GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

So I finally decided to change my own oil and go with synthetic. Picked up Mobil 1 NEW CAR formula synthetic oil a Fram oil filter a car ramp to lift the car off the ground (works great)and no air filter since I have a CAI (saved money there). Well I done oil changes before so figured it would be easy. Well it was up until it was time to take off the oil filter. I dont know why but the dealer had tighten it soo tight I could not take it off. I tried then my brother tried even called dad to give it a try. Well after wrestling the damn thing for over 20 minutes it finally came off. Other than that piece of cake!!! Damn dealer!

I had the exact same problem and even bent an oil filter wrench before it finally broke loose! Ridiculous!

We are 3!!! It took me a good 15-20 mins to remove the oil filter...I took care to no overtight the new one.

Make that four. Had the same problem. Ended up getting a ride to Autozone and getting a filter wrench that attaches to a socket wrench and fits the filter exactly. Oddly enough, that filter wrench is the best investment I've made in tools in awhile. Makes changing the oil filter a lot easier.

i was taught to put new oil on the rubber gasket of the new oil filter. this will help stop it from locking on. also, i was told that it does not need to be cranked tight, just little more than snug. Just bought two Fumoto drain valves, one for each car. I hope that makes it work the $20 each. I thought it wise to help simplify the Synthetic oil changes. Just got the vibe last week, had 3350 miles, made the dealer do an oil change, when do you think I should change it to synthetic??

I also couldn't get the filter off. I didn't own a filter wrench, so I had to bike (20 miles both ways) to the nearest autoparts store to get one. Since I had already drained the oil. I was pissed.

Unfortunately happens all the time... I suppose they do not want it to accidentially fall off and then become libel. Or rookie oil change techs.

ok, i must be the exception. I had no problem getting my oil filter off first time.

was that the first oil change on your car ever? cause the factory seems to glue those things on. Trust me my own filter is tight and I'd rather struggle with it for a few then have it leak.But yes thats good advice about putting some oil on the gasket.

I just grabbed a towel and took it off.

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »was that the first oil change on your car ever? cause the factory seems to glue those things on. Trust me my own filter is tight and I'd rather struggle with it for a few then have it leak.But yes thats good advice about putting some oil on the gasket.No it was not my 1st ever it was my 1st time doing it myself I have 17,000 miles so it was my like my 5th (I usually go over 3,000 before changing oil) time getting it done but the dealer had done it the previous times.

I had much difficulty getting my filter loose on the first change as well. I was down at the folks' house when I was changing the oil. I couldn't get an oil filter wrench on the thing, the towel trick wasn't working, we had some oil filter sockets, but none came close to fitting that tiny filter... Dad fought it for a bit as well, and couldn't get it to budge either.So, since they live out in nowhere, and not any place in town stays open past 6 on a weekend, I had to drive 30 minutes (in their car of course) just to get to a WAL*MART... I brought the new filter with me and found the right sized oil filter socket. Got home, snapped it to the ratchet, and she came right off. Sometimes you just gotta have the right tool for the job. Get one, wicked1981 - you won't regret it!I've been changing oil in cars since I was 14, and this was the longest oil change I've ever been through. But kudos to Toyota, once you get the original filter that's been welded to the block removed, these damn things are very easy to change oil in! I didn't have any problems on oil changes after that. I tightened the filter down pretty good, but the socket helped take it off every time.I used to do every other change myself, but now I just buy a case of oil, bring in 4 quarts to the dealer, they charge me $12 and I'm done. Getting lazy.

You can get a type of a cap that fits over the end of the filter and use a standard 3/8" drive socket to get it off that's what I use.As for your choice of filter, I would tend to stay away from Fram. Those are amongst the worst filters on the market. They have the least amount of filter material, and the flow back valve is just cardboard glued to a spring.Checkout this study:http://minimopar.knizefamily.n....htmlQuote, originally posted by wicked1981 » So I finally decided to change my own oil and go with synthetic. Picked up Mobil 1 NEW CAR formula synthetic oil a Fram oil filter a car ramp to lift the car off the ground (works great)and no air filter since I have a CAI (saved money there). Well I done oil changes before so figured it would be easy. Well it was up until it was time to take off the oil filter. I dont know why but the dealer had tighten it soo tight I could not take it off. I tried then my brother tried even called dad to give it a try. Well after wrestling the damn thing for over 20 minutes it finally came off. Other than that piece of cake!!! Damn dealer!

Wow that site is great I see that I will stay away from fram from now on. Thanks for the heads up!!Quote, originally posted by Herb »You can get a type of a cap that fits over the end of the filter and use a standard 3/8" drive socket to get it off that's what I use.As for your choice of filter, I would tend to stay away from Fram. Those are amongst the worst filters on the market. They have the least amount of filter material, and the flow back valve is just cardboard glued to a spring.Checkout this study:http://minimopar.knizefamily.n....htmlWow that site is great I see that I will stay away from fram from now on. Thanks for the heads up!!

Yeah I have said it before on this site, use AC Delco, it is made well and desgined for the car.

What i hate is when the dealer or whoever puts the drain plug on to tight.... On my previous S-10 i had my-self wedged between the frame completelty off the ground pulling on the bolt before it finally broke loose... ...HEY CHEVY, those do have torque require ments....

Quote, originally posted by MiVibe-ToolGuy »Yeah I have said it before on this site, use AC Delco, it is made well and desgined for the car. Hey ToolGuy. Where do you usually pick up your ACDelco filters? The dealer (sounds expensive)? Or, can you identify another convenient and/or less expensive alternative?[/QUOTE]

I can't remember if it was Advance Auto Parts or AutoZone, but I used to buy AC filters for the Vibe at one of those. In the beginning, I wasn't able to find the filter at either one, so I went to the dealer - around $6 I think. Eventually found them at the auto parts store, was around $3-4, IIRC. I haven't bought one for a while, I just let the dealer deal with it. So I don't know for sure if the two stores above still carry them.I've bought AC filters at Wal-Mart before, not sure if they still carry them, but that may be an option.

If you all would loosen it first when everything is COLD, then it will come off real easy. Make sure you tighten it down before you warm up the oil. Just THINK what heat will do to those threads on the oil filters. Same goes for the drain plug. Try it, you might like it!

Did my first oil change tonight at 2300 miles. No problem at all getting the original filter off. Thought the whole process was very easy. Only problem was I could not get under the car far enough to see the filter, but it was very easy to reach. Used a cap type oil filter wrench with 3/8 rachet, broke the filter loose then went up above and took the filter off and dropped it into my empty oil drain pan. Used Amsoil 5W-30 with Amsoil heavy duty filter.

Did my first oil change tonight at 2300 miles. No problem at all getting the original filter off. Thought the whole process was very easy. Only problem was I could not get under the car far enough to see the filter, but it was very easy to reach. Used a cap type oil filter wrench with 3/8 rachet, broke the filter loose then went up above and took the filter off and dropped it into my empty oil drain pan. Used Amsoil 5W-30 with Amsoil heavy duty filter. I oil the filter gasket with a light film before installing also.

Did my first oil change tonight at 2300 miles. No problem at all getting the original filter off. Thought the whole process was very easy. Only problem was I could not get under the car far enough to see the filter, but it was very easy to reach. Used a cap type oil filter wrench with 3/8 rachet, broke the filter loose then went up above and took the filter off and dropped it into my empty oil drain pan. Used Amsoil 5W-30 with Amsoil heavy duty filter. I wipe the gasket seal area off on the car and then I oil the filter gasket with a light film of clean oil before installing it.