I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to fit it,
the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about 3"). I emailed
the supplier who said that the one posted to me is correct according to
their database, and that manufacturers were now making them shorter to cut
costs. I can't say I'm completely convinced, but what is the opinion here?
Maybe the one on the car is incorrect? I don't want to take it off and try
it, because I'm pretty sure the old one is not coming off in one piece, so
I'm not expecting to be able to put it back.

Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to fit
it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about 3"). I
emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is correct
according to their database, and that manufacturers were now making
them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely convinced, but
what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car is incorrect? I
don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm pretty sure the old
one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not expecting to be able
to put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil filters have
the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are fatter or longer so
there is a degree of interchaneability. It is likely that the incorrect one
has been fitted to your engine before, since the short filter has been
standard on that engine since it was brought in.
Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed latest version)
one for your engine and they are not expensive.

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to fit
it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about 3"). I
emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is correct
according to their database, and that manufacturers were now making
them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely convinced, but
what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car is incorrect? I
don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm pretty sure the old
one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not expecting to be able
to put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil filters have
the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are fatter or longer so
there is a degree of interchaneability. It is likely that the incorrect
one has been fitted to your engine before, since the short filter has been
standard on that engine since it was brought in.
Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed latest
version) one for your engine and they are not expensive.

Thanks for the quick reply - I feel happier now. My Haynes manual says that
there is a cover over the oil filter, so maybe I'm looking at that. But
since it has white writing printed all over it, it does look more like the
actual filter. Have you ever used one of those oil filter removers with
three legs pointing forward? I've already twisted one wrench on this thing
(it is so stiff and awkwardly placed) so I'm going to have to get something
new. The three-legged thing looks interesting.

Georg von Krapp wrote:
"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to
fit it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about
3"). I emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is
correct according to their database, and that manufacturers were
now making them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely
convinced, but what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car
is incorrect? I don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm
pretty sure the old one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not
expecting to be able to put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil
filters have the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are
fatter or longer so there is a degree of interchaneability. It is
likely that the incorrect one has been fitted to your engine before,
since the short filter has been standard on that engine since it was
brought in. Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed
latest
version) one for your engine and they are not expensive.

Thanks for the quick reply - I feel happier now. My Haynes manual
says that there is a cover over the oil filter, so maybe I'm looking
at that. But since it has white writing printed all over it, it does
look more like the actual filter. Have you ever used one of those
oil filter removers with three legs pointing forward? I've already
twisted one wrench on this thing (it is so stiff and awkwardly
placed) so I'm going to have to get something new. The three-legged
thing looks interesting.

The three leg type is one of the best for problem filters, I find it is best
to put a strong rubber band around the outside of the three legged remover,
this stops it flopping about while you get it into position and get the
ratchet handle on.
99 per cent of filters I take off with oil filter pliers, the remainder with
a three legged twister, a strap wrench, dedicated oil filter sockets, a
chain wrench and on
rare occasions even used a large jubilee clip levered with a bar. Once it
moves a few millimetres it will be just hand tight.

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to
fit it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about
3"). I emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is
correct according to their database, and that manufacturers were
now making them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely
convinced, but what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car
is incorrect? I don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm
pretty sure the old one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not
expecting to be able to put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil
filters have the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are
fatter or longer so there is a degree of interchaneability. It is
likely that the incorrect one has been fitted to your engine before,
since the short filter has been standard on that engine since it was
brought in. Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed
latest
version) one for your engine and they are not expensive.

Thanks for the quick reply - I feel happier now. My Haynes manual
says that there is a cover over the oil filter, so maybe I'm looking
at that. But since it has white writing printed all over it, it does
look more like the actual filter. Have you ever used one of those
oil filter removers with three legs pointing forward? I've already
twisted one wrench on this thing (it is so stiff and awkwardly
placed) so I'm going to have to get something new. The three-legged
thing looks interesting.

The three leg type is one of the best for problem filters, I find it is
best
to put a strong rubber band around the outside of the three legged
remover,
this stops it flopping about while you get it into position and get the
ratchet handle on.
99 per cent of filters I take off with oil filter pliers, the remainder
with
a three legged twister, a strap wrench, dedicated oil filter sockets, a
chain wrench and on
rare occasions even used a large jubilee clip levered with a bar. Once it
moves a few millimetres it will be just hand tight.

