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Swapped to a flexible ratcheting wrench for tight oil filters and it saved me 20 minutes
I always fought with socket adapters and universal joints on a 2015 Ford Explorer's oil filter housing. Tried a GearWrench flexible head ratcheting wrench last oil change and it clicked right onto the housing without any swearing. The 30 degree offset let me get just enough rotation against the frame rail. Anyone else found a specific tool that made a common job way less annoying?
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the_max28d ago
Wait, you actually fit a ratcheting wrench on a 2015 Explorer's oil filter housing? I've got a 2016 and I swear the engineers designed that thing to be impossible. I spent an hour last time trying to get a universal joint to hold still. You're telling me a GearWrench just clicked on with no swearing? That's insane. I've got a pile of busted knuckles that say otherwise. Might have to give that a shot next time.
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gavinb9728d ago
Used a stubby flex-head ratcheting wrench on my buddy's 2015 last month and it locked right onto the housing... zero cussing involved, which felt like a miracle after fighting with universals forever.
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hannah_perry24d ago
You mentioned that a GearWrench "clicked right onto the housing without any swearing." That makes me wonder, did you have to do anything special to get that 30 degree offset to line up perfectly against the frame rail? Because I tried a similar flex head on my neighbor's 2017 Explorer and the head kept slipping off because of how tight the clearance is near the passenger side. I ended up going back to a socket with a wobble extension just to get the job done. Maybe the offset angle is different on the 2015 vs the 2017? Just curious if you had to angle the wrench a specific way or if it really was just that easy for you.
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