RV Generator

[Doug156]

I have an Onan 5500 gas generator on the coach. The oil filter is on too tight to remove it with the tool made to remove it. As only about 1/2 inch of the filter is showing it's hard to grab. Any thoughts?

Thanks

[wa8yxm]

10forty2 wrote:
The rubber gaskets can seize on the filter fitting and make it damn near impossible to remove without quite a bit of force. Try a pair of channel locks first and then a wrench like this...
and if that doesn't work, then like suggested.....go old school and drive a screw driver through it and twist it off. When you replace it, make sure you put some fresh oil on the new filter and then only go about a half turn past when the gasket engages.

There are many oil filter wrenches.. THE ONE above,,,, if the proper size (There are different sizes) is the proper tool.

[ArchHoagland]

I went to Cummins and bought the filter removal tool from them. Also you need the generator to be hot.

[10forty2]

The rubber gaskets can seize on the filter fitting and make it damn near impossible to remove without quite a bit of force. Try a pair of channel locks first and then a wrench like this...
and if that doesn't work, then like suggested.....go old school and drive a screw driver through it and twist it off. When you replace it, make sure you put some fresh oil on the new filter and then only go about a half turn past when the gasket engages.

[cjd10]

The first time I changed the filter on my Onan 5500 I ended up buying a slightly smaller filter removing tool than the first one. They must have a gorilla putting those things on at the factory. The filter was on so tight the tool was just slipping and rounding the bottom of the filter. Had to tap the smaller one on and use a pry bar to get it the filter loose. That was with the generator hot. Ridiculous.

[Doug156]

Thanks for the suggestions ..I'll try the least painful first, letting the gen set get hot.

[Dale_Traveling]

Try with the generator hot as suggested. You only need a turn or less to loosen then let the generator cool down some so you don't get burned if you happen to spill a bit of hot oil. If that doesn't work punch a hole with a screw driver as also suggested.

I've always been lucky installing as tight as my hand will allow. Normally too tight to remove by hand but I don't need much tool grab to remove.

[mabynack]

I tried the trick of punching a screw driver through it and loosening it, BUT if it doesn't work you end up tearing the lower part of the filter off and it can be a pain to the get the rest loose.

Matco makes a filter wrench that fits over the bottom of the filter. It might make things easier for you. As a couple of folks said, you should try it with the filter hot.

I don't know why some mechanics want to tighten these things so much. I have a coolant filter on my truck and tried to change it last month. I bent my filter wrench trying to loosen it. The filter is up near the top of the engine and is fairly easy to get to. It's insane that they felt the need to tighten it to 100 Ft Lbs.

[allbrandauto]

big pair of chanel lock water pump pliers is what I use

[Billinwoodland]

the bear II wrote:
Try it with the generator hot

+1

[the_bear_II]

Try it with the generator hot

[draboo]

Here is a link to a video. It looks like he uses a 65mm oil filter wrench.

oil change click here

[Semperfi_66]

It might be messy but you can pound a screw driver through it with a hammer then turn it.