

Just ordered one. But I’m going to hide it in the back of my toolbox. Gonna keep the Motivx one up front where people can see it!

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I wonder how well the 3 arm would've worked on this gem...



Makes me think of this one.

 

[TJC]

It would handle the first one, but JB Weld??? That is a whole different game!

 

[Dr. Zaius]

It would handle the first one, but JB Weld??? That is a whole different game!

Looks like he might have a bit of red threadlocker on there too...

 

[TJC]

I was out servicing my 2005 Ranger today, and stumbled upon 3 of my adjustable oil filter wrenches. Now mind you, I've gone down the filter wrench rabbit hole over the years, and have the plyer style wrenches, a chain wrench, a strap and several steel band wrenches, and various sizes of the socket style filter wrenches that kinda work, but never well enough.

So I am only going to show you the three adjustable filter wrenches that I have purchased in my quest to find the ONE Wrench... "My precious" (to quote the Lord of the Rings).

Anyway, here's a picture of the 3 finalists. All three use 3/8" drives and the extension locks into place and does allows the extension to protrude or touch the oil filter. The leftmost wrench I have not used yet. It was American Made by Lisle Model 63600 and cautions you to wear gloves. The latest one on sale no longer has the Made in the USA stamp on the top. The other two are made by Hyper Tough.

I also think I have one more three legged model as well. Very similar to the center one shown below.

This guy may work fine, put I have not put it to the test. As previously mentioned, the drive extension does not protrude and touch the filter. The sprig may, but it would be incidental as the two steel studs both protrude enough to keep the spring clear of the filter. I opened it and clocked one side it so you could see where the extension stops. Amazon has this one for $12.99

Now on to the big boy of the bunch. This guy is made for the Old school large filters. None of my modern cars use filters this large, so it has not been tested. It is beefy! Good for 3" - over 5"

This is the smallest of the 3 by far, and is my present favorite. It is simple to use and latches on tight when loosening the filter. The extension is flush with the center ridge in the center. Walmart carries it for $6

Between the strap versions, the chain versions, the wrench and band versions (which require a ton of space that modern cars do not have), and the big socket styles, I could start a Museum collection! .

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