Top 10 Best Oil Filter Wrenches

TEKTON's oil filter pliers are available in 12" and 16" sizes, with the 12" wrench fitting oil filters up to 4.5" in diameter and the 16" wrench designed for oil filters up to 5.5" in diameter. Both wrenches have a three-position slip joint design to make it easy to adjust to the size of the oil filter. They also feature large teeth that are set at a right angle to the jaw, so they'll bite in either direction for a secure grip on the oil filter. The long handles on these wrenches feature soft, nonslip material for a comfortable grip.

TEKTON's oil filter pliers are one of the most popular oil filter wrenches on Amazon, offering extra reach and leverage that other band-style wrenches can't offer. And since they're just pliers, they're easy to use and doesn't require a ratchet or any other tools.

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Boasting a patented 3-jaw design is this oil filter wrench from Neiko. Designed to be an easier way to remove oil filters, this two-way adjustable oil filter wrench will work on most vehicles, accommodating oil filters ranging in size from 2.5" to 4". This easy-to-use oil filter wrench works with any 3/8" or 1/2" drive ratchet or breaker bar, or any 13/16" wrench. It also boasts a low-profile design, allowing you to deal with low clearance areas. Neiko does include a 3/8" to 1/2" conversion socket.

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No list of tools would be complete without a product from Craftsman. You can get a 2-piece wrench set for an affordable price, with the larger wrench dealing with oil filters up to 6.375" in diameter and the smaller wrench handling up to 4" in diameter. Craftsman's oil filter wrenches use a strong, reinforced rubber strap for grip. To use these wrenches, simply strap them around the filter, tighten the strap until it grips securely, and turn.

Each wrench features cushioned plastic handles that make them comfortable to hold. And of course, they're backed by Craftsman's Lifetime Guarantee.

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Ares’ 3-piece adjustable filter wrench is a great way to ensure you’ll never need to hammer a flathead through a filter again. The knurled arms can be adjusted to fit spin-on oil filters from 2-3/4-Inch to 5-1/4-Inch diameters, and just about any wrench you own will fit on the piece thanks to included ⅜ and ½-inch drive adapters. Ares makes a number of variations, but the linked 3-jaw magnetic model is the most versatile, hence its inclusion on the list. Plus, the handy magnetic base will hold the oil filter in the wrench, ensuring you don’t send dirty oil all over the place once the filter is free.

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Motivx Tools offers two different adjustable oil filter wrenches, one designed for filters sized 2.5" to 3.25", while the larger wrench works for filters with diameter 3.15" to 4.15". Both wrenches will remove traditional spin off-style oil filters and should not be used for installing a new filter. They also shouldn't be used on chrome plated oil filters or cartridge-style filters where you have to remove a plastic or metal cap to expose the filter element.

Both wrenches feature a .050" captured spring along with a tooth-style design for better grip and less slip. The top plate is constructed from 3/8" thick solid steel, while the jaws are built from nickel-plated 4130 chromoly steel.

Although the product listings on Amazon state these oil filter wrenches have a 1-year warranty, Motivx Tools actually provides limited lifetime warranties on its oil filter wrenches according to the company's website.

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GEARWRENCH offers 2 different types of oil filter wrenches, a band-type wrench and a strap-type wrench. The band-type wrench fits 3.75" to 4.5" filters and features a wider band for better grip. Designed for high torque requirements, this wrench uses a strong anchor plate to help remove excessively tight filters from your car.

If you prefer a strap wrench, GEARWRENCH's offering handles filters up to 9" in diameter, making it a good option for trucks and tractors. It's made of high strength oil resistant nylon with a forged steel handle that has been chrome plated. It accommodates 1/2" and 3/8" drives.

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The Channellock brand is another popular company with mechanics and it offers 9" long oil filter pliers. Designed to work on most common size car and small engine filters, these pliers have a jaw capacity of 1.75" to 3.5". They combine the strength and reliability of Channellock's iconic Tongue and Groove Plier with the special needs of large PVC and oil filters. The right angle, laser heat-treated teeth provide better grip and durability, while the Permalock fastener eliminates nut and bolt failure.

These pliers use high carbon C1080 steel along with an electronic coating for ultimate rust prevention. They also sport Chanellock's iconic blue handle, which is comfortable to hold and easy to spot among the rest of your tools.

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If you prefer rubber strap wrenches, TuffMan Tools offers a 2-pack at an affordable price. The larger wrench is adjustable up to 6" diameter, while the smaller wrench can be adjusted up to 4" diameter. Each wrench uses adjustable and flexible rubber straps to grip the oil filter and a tight, non-slip grip makes the wrench comfortable to hold. Since these are adjustable strap wrenches, you can even use them on a variety of items around the house, like opening a jar. They can fit on any plastic or PVC fitting and fixtures, which comes in handy since there are two different sized wrenches with each purchase.

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This band-style wrench is a more traditional oil filter wrench. From Lisle, it features a stainless steel band with a permanently bonded textured coating on the handle for gripping power. It works on filters sized 3.5" to 3.875", which means it'll fit most popular 3.625" sized filters. A swivel handle on this oil filter wrench makes it easy to turn in tight spaces—the handle swivels more than 180 degrees and has adjustable tension.

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Our last recommended oil filter wrench comes from OEMTOOLS. Sporting a flashy green finish, this is an adjustable magnetic oil filter wrench with a 3-jaw design. It fits oil filters from 2.4" to 3.6" and includes a 3/8" to 1/2" drive adapter. Spring-loaded legs provide a secure grip on the filter, along with its magnetic base attachment. It's an extremely affordable and versatile option, so long as your filter size is under 3.6".

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I don’t have a filter wrench, what should I use?

We jested about it above, but in a pinch you really can ram a flathead screwdriver into a filter via a hammer. However, this is a last resort. Doing so could damage parts of your filter housing, engine, and oil will surely end up all over the place. If you’ve got a ratchet strap lying around, that may be a better option, and you can sometimes tighten one enough to be used as a wrench in a pinch.

Is hand-tight enough for a new oil filter?

Generally, yes. Good-n-tight will work here, provided you don’t see any oil seeping from the filter housing after starting your car and letting it run for a bit.

Recent Updates:

October 27, 2023: Replaced the Innovant Adjustable 3-Jaw Oil Filter Wrench with the ARES Adjustable Oil Filter Wrench. Added two FAQs.

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