Discussion
I have just serviced my '97 V8. I do this every 3,000 miles and take it to a dealer for the next 3,000. At 6,000 a year, that works out nicely at every six months. Could not shift the oil filter. Strap, chain, sandpaper !!! Tried everything and split the filter in the process thus rendering the car undriveable.
1. What could I do about this ( it moved eventually, but what if it hadn't) and...
2. Would my recovery service tow me to a dealer, bearing in mind that the damage was self inflicted ??
1. What could I do about this ( it moved eventually, but what if it hadn't) and...
2. Would my recovery service tow me to a dealer, bearing in mind that the damage was self inflicted ??
Which way were you turning it? 
I've only had that happen to me once (on a different car) - I hammered a screwdriver through the end of it and it twisted right off. It made a horrible mess of course and looked awful, but it was my last option.
If the filter's not totally gone - you could also try running the car a bit first. Sometimes the heat allows things to expand enough to get them apart.
At my earliest conveinience I'd call whoever put that last filter on there and read them the riot act.
>> Edited by jimmythesaint on Saturday 27th May 04:22
I've only had that happen to me once (on a different car) - I hammered a screwdriver through the end of it and it twisted right off. It made a horrible mess of course and looked awful, but it was my last option.
If the filter's not totally gone - you could also try running the car a bit first. Sometimes the heat allows things to expand enough to get them apart.
At my earliest conveinience I'd call whoever put that last filter on there and read them the riot act.
>> Edited by jimmythesaint on Saturday 27th May 04:22
Make sure you always coat the rubber gasket on a new filter you are installing with fresh engine oil as well. If you don't that can cause them to be difficult to remove. The scewdriver trick works great in a pinch.
ooops! how did I get to the Esprit forum, ErnestM will be along any minute to chase me back to the P&P..
ooops! how did I get to the Esprit forum, ErnestM will be along any minute to chase me back to the P&P..
toyroom said:
Ernest: Where is here ??
The filter was fitted by a Lotus and Bentley main dealer following a sump fitting. Had the worst happened and the filter torn in half (ever seen this happen ?), would they have been liable for the cost ?
If they botched it, I'd make sure they were responsible for the cost, but I can't imagine it even being possible to tear a filter in half...even if you did you'd still be able to get it off eventually if you kept working at it.
I had a dealer over-tighten an oil pan plug once so hard I couldn't remove it with a ratchet and breaker bar. I went and crawled so far up their a**es they offered to change the oil for me gratis and make sure the plug was retightened to factory spec. I watched them do it of course...
Sounds like they failed to rub a bit of new oil on the rubber ring seal and then they twisted it on as tight as they could. Hand tight and new oil dab is the "rule" I go by.
I also do not allow dealerships to change my oil. They have NEVER touched my Esprit since I have owned it, and in fact I have had to go back and correct many many things that the previous owners dealership did incorrectly or not at all - although there is a recipt and a record for the work. Some of the crap jobs I have seen dealerships spit out are unbelievable! If you cannot or do not want to do the little stuff on your own, find a local mom and pop type of operation that you can trust...
As for the oil filter, you can get a socket that fits the rear of the filter and plugs into a breaker bar or ratchet...
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
I also do not allow dealerships to change my oil. They have NEVER touched my Esprit since I have owned it, and in fact I have had to go back and correct many many things that the previous owners dealership did incorrectly or not at all - although there is a recipt and a record for the work. Some of the crap jobs I have seen dealerships spit out are unbelievable! If you cannot or do not want to do the little stuff on your own, find a local mom and pop type of operation that you can trust...
As for the oil filter, you can get a socket that fits the rear of the filter and plugs into a breaker bar or ratchet...
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
teigan said:
you can't trust anybody. it's bad enought the self proclaimed professionals are incompetent; they are also dishonest. do all the work yourself, and consider the time you put in educational.
Judging by your "Standard of Acceptable Workmanship"..ie: the Wood Console Panel that you built and posted pictures of...
(...by the way, its a shame that they didn't have a Wood Shop Scene in the "The Ringer", I certain you would have received a Casting Call!
) I would say that you have experienced what we refer to as the “Assh**e Tax”.
This Special Tax has been Secretly added to your Bill and is a subtle way for the Mechanic to tell you that he doesn't want to deal with you...but since you can't take the Hint and you pay his Rip-Off Price, he has to revert to Lousy Workmanship as his way of telling you not to come back.
Think of it in terms of your own Profession...
...say a person comes strolling into Your company, "DogyBagz" to buy a Purse for his Pooch, but you don't like the fact that he appears to be a Heterosexual...
I just follow the directions on the side of the oil filter. Usually they are something along the lines of "tighten until the gasket makes contact and then tighten 3/4 to 1 and 1/4 turns." And of course, oil the gasket. I've never had a filter put on like this leak, or not come off with just my hand.
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