i want to change oil filter but reading the 2ct manual it says ill need a special sercice tool to take off and tighten up when its on. do i really need this tool or can i just do it all by hand. i want to make sure before i atempt it, many thanks for any info. andy
- (#10350) ANDY, 23 Apr 04 04:23
You don't need the Toyota SSP tool.
I'll be interested to see what advice comes here. When I put a filter on I tighten it as far as I can with one oily hand, no tools. When I come to take it off it's no longer oily so I can get a better grip and just get it off OK with one hand again. It'll only take you a minute to check - reach under the battery area, grab the filter and see if you can move it - you don't have to take it off there and then, re-tighten it and come back to it when you're ready to change it.
If a filter is stuck you can drive a bar through it and turn that but it sounds messy and you'll be up the creek with a punctured oil filter so no turning back. So I keep old cambelts etc and cut a section to wrap round a stuck filter, grip the ends with a suitable tool (I stick them through the round hole in the end of an adjustable spanner handle, with another spanner in its jaws as a T-bar) and twist it in such a way that you tighten the strap at the same time as unscrewing the filter. A few minutes on this procedure is better than an injured wrist.
- (#10350) Dave (Sussex), 23 Apr 04 04:48
Another point that may help if you've never done it before. You have to turn the filter several turns before it comes off, maybe 5 - 10 turns. And it has a thick rubber O-ring seal so when trying to shift it you needn't be afraid that it will come off all of a sudden, or start leaking. In fact I find it tedious:
unscrew 3/4 turn,
see if it comes off,
screw back on 1/4 turn so it doesn't fall when ..
let go, move hand hand to get a fresh grip,
repeat ... repeat ...
when it does come off you have to take the weight of the filter plus a full load of oil - not that heavy but don't let it take you by surpirse. It's heavier than the new one which you've bought.
- (#10350) Dave (Sussex), 23 Apr 04 04:59
There is another thread that suggest a tool for removing the oil filter a bit further down.
http://www.eccentrix.com/members/ukspace/wwwboard/9986.html
- (#10350) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 23 Apr 04 05:21
Whilst on the subject of Toyota Service Tools - I explored the possibility of this with my friendly parts man (yes they do exist) at my local Toyota franchise. As I own two Toyota imports I went through a period of being in there a lot before christmas for one thing or another. Anyway when I asked about availability of SSTs he laughed for quite a while then said that they are as scarce as rocking horse droppings. They aren't to be had, even by Toyota franchise technicians. He's tried in the past to get them from Japan but with no luck.
So if you are ever in need of an SST forget it, you will have to apply good old British innovation. I'm sure most of us have some experience in this area.
- (#10350) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 23 Apr 04 06:24
Yes, if it hasn't already got over everything in sight, wiping some of the old oil over the new O-ring is vital. If you use your finger be very careful of sharp edges round the thread.
A bit of old cambelt (or similar - bicycle tyre? old, rubber-covered mains cable?) works better than a chain wrench because it's thinner so clears obstructions and, especially with its teeth, it grips more than it squeezes so is less liable to crush the filter - which is also helped, whatever you use, by fitting it round the end nearer you rather than round the middle.
Remember that you can have a similar problem with the sump drain plug - tighten gently.
- (#10350) Dave (Sussex), 23 Apr 04 08:02
If you look at the new filter, it'll have the tightening instructions printed on it. Something like 1/2 -3/4 turn after the gasket seats (don't have one in front of me)
If you want to buy a tool, get one of the "tripod" style self-tightening jobbies. They fit most filters and go stright onto the end which is the strongest part.
- (#10350) David Miller, 23 Apr 04 09:19