It does work sometimes
... but after a few incidents with the metal casing of the filter tearing like a tin of corned beef and cutting my hand to shreds I thought it best to get a chain wrench.

All was well until my then current girlfriend had probs with black sludge in her VW Polo. Her Dad had tried to do an oil and filter change and apparently had failed.

So I drove to Oxford to pick the girlfriend up and then down to Salisbury where her car was at her parents.

Linda's Mum and Dad were out, but she had a key.

Apparently her Dad had got stuck removing the filter, so I got the trusty chain wrench out and placed chain around the filter, except I got my fingers caught on huge sharp bits of metal.

Yes my dear Girlfriend's Dad had tried spearing the filter with a screwdriver too!!! I wish he had left a note, warned me or even left the screwdriver in situ! I had no idea the filter was ripped with sharp edges!

I wrapped a bit of cloth over my shredded fingers and my girlfriend then applied several plasters to the multiple wounds.

Just as I returned to the VW there was an amazing car crash noise outside! It was a 4 car pile up! Linda swept the worst of the bumpers and broken lights up whilst I with a heavy duty pair of gloves on finally removed the filter.!

Sleeve full of oil you can get anyway, but spearing the filter can cause nasties!!
( Vambo, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 23:59, 1 reply)

Looks like the boyf got off lightly then!
We send the bangers for servicing these days. Healthier all round.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Sat 23 Jan 2010, 8:00, closed)