Oil Filter Question

[Tacostik]

I am changing my oil tomorrow morning and I had a hell of a time last round (butchered filter, uttered obscenities, sweated my a** off). Just so I don't crush my filter again, which way does the filter spin? I will be sitting in the rear starboard locker, so will I be turning towards the front of the boat or the back of the boat? I turned it the wrong way last time and don't remember how I spun it when I finally got it off and put the new one on. Sorry for the lame question.

[shawndoggy]

righty tighty lefty loosey. Bring a beer with you in a bottle. If you can unscrew the cap, you'll be able to unscrew the filter.

[Tacostik]

Yeah for some reason I thought it was backwards last time. I guess I need to be sure to open that beer while changing it.

[tvano]

righty tighty lefty loosey. Bring a beer with you in a bottle. If you can unscrew the cap, you'll be able to unscrew the filter.

what great memory tweak...

oh, wait. maybe not if they bring a case instead of one.

[dlb]

[srintx]

righty tighty lefty loosey. Bring a beer with you in a bottle. If you can unscrew the cap, you'll be able to unscrew the filter.

[BearCreekBum]

The ONLY thing I remember from college physics is when the prof was describing electrical fields and made the comment when you are upside down working on your car and can't remember which way to turn the nut point your right thumb in the direction you want the nut (or oil filter) to go and follow the direction of your fingers. Just like the magnetic field created by current passing through a conductor.

Money well spent on college.

I've lost count how many times I've used that trick and my friends get a good laugh.

[electricjohn]

righty tighty lefty loosey. Bring a beer with you in a bottle. If you can unscrew the cap, you'll be able to unscrew the filter.

Yea, but isn't the filter up side down? That will make a real mess in the bilge when you hold that beer next to the filter to open it.

[electricjohn]

The ONLY thing I remember from college physics is when the prof was describing electrical fields and made the comment when you are upside down working on your car and can't remember which way to turn the nut point your right thumb in the direction you want the nut (or oil filter) to go and follow the direction of your fingers. Just like the magnetic field created by current passing through a conductor.

Money well spent on college.

I've lost count how many times I've used that trick and my friends get a good laugh.

Exactly the same situation hear, It's called the right hand rule. I became an electrician, so I had to remember more of the electrical theory.

Edited January 21, 2012 by electricjohn

[Indyxc]

Something that may help some people is get a collapsible craftsman oil filter wrench. It will only clamp onto the oil filter is you are turning it the correct direction. In the other direction it expands the jaws.