oil filter tightening on 2.4

[estalero]

I did my first oil change on Alero. I didn't find any good info on 2.4 oil change though. I had oil filter chain wrench for filter removal but it didn't need much force to come loose. And on oil filter there seems to be an instruction that I must tighten the filter by hand, is that true?

As I was ready to tighten it with this chain wrench...

[a.graham52]

do not tighen with anything other then yoru hand, your liable to damage the filter or overtighten it to the point where when it gets hot (and the metal expands) it will pop off a thread and become loose. just do what the instructions say and tighten it by hand half a turn i belive.

[Redog]

Yes. "Spin-on" oil filters are always hand tight. Should say that on the box and or filter as well.

A co worker told me that I long time ago he changed the oil on his new (used 3 years old IIRC) 1967 Cougar. Used a pair of oil filter pilers to tighten the new filter.

Put a hole in the filter, didn't know it, started car, watched oil running down the driveway to the street (hilled driveway) ran down the driveway after the oil, turned around to watch his car running and then caught fire.

Before anybody asks, yes this guy is an idiot :awesome:

[robalero]

Always make sure the old filter gasket came off with the old gasket and not stuck on the engine also make sure ur new filter has a gasket do not reuse the gasket either. Yes always hand tighten the oil filter never use any sort of tool to install the oil filter

[billytheman1188]

TIP: dip your finger in the oil (old or new doesn't matter) and then rub a little on the filter gasket. Hand tighten...i do 1 3/4 just cause i feel a little safer lol. I get paranoid. I also take my filters off with my hand...so i tighten it until its pretty tight but can still move a little.

[sleepyalero]

x2 i never use an oil wrench.

[estalero]

thanks

[sleepyalero]

No problem.

[Redog]

Yes I forgot to mention the oil on the gasket.

I use ACDelco filters, I stopped using them for a while when they went to the "E" core and made in China. Now they are back to being made in the USA.

Wix then Pureolator afte ACDelco. I used Pureolator Gold on the Delta once. Oldsman would like them. The entire filter is a "grippy" thing. (If you don't know what that means, you haven't been to ASS ;) )

Plus I used to never use an oil wrench to remove the filter, now I do. Laying on the ground, twisting an oil filter by hand, my wrist actually pops and I cannot twist it. Goes back to normal when I let go of the filter. Getting old sucks :(

[[ion] C2]

I never know where the "hand tight" part begins and you turn it ___ turns past that point... Everyone's concept of hand tight seems very subjective. I mean is it as tight as I can physically do it by hand? I have hardly any room to put any sort of torque on it by hand so I usually use my socket adapter and subjectively go by the feels. Not too tight, not loose.

[billytheman1188]

^^What he said. The filter must be a PITA spot on the 2.4. On the 3.4 it was pretty high up but easy to get to....the 3500 is friggin CAKE....on the bottom of the engine right near the sub frame. Love doing oil changes now! ;) Also i don't really go by what they say for tightening....i just tighten like ion said...until it feels tight but not too loose. It's not gonna do anything bad if you overtighten a little....just gonna be a little harder to get off next time.

[[ion] C2]

Well the filter's in a very good spot on a stock LD9, can reach it from the top, but my intake manifold leaves very little space for my arms to get between it and the body to reach down there.