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That first oil filter change..

Volvomad

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
476
Location
Ireland
I dont count turns after seal contact ,just good and hand tight . All no problem except for Hitachi 200-5 . Working with rock ,the main engine oil filter will loosen even if fitted by gorillas . I made a wide filter strap with a car seat belt ,keep it flush with the base and squeeze until i feel the filter wall starting to cave . I use nearly all fleetguard for my sins . My fleetguard supplier is too good ,donaldson are pricey and I havent really considered Baldwin . Would they be better than fleetguard ?
 

Bluox

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2010
Messages
1,960
Location
WA state
I dont count turns after seal contact ,just good and hand tight . All no problem except for Hitachi 200-5 . Working with rock ,the main engine oil filter will loosen even if fitted by gorillas . I made a wide filter strap with a car seat belt ,keep it flush with the base and squeeze until i feel the filter wall starting to cave . I use nearly all fleetguard for my sins . My fleetguard supplier is too good ,donaldson are pricey and I havent really considered Baldwin . Would they be better than fleetguard ?
If you have good luck with them why would you change because some wantabe expert says there no good ? I 've used them for about 40 years ,never had a problem that could be blamed on the filters.
Bob
 

Volvomad

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
476
Location
Ireland
I had the internal bypass valve fall apart in a fleetguard and surefilter transmission filter fitted to a volvo loader a good few years back , so I only use donaldson or oem for all volvo transmissions now . Mostly everything else is fleetguard .
 

JD955SC

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
1,349
Location
The South
OTC makes nice filter wrenches that you use with a 1/2 drive ratchet (or breaker bar for the really stubborn ones

I personally tighten mine by hand using a piece of emery cloth for grip. I don’t work on anything too weird though so no strange vibrations or anything like that
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,098
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
I always tighten with a wrench. I find I can't get much torque on a filter when there's oil on my gloves/hands/filter. I don't go full gorilla though. 3/4 turn past when the seal touches or whatever the filter instructions say.
 
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Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
I always tighten with a wrench. I find I can't get much torque on a filter when there's oil on my gloves/hands/filter. I don't go full gorilla though. 3/4 turn past when the seal touches or whatever the filter instructions say.

I forgot to mention. I am very particular about the appearance of a new filter on a customer unit. I use mostly Donaldson so they are white. I only tear off the top of the plastic wrapper and screw them on as tight as I can. Then I pull the wrapper, and pull off my gloves, to use clean bare hands for maximum traction with no oil or grease. So the filter gets on there looking like brand new.
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
I wipe the filter off after installing then whip out the Leatherman tool & scratch in the hours or mileage in the paint with the knife blade .

That's how Grandad did it ….. :) Unsure when the last oil change was just look at the filter .
 

DIYDAVE

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
2,409
Location
MD
I wipe the filter off after installing then whip out the Leatherman tool & scratch in the hours or mileage in the paint with the knife blade .

That's how Grandad did it ….. :) Unsure when the last oil change was just look at the filter .

Same here, only, I use a junkyard(welder's) paint pen, its less effort...;)
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
Same here, only, I use a junkyard(welder's) paint pen, its less effort...;)

If you can find a paint pen that works ……... Kids run off with mine and if they manage to return them they are dried up . :(

Still scratching numbers on filters with the knife blade .

No sonny ! I will let you borrow the paint pen but not the Leatherman Tool …… LOL! :D
 
Last edited:

RobVG

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2009
Messages
1,028
Location
Seattle WA
Occupation
17 excavators and a stewpot of other stuff
I have a log book and a page for each machine and use a label maker and put a next service sticker near the hour meter.
 

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
Back to the topic in the title. I can't believe no one mentioned this. Talk about hard to remove. A coolant filter that is hidden or forgotten and has not been changed in several years since the truck was new.
 

RobVG

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2009
Messages
1,028
Location
Seattle WA
Occupation
17 excavators and a stewpot of other stuff
Filter talk brought back a memory.

I was green and just changed the hyd filter on a Mack dump truck. Forgot to open the shut off valve at the tank. Started to lower the box and heard a "pop". It ripped the neck off the head. With a little frantic searching for the part, it was back together in a few hours. What a mess...
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
I usually found the coolant filters when they rusted through and the operator complained after the shift that it smelled bad.
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
I quit putting dates on the filters and only put the hours on. If a machine is for sale the last thing you wanted a potential customer to ask was if the date was a year ago and the hours on the filter are almost the same, why haven't you used the machine. What's really wrong with it? It makes the negotiations get a little sticky.
 
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