Filter housing on so tight it broke my filter wrench. What now? (Solved)

I am doing the oil change at this interval and the last was done at the dealer. I drained the oil and got the filter drained and then went to remove the housing.
As expected, the MENSA candidate at the dealer waaay over tightened it. I have the all metal housing. I grabbed a cheater and started applying torque. What I thought was the housing coming loose was actually the filter wrench fracturing.
What now? Obviously I am going to have to fill the trucks oil back up, but if I go buy a new filter wrench it’s likely to just break again. Any recommendations?
I think I’m officially done with this dealer.

 

Good for exactly one more use… I used a 1-1/8 socket on the filter wrench and used a half inch torque wrench to get the housing loose.

 

Get a steel oil filter canister cap "socket." Here's what I have in my tool box.

 

That thing looks really soft. Glad you got it off. Buy a better one and use only the large socket. I've never used center hole. This is a situation where you want an American tool

 

Thanks guys.

 

Which dealer was this (so we local folks can avoid them)?

 

Wilsonville. Very disappointing. Just cements my resolve to use a good authorized shop that isn’t a dealer. This isn’t the first time they did this, either.

I could kick them in the taco right now.

 

Yikes..!! A right boot straight to the TACO….!!!

 

I’ve seen some so tight that you have to replace the whole housing. Because when it did break loose it cracked the whole housing

 

Why the hell would they do that? It would literally be less work and faster to just seat them appropriately.

@JimboSlice413 and @TundraMcGov. - thanks for the product recommendation. Just ordered.

 

Fool me twice!
Do you have a buddy who likes beer and has a garage? It’s much more satisfying.

 

At home, the beer floweth freely and the curse words fly… agreed. And I like to wrench on things.

I have space and tools for this but I do like an authorized trained mechanic to get eyes on on it every few months.

 

The buddy thing helps so you can blame it on one another and then laugh about it, and to drive you to get parts

I broke mine doing the 4runner, not as gracefully as you, so I feel your pain.

 

This seems to be very common when dealers do oil changes. When I did my first one after free oil changes ended I had the same problem. I used a 2' cheater bar and neighbor had to hold my legs. Destroyed a cheap filter wrench and plastic cap in the process. Fortunately I had a metal one on hand. I had to go to parts store for a new wrench. I gave the dealership a 0 on the survey and service manager called me. They also left out 2 skid plate bolts. Service manager ordered me 2 new ones and offered to replace the filter cap. When he said he said he would install the skid plate bolts I said no thanks will do myself. He said all the techs have torque wrenches and he held a meeting on their proper use. I just smiled and walked out wondering how many of those meetings he had.

 

Have the dealer take it for you. Most likely, the filter housing in the engine is toast and needs replacement under warranty since they uga uga on it. The tech probably used an impact. I'm curios on what they say.

 

Back in 2011 when my wife bought a new Lexus CT200, I made the mistake of letting the Lexus dealership do the first free oil changes (and had to ARGUE with them that I wanted to use the allotment at 5000 miles instead of 10K). When I did the first change after, the oil filter cap was so tight I was afraid I was going to damage a motor mount trying to get it loose...the entire engine was moving a LOT while I tried to get it loose. My phone call to the dealership service department was not my finest moment.

When I purchased my current Tundra at 19k miles, the selling dealer had serviced it and had gone full Donkey Kong on tightening it. Not quite as bad as the Lexus was, but it was just silly.

 

Looks like they use gas powered impact wrench to tighten that thing.

 

I have a cheap one that only used a 27mm socket with. *knock on wood* has not failed yet after 8 oil changes.

 

I had an issue with my filter housing on so tight, that the tabs and "sides" all broke and it was basically round with one of the cheap ones i got from the parts counter at a dealer. When I took it in, I told them last oil change was by the dealer (last free one), and they got the housing off. I asked to see what they used, and ordered one. Here's link. It works and is very solid when fitted onto the oil filter housing.

$39 Tool Guy Republic Forged Chrome Vanadium Oil Filter Wrench Socket for Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Type Oil Filter Housings - 64mm 14 Flats

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B8O0BFU?ie=UTF8

 

I'd give Toyota my left cod if the would put regular spin on oil filters on their trucks and 4runners

 

Needed the laugh!

 

YES! I got one like that as well. It ignores the tabs on the side and only grabs the angled surfaces. $29 and recommended earlier in this thread. I’ll get to use it in about 4750 miles.

 

Yeah ..mustve done it while cursing his wife .. LOL

 

I just got one of these myself. I already have the first version of the Motivx wrench which does engage the tabs, but it's too wide for my Camry, so I got the newer one, too.

 

https://www.baxterperformanceusa.com/shop-by-make/toyota-ts-601-bk-cartridge-to-spin-on-adapter.html

 

It looked real good until I got to the $280

 

Is the MOTIV the same? The one I got is identical to what the dealer techs were using. It's heavy and absolutely grabs that filter housing. If the Motiv is the same, great! But the flimsy metal ones that rely on the tabs are worthless.

 

Had the same problem on my first change after purchasing from a seller who had it serviced regular at a local place. I ended up having to use a 24" breaker bar with a socket(i had been warned bot to use the small square hole on this and other forums) and it worked...needless to say, I tightened it to just barely snug to avoid the same when i do it next time.

$39 Lisle 61040 HD End Cap Wrench, Toyota 65mm 14 flute

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0749Y9BQN?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

You will only need that when you do your first oil change

 

I have a 21 limited and used one free oil change. Doing it myself going forward and yes the dealership over torqued the filter housing to death. I attempted to use a standard 3/8 drive socket wrench and it bruised my hand. That hurt for 3 days. I had to get a breaker bar to loosen the housing. Never again will they change my oil. I’m thankful they did not cross tread the plastic housing as they used the impact.