ok.. i feel kinda retarded... after 6 hours i couldn't change my oil =/

i realized i hvn't jacked my car up since i lowered it... and my jack doesn't fit anymore =/ had to use the spare...

but i ran into a problem.. after i drained my oil... i went to remove the filter with a oil filter wrench... i used to have a 5sfe camry and i thought i could just reuse the oil filter wrench for that car since it's the same engine... but it turns out it doesn't fit...

i went to 3 stores and none had a oil filter wrench that fit the celica... even the adjustable ones were either too big or too small...

so... i wanna ask... can someone tell me where to find one that works for our filters???

Get the smaller adjustable/strap wrench and put an object like a box wrench or a dowell in between the strap and the filter to take up the slack. Something rubber coated will work good if available. It still can be difficult to get it to fit, but it will work for getting the old filter loose. When installing the new filter you shouldn't need any tools. Screw it on until the gasket contacts the sealing surface and then tighten it an additional (approx) 3/4 turn. You should be able to make the 3/4 turn by hand.

i dont even use the wrench, i can take it off with my hands

use a fat pair of pliers... just be careful not to squeeze too hard and break the filter.

>
if you do break the filter, just make sure you get it off. Either have someone help you get it off, sometimes you just need someone else to give it a try. Worse comes to worse, go somewhere to get the oil changed.

hard to take off filter? Get a long fat screwdriver and drive it though lol.

I use Toyota oil fiters and Castrol GTX 10-30 in my ST.

I have an adjustable oil filter remover and it works for a 4AFE to 5VZFE

I changed the oil 2500 miles after we purchased the Celica since I couldn't get a straight answer from the dealer on when the last change was.
The oil cap on my 5S-FE said 5W-30 and since the cold season was starting I stuck to it with Mobil Clean 5000 5W-30 and a Mobil 1 Oil Filter.
I too found the drain plug way tight and joked to my buddy (who's garage I was using for the change) that Jesus must've been the last person to change the oil since turing with all my strength and yelling "Jesus Christ!" was the only way I got it off.
I don't know if you've got an AutoZone near you but the washer for the drain plug was only $0.49 - their part #129573 / model 366173.
I also tightened the oil filter by hand and dabbed a bit of the new oil on its gasket.
My intrest piques when talking about oil weights though because I've been intending to move up to 10W-30 in the summer and back to 5W-30 in the winter (I plan 5000 mi / 6 month oil change intervals). Would this be a bad move?

EDIT: Fixed some spelling errors.

This post has been edited by 99GTauto: Nov 13, 2006 - 11:19 AM

i think you can stick with 10w-30 year round... cuz your in cali. so you don't really get really cold winters.
but an oil change every 6 months/5000 miles should be sufficient.

Switching to 10W-30 for good on my next change was something else I was considering especially since the missus and I intend to move back down to the San Diego area (her home town) sooner or later.