Oil change · Starter kit
Oil filter wrench
The filter you can spin on by hand is never the one you can spin off. Get the right wrench.
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Where to buy
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Why you need it
- Filters are installed hand-tight but bake on over 5,000 miles. Most need a tool to break loose.
- Cartridge-style filters (common on newer engines) sit in a plastic housing that needs an exact-size cap wrench; the wrong tool cracks the housing.
- A strap or claw wrench covers spin-on filters of any size.
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What to look for
- Match the style to your filter. Spin-on canister: claw, strap or band wrench. Cartridge housing: a cap socket in the exact size.
- Cap-socket sets cover most makes; check the size listed on your vehicle page before buying a single cap.
- Clearance: a 3-jaw claw wrench needs room to swing; a strap works in tight spots.
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Goes with
Oil change
Oil drain pan
Catches the old oil and, if you choose well, carries it to the recycler without a spill.
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Torque wrench
Drain plugs, filter housings and lug nuts all have a spec. This is how you hit it.
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Socket set
Drain plug, splash shield, battery terminals, air box: one set covers nearly every fastener on the car.
Starter kit
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