Thank you to all who rendered suggestions ... even to the Doomsayers who suggested that the screwdriver and hammer might ultimately have to be the solution. After trying most oil filter wrenches on the market, I found the six inch filter strap wrench by Performance Tool part number W173C.
The tool's concept is to wrap the strap around the filter and then tighten the strap by inserting a 1/2 wrench in the arm of the tool that extends perpendicularly from the the engine block and parallel to the filter ... thus tightening the strap and ultimately turning the filter.
At first I tried using the strap wrench with a 1/2 ratchet wrench with an average length handle and succeeded in only having the strap denting the filter canister ... it did not turn at all. So, it then became war .... I switched out the ratchet for a universal joint bar [so as not to risk damaging the ratchet] and "supplemented" the universal bar with a four foot pipe ... a little pressure on the pipe and victory ... the filter came loose.
The four foot helper was no doubt over kill but is all I had available [it was a bimini pole off the boat.] … but who can argue with success.
I agree that the cause of the stubborn filter probably was not over torqueing but rather was under lubricating the seal. Last oil change, I tried to save time by having the marina do the oil change … the time I gained then, I certainly lost this time around dealing with the resistant oil filter [although I referred to it in stronger language then “resistant” during the hours of fighting with it!!]
Thanks again to all, Brian
