Anyone have advice on choosing an oil filter wrench for a 2004 F150 New Style, V8 truck? For the last 100,000 miles, I've been using one with a sideways handle, and am sick of skinning my knuckles, and not having any room to work.

What do people use to remove the filter?

Thanks
Rog

 

I just unscrew it by hand and hand tighten. Never had any issue of leakage for 90k miles, but I have pretty good hand strength too.

If access to the filter is difficult because of your setup, you could consider a relocation kit.

 

Use a cup style socket with 10" extension and ratchet. Makes it easy. Get to it from the from, up over the axle.

 

There you go^^

 

I bought one for doing me and my dads trucks, it goes on the end of a racket and uses the system to clamp down on the old filter, i never use on putting the filters on tho but sometimes they tighten up. long extension on it and i have yet to skin my knuckles

 

What are you guys hitting knuckles on?

 

same here...unscrew it by hand and tighten it by hand...done this ever since I started driving...20 years ago...never have had a leakage problem...

 

If you got big hands and try to pull the filter on the 04's you can get into some precarious positions its in a good safe spot but dang its awkward to get to

 

Pull one small bolt on the air cleaner tube and get it out of the way. I then use a K-D pivot handle strap wrench and put a 1 qt. baggie over the filter as soon as it's cracked loose. Unscrew it and catch the oil in the bag. All done from the TOP. I changed it from the bottom the 1st. time and decided that was for masochists. Went to the top and never went back! No skinned knuckles!

 

Add another to the list from taking filter off from the top.

 

Gotcha.. I've never "examined" an 04, I had no idea filter access was a little different from my 07.

 

I don't believe it is. I have an '04 5.4 and I also change my SIL's (she's widowed). It's an '07 5.4 and is exactly like my '04.

 

If that's the case I don't know what's making it so tough to get to.. Fan shroud?

 

You do need a "flex handle" filter wrench to get to it from the top. Well, axctually you don't, there are other kinds of wrenches but I find the flex works well for me. I'm thinking he's tightening it too tight when he installs it. 1st. time is the only one that should have been a "knuckle buster". I always aproach things with a positive outlook and it makes all the difference. It is a little tight (clearance), but very doable.