Clamp-On Filter Remover
From time to time we get clever 'Tricks from readers who have had to deal with stubborn oil filters with no wrench and no room to remove them. Jack Hassenbusch of Loveland, Colorado found himself with such a dilemma while changing the oil in his diesel Dodge. To avoid the "screwdriver/-stab mess," Jack tightened a large hose clamp around the reluctant filter and then whacked the clamp's screw head with a BFH in the loosening direction. "Worked like a charm," Jack reports. Thanks for this new spin on an old problem, Jack.
Fire In The Hole?
Here is an old mechanic's trick that some readers might not have heard of. It was brought to our attention by Bart Kauder, who hails from Cascade, Iowa. The next time you are troubleshooting an engine, and are trying to locate a misfiring cylinder or malfunctioning injector, grab a squirt bottle of water or a can of WD40. With the engine running and warm, spray the H2O or WD on the exhaust manifold or header as close to the head as possible. If the cylinder is firing properly, the water or oil will burn off immediately. If the liquid tends to puddle and remain on the manifold for a bit, until the heat from the other cylinders evaporates it, then you have found your dead hole. Thanks for locating this one, Bart.