Oil Filter Removal Tool

[jets]

After struggling for years with the clumsy 3/4 drive setup that I had in my toolbox I came across this 3/8 drive 6 sided 32mm socket. Purchased on EbayUK for just over $20 including postage. Works a treat & is easy to use with a torque wrench. Fits my TDI Golf & TDI Tiguan.

[drjekl]

Why is a 32mm size bolt head required on the oil filter cap is beyond me, surely something smaller and more common like a 18mm would be plenty big enough???

Nice find though, I had a 1/2" drive 32mm socket laying about so i'll make do with that....

[jets]

surely something smaller and more common like a 18mm would be plenty big enough???

As you know the cap is made of plastic & maybe VW designers thought that a larger hex would last the distance better with less chance of rounding off. I can imagine an adjustable spanner would be used by many & over a lifetime this cap would be removed many times.
Even with the smaller dia. shank on the 3/8 drive, it touches the metal above that pulls it slightly off the hex. With the 3/4 drive it was even worse.

[Umai Naa!!]

The Holden Cruze has a 24mm head on the plastic cap for the oil filter cartirdge.

Seen a few of those break off after they've been over-tightened at the last service.

The VW one, particularly that one above, I've swung a long breaker bar off one to loosen it (someone had applied way more than 25Nm to it previously), and it held up.

Definitely some method in their madness.

[Ryeman]

^^^^used to be able to get my 'stuff' from Ryan's in Elizabeth St where you could get that locally.........sigh
Lovely place to 'play'.
(even had a 'flying fox' payment system)

[gldgti]

most 1/2" sets go to 32mm, and if you have wobble ends on your extensions (like on kingchrome) then you can angulate the extension enough to happily clear the manifold.

I have helped many friend with older cars (old astras come to mind) where the filter hasnt been changed for years because the housing is stuffed.

Thank VAG for your 32mm drive