I tried changing the oil filter on my beater. Eventually had to use the boa constrictor tool because the filter on it wasn't a common size. I had trouble getting it working because of access, so I tried latex gloves over sweaty hands. I found out using rubber gloves that you can blister the outer layer of your skin off quickly underneath the glove if you aren't careful!

 

Threre is a reason that they recommend the greater torque (over the standard half a turn.) On more than one occasion, someone has had one come loose on the S. I found mine a little loose (but not yet leaking) once. This is, of course, the same reason we see filler caps vibrate out too. 9000 rpm.

 

I just changed my oil last week. I had trouble sliding my jack under the car b/c it is so low. I had to drive up on thick board to gain the needed clearence. The oil change was a breeze. I was surprised to discover my S takes the same oil filter as my 2002 civic. I decided to try mobil one synthetic, seems to be running smoother.

 

No...........it's not messy. Use a Philips screwdriver to puncture the bottom of the oil filter and allow the oil to drain out into the pan first. Use a Philips screw driver with an 8 inch shaft to puncture the side of the filter and drive it into the center column. Then turn. It is easy to do!

I just hand tighten the filter ( I'm 240 lbs. and may have a stronger grip then most ). To remove, clean the road grim off first and use a rubber lid opener ( like your wife might use in the kitchen ). I've never used a wrench or Philips screw driver on any of my Hondas.

 

I had problems taking off my oil filter as well. I decided to go ahead and do my first oil change right around 3600, before driving down to Charleston for the weekend. What followed was frustrating as hell at the time, but looking back it was all rather comical. I let the oil drain out and decided to see if I could just remove the filter by hand. It didn't budge, no surprise there but that's why I have tools. So I got my newly purchased end cap wrench that I picked up from WalMart, and low and behold the thing didn't fit. Ok I thought, I'll just take the oil I drained out to the local auto supply store for recycling and pick up a strap wrench. While there I looked over my three choices and decided to get the smallest of the three marked "Standard" size. I get back, manage to get the wrench in a good position, tighten it down, and turn. The wrench turned no problem, unfortunately the oil filter just sat there. The darn thing needed to be about 1/4" smaller, the wrench just tightened enough to make contact with the filter, but not enough to get a good grip. Fine, I just had to try and take it off my hand again. I was able to get a good grip with both hands, but no amount of swearing was helping. At this point I told my wife, who I was impressing with my knowledge of all things automotive, that I was going to have to go medieval on the filter. I got out the first philips screwdriver I could find, about 6", and punched it about half way into the filter. Then I readied myself, got a good grip, and turned. Sure enough the screwdriver moved about 2". Unfortunately the filter did not budge. I pulled the screwdriver out and realized I had just bent it about 60 degrees. By now I was cussing up a storm. I vowed that I would show the filter who was boss, no more Mr. nice guy. I went to the toolkit that came with the car and pulled out the jack handle, the one about 12" long with a loop on one end and shaped like a flat head screwdriver on the other. I then got a hammer and proceed to pound my newfound implement of destruction like a railroad spike through the oil filter. Once I had about 4" coming out each side of the filter I stopped. I then grabbed hold of each end of the handle, and like a captain trying to keep his ship from crashing upon the rocks twisted for all I was worth. At last the filter moved! Aside from cleaning up the mess, the rest was a piece of cake. I don't know who put the filter on my car at the factory, but I think they have some anger management issues to work through.

 

I had the same problem this weekend. I have the socket type wrench and it rounded off the corners on the damn filter. So I put new oil in it and went to autozone the next day and picked up this.


It just bites the thing and you can just rip it right out.

It also helped to take the air filter box loose and move it aside a little so I could get more movement with my hand.

FYI, its not a big deal to change the oil then the filter later, the filter is above the oil line so you just lose a little oil from the filter area.

 

I'm having the same problem and, though I won't try the old screwdriver trick, none of the advice offered here has worked. I think that the service guys at "my" stealership have been instructed to "put the filters on so tightly that the customer has no choice but to come back to us."
A "Type H" oill filter wrench, eh? Well I haven't tried that yet either. 'Mo money!

 

Dude, this is a six year old thread. What's most significant about that is that it has since been learned that if you don't put the filters on as tight as Honda specs (7/8 of a turn beyond first contact) then there is a chance of having the filter spin off and your engine catching on fire.

Your "stealership" is only following the correct procedure, which is different for an S2000 from almost any other type of car.

Just get yourself an oil filter wrench. I have never had a problem removing my oil filter with just a cheapo strap-type oil filter wrench.

 

Beat me, whip me, make me write bad checks, Mike I apologize.
And sandpaper used in conjunction with my standard filter wrench worked like a charm.
Thanks, everyone

 

Everyone. Please pay attention. This is the only advice that counts (Xviper and a few others have pointed to as well). The talk forum is full of well-intentioned but completely wrong info. Read the FAQ, again read the FAQ.

A little history, Honda had several failures and the gasket is no longer like anything you have ever used--- 7/8-8/8 full turn after contact. YOU MUST HAVE A WRENCH to remove this if you did it properly. There is actuually metal to metal contact. The filter has only come completely off a few times on posters cars, but many people report them being loose at the track.

The end cup wrench works well, but you have to look around as there are many different base styles. You will also notice that most brands of aftermarket filters are MUCH smaller than the factory filter.