Oil and fuel filter change

[pictishsurfer]

I've recently got myself air, fuel and oil filters from roughtrax, nipped out and got 10 litres of 10w40 semi and settled down for a mornings fiddling with the truck.
Except its turned into a battle of wits; clearly I've lost cause I'm struggling to figure a way to get the oil filter off.
I've been surfing forums (see what I did there haha) and I'm getting the impression that the fuel filter has to come off with the housing and held in a vice to get a wrench on it. Is this correct?
I've given up on the oil filter completely for now and just put the new oil in until I can get my brain cell to work properly... Bah. I hate being defeated!

Here was me thinking 'Oh look, I can see the filters; they must be easy to get off cause I don't have to crawl around underneath...' Sucker.

I'm feeling like a complete novice here, even though I've had engines out of other vehicles, changed subframes on minis and fiddled with my bikes for years...
Has anyone got any pearls of wisdom?
p*ss taking accepted here, providing there's an equal measure of help.

[Dara]

easiest way to do the fuel filter filter is to take it out wit the housin like you said an stick it in vice an its easy to get off.

the oil filter i dunno how your havin trouble wit they're easy get off in the surf...jus take the rubber joiner that goes from the airbox out of the way to get more access an if its tight use a filter strap or chain or filter pliers and if you have none of them jus bange a screw driver through the side of the filter an you'll be easily able to twist it off usin the screw driver to turn it

[ninjadave]

clearly I've lost cause I'm struggling to figure a way to get the oil filter off.

I had the same problem. I have filter removal tool with 3 legs on a 1/2" drive that worked really well. Go to google images and type in oil filter removal tool,
The one in the pic is made by clarke

[deltabravo61]

I've got the three leg wrench from Machine Mart, very useful. Fuel filter can be removed by turning housing upside down on studs. When you fit the new filters don't overtighten them, should be able to remove both by hand in future.

[IanB2]

I've had to do battle with the oil filter before as well, it was baked on there when I 1st got my truck, and even with the airbox removed completely there wasn't enough room for a normal oil filter wrench. I ended up finding a strap wrench with 1/2" socket end that worked really well in tight spaces, it pretty well deforms the filter before it will start to twist it off, but it works every time. Make sure you lube the gasket with a light coat of oil before putting the new filter on, and don't over tighten.

[spacast]

I expect some garage put the filter on without oiling the seal, and then tightened it with a tool, instead of their hands - I've seen them do it.

[Ploddit]

True Dat ^^

use your finger with a little oil on the seal and it'll never get stuck again

[pictishsurfer]

Many thanks for your replies folks; one of my days off work today so I'm gonna do battle with the evil filters.
I HAVE tried with a standard pliers style wrench- not enough room to get a turn on the handles, even with the airbox hose removed.
I'll use the screwdriver skewer method as a last resort, cause the way my luck normally goes, I'll end up destroying the filter and STILL have the stub baked onto the filter seat...
I've bought a set of 'cup' style filter removers, so I'll go and have a play with 'em later.
Thanks again, I'll keep you posted...

[IanB2]

Many thanks for your replies folks; one of my days off work today so I'm gonna do battle with the evil filters.
I HAVE tried with a standard pliers style wrench- not enough room to get a turn on the handles, even with the airbox hose removed.
I'll use the screwdriver skewer method as a last resort, cause the way my luck normally goes, I'll end up destroying the filter and STILL have the stub baked onto the filter seat...
I've bought a set of 'cup' style filter removers, so I'll go and have a play with 'em later.
Thanks again, I'll keep you posted...

Don't puncture it, then you're stranded if it still won't come off. The strap style filter wrench really is the way to go:

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kd3149.html

The bar allows the ratchet handle to clear all the stuff in the engine bay with the airbox removed, or you can put an extension on it and leave the airbox in.