VR6 - Cannot Unscrew Cap (Oil Filter)

[Boki]

Tried to use as much force as its humanly possible but i cant unscrew it ....
It's about to turn into a black plastic circle if i push it more....
Any suggestions?? Am i screwed ppl??

Thanks,

Boki

[Tim]

are you using a proper 36mm socket? If not get one and it will be easy. If someone has done it up tightly previously and you try and use an adjustable wrench on it. the plastic deforms and doesnt undo as easily.

[VR6child]

Ohhh that's fun. I did it without the socket, somehow. It was impossible to do with the car warm, I let it cool and it was easy? I don't know how that works.

[Mrk_Mickey]

If you get a socket, use it with a long bar on the end of it too (ie breaker bar with a vacuum cleaner pipe on the end of it or something) because it makes it easier to move it accurately (ie you'll be able to feel if it starts to round off the hex).

[stotto]

You could also try one of these if need be.



wrap a sheet of decent grit sand paper around the plastic housing for a little more grip.

I have not tryed this on my VW but it did work on my feroza when the oil filter was stuck on (I know there is no plastic housing on the filter on a feroza, but same principle.)

[VR6child]

I don't think those work on the VR as there's not enough room to get leverage once you've wrapped it around the filter housing.

[stotto]

I don't think those work on the VR as there's not enough room to get leverage once you've wrapped it around the filter housing.

Bugger, guess it might not work then.

[VR6child]

If you don't have the socket, just work with what you can find. I used one of these, ghetto style... Just tightened it real tight around the hex thingo on the housing, and pulled. Worked in the end haha.

[Boki]

Yea i am using a proper hex 36 mm socket .. i have tried everything with sandpaper and everything.. LOL
i havent tried it when its cool ... so i'll try that next but i just drained it and filled up on oil so i'll try it again in another 15,000k's

Thanks..

[The_Hawk]

The first time I tried to remove mine I didn't have the socket and tried multigrips and watched them chew at the plastic so gave up quickly and hunted up the right socket. For anyone that doesn't have one I'd highly recommend getting one.

I know mine can be a little tight, but nothing thats ever stopped me pulling it off (and I do it when the oil is nice and warm). As for easier when it's cold, it stands to reason since heat expands things and the plastic is likely to expand more than the metal.

In my case I can't unscrew the centre drain plug in the housing no matter what I try, don't know if someone's glued it in or what but that sucker just won't budge. Not really an issue, I drain the oil through the normal drain plug, then just loosen the whole housing until it starts leak slowly, let it run out then unscrew it fully. Yes it's full of oil and I get a little dirtier, but it's not enough of a problem to bother replacing it.

[gerhard]

Much as I love VW engineering, the oil filter arrangement is just obnoxious.

Other car makers use spin on filters, and their engines can run to 500,000k and more with no problem, so there cannot be a technical superiority of the cartridge system.

Wake up, VW, on this issue

[The_Hawk]

It's more environmentally friendly and simpler to only replace th part that needs replacing. Why throw out the scess casing everytime you change a filter?

If you have the right tools there shouldn't be any issues with this arrangement.

[Transporter]

Also the cartridge filter is cheaper to make. Quite a few Japanese car manufacturers are now using cartridge filters.