How to Make a Homemade Oil Filter Wrench
It is important to change the oil in your car on a regular basis. Most manufacturers recommend changing your car's oil every 3,000 or 5,000 miles. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars each year by changing your own oil. Making your own homemade oil filter wrench can help you get the job done quickly.
Things You Will Need:
- Degreaser spray
- Shop rag
- Adjustable leather belt or strap
- Maintain the quality and cleanliness of the belt by cleaning the oil filter thoroughly. Use a degreaser spray and apply a thin coat to the filter itself. Take a shop rag and remove all of the dirt, oil and grime from the old filter. Be sure to thoroughly clean the oil filter before moving on to the second step.
- Attach the leather belt to the filter. Begin on the right and wrap the belt around the filter going from right to left. Wrap the belt securely.
- Fasten the belt onto the filter. Thread the belt through the buckle and adjust the buckle to the tightest setting possible. The belt should fit securely around the oil filter. If the belt shifts when tugged, it is too loose. In some cases, you will need to make a new hole in the belt in order to tighten the belt adequately.
- Use the belt as a wrench. Grab the end of the belt and pull it to the left. Moving the belt to the left will cause the oil filter to turn to the left and loosen. Repeat this process until the oil filter is loose enough to remove by hand.