I changed my oil but I could not get the old oil filter off. What will this do to my car?

Question

I know you are supposed to change your oil filter every time you change your oil, but I could not get the oil filter off. So, I put clean oil into my car and left the old filter. How long can I drive my car like this? What do I do now?

Answer 1

Did you have the correct tool to remove it? If not, do you have a LONG big screwdriver? If you have a 18" inch long, 1/4" thick huge flatblade screwdriver, you can punch it thru the oil filter with a hammer, then forcibly spin it off. Better make sure you A) have the new filter FIRST, and B) it's Friday night, so you have time to get help if still is a problem (because you'll have TWO holes in your filter, and it'll be stuck ... but usually this trick works, you get tons more leverage with a screwdriver thru it).
I'd not drive it too much longer, but you can probably drive it a few thousand more if you had to. I've driven much many more miles than 3k on an oil filter. NOT a good idea, but you can do it. Just hope the filter doesn't stop up before you change it. BIG problems then!

Answer 2

Well depending on how often you change your oil you could go two oil changes in 3,000 mile intervals with the same filter I have done that before and i did not have a problem although you should not do this on a regualr basis. I do not know what kind of car you have but get a oil filter wrench they make adjustable ones there like big pliers that have teeth that when the handels are pressed together it grabs the filter to remove it or well loosen it enhough to do by hand. The wrench is pretty inexpensive and can be purchased at a local parts store.

Answer 3

A good oil filter wrench is a necessity in this situation. There are those that wrap around the filter, and those that grasp from the end of the filter.

If you use the screwdriver method, be sure and have a pan under the filter first, the oil will drain out of the filter.

You can go through to you next oil change time with the old filter. Just do not go any longer.

Answer 4

I had that same problem with the gasket/o-ring staying on the block. When I started the car I heard a weird noise that I've never heard before, must have been the oil being forced between the two gaskets spewing all of the garage floor. Luckily I was still in the car when I heard it and turned off the car in a panic. Now I always look for the gasket on the old filter before I put in the new one and I always do a spot check before driving off the ramps. Another thing I also do is put a little bit of the new oil on the gasket of the new oil filter. I'm not sure why the gasket got stuck on the block but it's a lesson learned.

Answer 5

Think about it logically for a second. You left about one-half quart of dirty oil in the engine and added at least four to five and a half quarts of clean oil, right? I wouldn't worry about it too much, but remember to have the the filter changed next time you have an oil change done (like in 3,000 miles or three months).

Answer 6

It won't clean your new oil effectively and will recirculate whatever breaks loose from the old element.

I would buy a wrench to get that old filter off, if that doesn't work an old leather belt with a strong buckle should do the trick of space is a concern.
definitely replace the filter and new oil.

Answer 7

must be change soon ok maybe for one oil change if not very dirty, remember after the filter gets so dirty that oil will not be filtered then it will bypass the filter. Same as no filter

Answer 8

don't trip it won't hurt anything.

just buy the filter wrench before your next oil change and change it then.