Oil filter bolt

[Athame57]

Mine won't budge,  it's soaking in WD40 just now in case that helps. Before I go and burst a blood vessel or strip the thread first.....it does undo by turning counter-clockwise like most bolts do?Might be the daft question of the month, maybe not,  but I'm getting paranoid lol!

[Bryanj]

Yes it does, put a good fitting socket on the hex and hit the end with a hammer. Is it the 12mm hex original or a 17mm aftermarket?

[Athame57]

Is it the 12mm hex original or a 17mm aftermarket?

17 mm from DSS....

[Laverda Dave]

Try to tighten it first just a smidge (that's a technical term) as this sometimes helps to break any corrosion that may be on the threads. Years ago I had to saw through the filter housing to get it off after the 12mm bolt siezed solid and would not come off no matter what I did although if I had a mig welder I would have welded a socket to the nut flange to remove it.

[Athame57]

Years ago I had to saw through the filter housing to get it off after the 12mm bolt siezed solid and would not come off no matter what I did ....

So it only siezed at the surface? I'm mostly worried because it looks to me it screws into a crankcase also?

[Bryanj]

Its been done up far too tight, get a decent 6 sided socket preferably 1/2 inch drive and using a tee bar not ratchet hit the end of the bar that fits into socket as you try and turn to undo

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I would use a Flank drive socket to avoid damage to the bolt head with a cordless impact driver if you have one.

[Athame57]

I'm saved!  In the end, because I couldn't find the adapter to my impact driver I resorted to some hammering on the sides as well as top, with a twisted grin of effort it suddenly gave the fight and oil poured onto the deck, I forgot some escapes the draining there! Anyway, thanks guys!

[Bryanj]

And dont do it up as tight again, just cos its a bigger head does not mean it goes tighter

[TrickyMicky]

The 12mm headed bolt is that size for that particular purpose, if you give the 17mm version a good tightening tweak with a 1/2dr socket you are looking for major trouble. Remember, you are not bolting the Forth Bridge together, just tightening an oil filter.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I suspect we think making sure it's tight will stop it leaking rather than just nipping it up and letting the seals take the strain - on car canister filters you just hand tighten them but a year later you need a strap tool to get them off again.

[K2-K6]

It can easily be checked while installing, just hold the filter housing and rotate it back and forth a little within how far it will turn due to the location "peg". While you can stil just rotate it the o-ring is sufficiently tight to seal competently,  once the filter housing bottoms out against the crankcase face it's too tight.

[Athame57]

It can easily be checked while installing, just hold the filter housing and rotate it back and forth a little within how far it will turn due to the location "peg". While you can stil just rotate it the o-ring is sufficiently tight to seal competently,  once the filter housing bottoms out against the crankcase face it's too tight.

Jeepers....and I was worried I had asked a stupid question! My concern was if it wasn't tight enough it could work loose, I'm going downstairs to adjust! 

[K2-K6]