Comments on: What was Honda thinking? http://andersonfam.org/2008/11/02/what-was-honda-thinking/ Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:44:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Roy http://andersonfam.org/2008/11/02/what-was-honda-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-21732 Roy Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:30:31 +0000 http://andersonfam.org/?p=492#comment-21732 The Honda Element is the same design. It is ridiculously difficult to remove the filter if you made the mistake of getting an oil change at the dealership. They use OEM Honda filters, which don't fit off-the-shelf filter cap wrenches. They tighten the filter to the point that you have to have the Honda wrench to loosen it. The Honda wrench, conveniently, costs $20, whereas generic filter cap wrenches are $3. Strap wrenches won't work because there just isn't enough clearing to turn a strap wrench. And stabbing it with a screwdriver is also difficult because of the angle at which you will have to stab and the little room to get enough force to pierce deep enough. My theory is that the engineer had had a huge fight with his wife and decided that the rest of the universe needs to pay for his misery. The Honda Element is the same design. It is ridiculously difficult to remove the filter if you made the mistake of getting an oil change at the dealership. They use OEM Honda filters, which don’t fit off-the-shelf filter cap wrenches. They tighten the filter to the point that you have to have the Honda wrench to loosen it. The Honda wrench, conveniently, costs $20, whereas generic filter cap wrenches are $3. Strap wrenches won’t work because there just isn’t enough clearing to turn a strap wrench. And stabbing it with a screwdriver is also difficult because of the angle at which you will have to stab and the little room to get enough force to pierce deep enough.

My theory is that the engineer had had a huge fight with his wife and decided that the rest of the universe needs to pay for his misery.

]]> By: erik http://andersonfam.org/2008/11/02/what-was-honda-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-21684 erik Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:35:38 +0000 http://andersonfam.org/?p=492#comment-21684 Yah, our Caravan is great as well. Both the drain plug and filter are within arm's reach behind the front bumper on the passenger's side. I wouldn't even need to put it on ramps to do a change, but I usually do anyway so I can get under there and do a visual inspection of everything. Yah, our Caravan is great as well. Both the drain plug and filter are within arm’s reach behind the front bumper on the passenger’s side. I wouldn’t even need to put it on ramps to do a change, but I usually do anyway so I can get under there and do a visual inspection of everything.

]]> By: Tim M http://andersonfam.org/2008/11/02/what-was-honda-thinking/comment-page-1/#comment-21683 Tim M Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:37:47 +0000 http://andersonfam.org/?p=492#comment-21683 Wow, that's bad. Our Accord is similar, but it doesn't drip on anything, IIRC. There should be some kind of half-cylinder funnel that you can put under it while unscrewing it. Maybe a half-gallon milk bottle cut in half. Our Silverado's placement is awesome - just did that a few days ago, and it's directly upside down, near the bottom, just behind the skid plate, and doesn't drip on anything. Wow, that’s bad. Our Accord is similar, but it doesn’t drip on anything, IIRC. There should be some kind of half-cylinder funnel that you can put under it while unscrewing it. Maybe a half-gallon milk bottle cut in half.

Our Silverado’s placement is awesome – just did that a few days ago, and it’s directly upside down, near the bottom, just behind the skid plate, and doesn’t drip on anything.

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