Naughty filters day

[VTXLister]

Had the Surf about three months now, so decided to change the air, fuel, & oil filters, as well as the oil today.

Drained the oil, then went to undo the oil filter, wouldn't budge.

Got the oil strap out, wouldn't budge.

Gradually worked my way down my list of carefully honed "next bodge method" acquired over the years:

- screwdriver through top of filter used as Tommy bar
- blunt wood chisel on rim of filter
- screwdriver on same
- waterpump pliers, mole grips, etc

...Eventually had to tear the outer metal from can piece by piece with pliers & cutters (I didn't use a hacksaw as i didn't want any swarf getting into the engine), so as to be left with mostly the base of the filter, so I could put a pair of long nose pliers through the base, oversleeve the handles with 2 x 2ft lengths of dexion (the square section stuff), then use a 4ft length of dexion as a lever to twist the whole lot off, and it still broke my pliers.

All in all, 5 1/2 hours for what is normally a 1/2 hour job. In 30 years of servicing my own bikes, cars, and boats, I have never had such a hard time with a filter.

As I was in a bad mood by then, I just carried on with the fuel filter, a bit better, but not much: still spent 30 mins on my hands and knees with 2 pairs of stillsons chasing the unit round my garage floor.

Judging by the corrosion on the fuel filter, and the way the paper in the oil filter element turned to dust in my hands, I'd almost say that neither of these had ever been changed.

But filled up with semi-synth, and all the startup rattles have gone!

[Vultch]

I feel for ya.... what a nightmare..

[ben2611]

Hi Buddy, Was it a cheap purchase 3 months ago? Bought my KZN130 3.0TD two years ago with FSH and a mint engine bay - never had the slightest problem with it, servicing is easy and it tows like a monster. Feel sorry for ya because 5.5 hours for an oil filter and I`d have thrown my toolbox through the windscreen. Hope its all ok now.

Ben.

[Slugsie]

That's unlucky. However, it could have been worse, it could have been a 2.4 - there is so little room to manoeuvre around the oil filter in them you'd still be there doing it now.

My guess is the last person to change the filter figured that it was tight when undoing it, so had to be put on tight. Remember people, when doing oil filters up, it's pretty much hand tighten only!

[yorta2]

Agree - I hand tighten and also can undo my filters with only hand force. As long as they don't leak, they are tight enough!

[VTXLister]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Regarding the tightness of the filter, I only ever hand-tighten as well, but I suspect from the compression of the rubber seal on the filter that the person/ape who fitted this used a strap to tighten it ("the tighter the better").

Slugsie, regarding your comment about space, I don't know how little space there is in the 2.4, but even before I started struggling, I removed the air filter housing, and even then, you can't really get a shallow enough angle to get to the filter.

I suppose the only good thing was that the filter is upside down, and is already fully drained by the time you are chewing through it.

Anyway, injectors and glowplugs next, before the veggie conversion.

[Slugsie]

Slugsie, regarding your comment about space, I don't know how little space there is in the 2.4, but even before I started struggling, I removed the air filter housing, and even then, you can't really get a shallow enough angle to get to the filter.

On the 2.4 you get to the filter through the drivers side wheel arch after taking off a small inspection panel. It's a major PITA. I have both a 2.4 and 3.0, and the 3.0 is a doddle in comparison.

[Surf_ltd]

sounds like a gorilla had put your last oil filter on

[TimDPoole]

On those 2.4 I just can't see how you're meant to change the oil filter without removing that inspection panel!!! That would be an impossible task.

I've just done the same to my 2.4 93 Surf and I'm now onto my Fuel Filter... is there anything special I should know before attempting this? Never changed a diesel filter before.

[grabeck]

i have one of these filter removers, got me out of trouble a few times including the first time on the surf.

[nero279]

On those 2.4 I just can't see how you're meant to change the oil filter without removing that inspection panel!!! That would be an impossible task.

I've just done the same to my 2.4 93 Surf and I'm now onto my Fuel Filter... is there anything special I should know before attempting this? Never changed a diesel filter before.

nope, except you'll get diesel all down your engine bay, you can drain the filter by the water drain tap on the bottom of the filter before removing it i think.

Fill the new filter with redex before screwing it back on to 1) save pumping the primer for ever to start it, 2) give the injectors a good heavy blast of neat redex to clean em up a bit.

[TimDPoole]

nero279, you're a Leg >-< End mate thanks for those tips

[VTXLister]

Actually this is probably a good time to ask: I've seen a couple of people recommend filling your fuel filter with ATF, is this:

1) any better than redex or just cheaper? (or both!)

2) Do you also put some in the tank? If so how much and how often?

3) Any negatives on using ATF instead of Redex?

Thanks!

[VTXLister]

Bump,

Anyone?

[KERRSURF]

i have one of these filter removers, got me out of trouble a few times including the first time on the surf.

I got one of those, Draper expert range, brilliant bit of kit.