Oil Filter

PaU-MWolverine · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:35 am

I want to do "my" first DIY oil change on my KJ this weekend. Looking at things ahead of time, I found that the oil filter may be a difficult to get at.

Is it? Do I need a special wrench? Do I need to yank off the splash guards?

I have an 02 Sport, BTW... Any thoughts, suggestions, advice would be appreciated for this newbie.

Thanks!

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:20 am

not any harder than any other vehicle really, I have a couple of different oil filter wrenches, one is a cup that slides up over the filter and it works as well as the band type I have. Don't have to take anything off as far as skids etc. if that is what you are calling splash guards, pretty normal like I said, a 30 second spin off

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:52 am

KJ is probably the easier oli change on any vehicle I have owned as it is so easy to lay under there. But I have owned all Oldsmobiles who were notorious for putting the oil filter in tight spots...like my 84 Cierra that I had to take the passenger side front wheel off to get the little flap open in order to grasp the filter.

Also, please don't buy any FRAM filter...NAPA, AMSOIL, or even ACDelco and Purolator before thinking about a FRAM.

rt_power · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:51 am

ya its one of the easier vehicle's to change oil in. just remember to put the oil pan under the oil troff and not under the filter or else you get oil every where, not speaking for experience LOL :oops:

Xodius · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:43 pm

I think I am the only one that thinks it is a bit of a pain.

All of my other vehicles, trucks, cars or jeeps were easier than this one. Not that this one is difficult just that the others were easier. I used a oil cup to install my filter but I need to get the band wrench to get it off...otherwise I am SOL and wont be able to remove it, lol. It be stuck!

jeepskate · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:01 pm

I've had other vehicles where it was much easier. In my opinion it's a bit of of PITA, but not a big problem. The difficulty depends on whether you have the heavy-duty cooling system or not. It came with the off-road package and the tow package, and it pretty much makes the filter unreachable from the top. I don't have a problem getting to mine from below, but it is kind of a tight squeeze. For me the most difficult part is threading the new filter on, because with your hand in the way you can't really see where it goes on. You have to feel for it.

If you've heard about the filter being difficult to remove, you've probably heard the very real horror stories about getting the first, factory-installed filter off. They were on there very tight. If this is just the first oil change by you on the vehicle and not the first by anyone, it should be no problem. I've found that it helps to use a quart-size ziploc bag and place it over the old filter before you remove it. You can catch a lot of oil that would otherwise spill.

mrkake · **Posted:** Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:33 pm

I like to pierce my filter with an sharpened punch and drain it first. Then an ordinary plastic grocery bag contains anything that might be left in the filter. I had a friend that worked on airplanes and he showed me a pretty cool little device that slips over the filter and has a needle valve in it. You slip this thing over the filter, run the needle all the way in, hook a vacuum pump and hose to the fitting and it sucks all the oil out through the filter. Then you spin the thing off and its bone dry. I always wanted one of those

. Easiest car to change the oil filter in that owned was a '69 Chevelle SS. But that's mostly because I put in a remote filter head :wink:

.

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:09 am

Xodius wrote:

I think I am the only one that thinks it is a bit of a pain.

All of my other vehicles, trucks, cars or jeeps were easier than this one. Not that this one is difficult just that the others were easier. I used a oil cup to install my filter but I need to get the band wrench to get it off...otherwise I am SOL and wont be able to remove it, lol. It be stuck!

I'd have to agree with Xodius on this. You pretty much have to lay on your back with your body under the vehicle to get to the oil filter, the splash guard does get in the way.

dirtydog · **Posted:** Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:26 pm

Did it this afternoon using special wrench on the end of my left arm. Dead easy job.

mochodurazo · **Posted:** Thu Nov 12, 2009 12:36 pm

you can do an oil change without a wrench. just stab the filter with a screwdriver, then unscrew it. then put with your finger a small amount of old oil y in the new filter in the part where is going to rub. thight it with your hand.

RaddKJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:13 am

mochodurazo wrote:

you can do an oil change without a wrench. just stab the filter with a screwdriver, then unscrew it. then put with your finger a small amount of old oil y in the new filter in the part where is going to rub. thight it with your hand.

mochodurazo, you made me feel much better! Everyone else was talking about wrenches, and I have always used the "old oil-hand tighten" method. For a while there I thought I was doing it all wrong and possible screwing up my Jeep! Thanks!

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:42 am

i usually don't lay down to do mine, i can reach mine from the engine compartment, use the rubber band style wrench, the plastic bag is a good tip too

hand tighten is the suggested method, those with carpal tunnel can spin it on till it stops and give it about a half turn with the filter wrench

mochodurazo · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:02 pm

RaddKJ wrote:

mochodurazo wrote:

you can do an oil change without a wrench. just stab the filter with a screwdriver, then unscrew it. then put with your finger a small amount of old oil y in the new filter in the part where is going to rub. thight it with your hand.

mochodurazo, you made me feel much better! Everyone else was talking about wrenches, and I have always used the "old oil-hand tighten" method. For a while there I thought I was doing it all wrong and possible screwing up my Jeep! Thanks!

i use that method in a old ford 1 ton truck. and you bet ill do it in my kj if i need to.

Liberty02sport · **Posted:** Sat Jul 17, 2010 10:57 pm

I was always able to get to the filter from the top, is one of the easiest filters to remove IMHO.

Oil Filter

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