Thanks for the excellent advice. I've removed oil filters before, but this
one is really solid, and doesn't have much free space around it.

On Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:44:57 +0100, Georg von Krapp wrote:

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to fit
it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about 3"). I
emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is correct
according to their database, and that manufacturers were now making
them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely convinced, but
what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car is incorrect? I
don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm pretty sure the old
one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not expecting to be able to
put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil filters
have the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are fatter or
longer so there is a degree of interchaneability. It is likely that
the incorrect one has been fitted to your engine before, since the
short filter has been standard on that engine since it was brought in.
Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed latest
version) one for your engine and they are not expensive.

Thanks for the quick reply - I feel happier now. My Haynes manual says
that there is a cover over the oil filter, so maybe I'm looking at that.
But since it has white writing printed all over it, it does look more
like the actual filter. Have you ever used one of those oil filter
removers with three legs pointing forward? I've already twisted one
wrench on this thing (it is so stiff and awkwardly placed) so I'm going
to have to get something new. The three-legged thing looks interesting.

I use these. Cheap, and haven't failed me yet.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GOODYEAR-T...-FILTER-PLIER-
PLIERS-WRENCH-REMOVAL-TOOL-HEAVY-/110874575859#ht_1097wt_1037

No, I don't know the seller, or care who they are. It's the first link
that came up that are the same ones as mine..





--
Mike P

"Mike P" wrote in message ...
On Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:44:57 +0100, Georg von Krapp wrote:

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to fit
it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about 3"). I
emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is correct
according to their database, and that manufacturers were now making
them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely convinced, but
what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car is incorrect? I
don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm pretty sure the old
one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not expecting to be able to
put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil filters
have the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are fatter or
longer so there is a degree of interchaneability. It is likely that
the incorrect one has been fitted to your engine before, since the
short filter has been standard on that engine since it was brought in.
Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed latest
version) one for your engine and they are not expensive.

Thanks for the quick reply - I feel happier now. My Haynes manual says
that there is a cover over the oil filter, so maybe I'm looking at that.
But since it has white writing printed all over it, it does look more
like the actual filter. Have you ever used one of those oil filter
removers with three legs pointing forward? I've already twisted one
wrench on this thing (it is so stiff and awkwardly placed) so I'm going
to have to get something new. The three-legged thing looks interesting.

I use these. Cheap, and haven't failed me yet.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GOODYEAR-T...-FILTER-PLIER-
PLIERS-WRENCH-REMOVAL-TOOL-HEAVY-/110874575859#ht_1097wt_1037

No, I don't know the seller, or care who they are. It's the first link
that came up that are the same ones as mine..

Thanks for that, but I've already tried (and wrecked) something similar. If
my filter wasn't so stiff, it might have worked, and even if I persevered,
and eventually moved it, there's a good chance that I'm going to push the
handle straight through the radiator. I like the idea of the three-legged
thing because (I think) I can use a socket set extension bar to get well
away from the area before I start levering on it.

"Mike P" wrote in message ...
On Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:44:57 +0100, Georg von Krapp wrote:

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to fit
it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about 3"). I
emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is correct
according to their database, and that manufacturers were now making
them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely convinced, but
what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car is incorrect? I
don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm pretty sure the old
one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not expecting to be able to
put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil filters
have the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are fatter or
longer so there is a degree of interchaneability. It is likely that
the incorrect one has been fitted to your engine before, since the
short filter has been standard on that engine since it was brought in.
Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed latest
version) one for your engine and they are not expensive.

Thanks for the quick reply - I feel happier now. My Haynes manual says
that there is a cover over the oil filter, so maybe I'm looking at that.
But since it has white writing printed all over it, it does look more
like the actual filter. Have you ever used one of those oil filter
removers with three legs pointing forward? I've already twisted one
wrench on this thing (it is so stiff and awkwardly placed) so I'm going
to have to get something new. The three-legged thing looks interesting.

I use these. Cheap, and haven't failed me yet.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GOODYEAR-T...-FILTER-PLIER-
PLIERS-WRENCH-REMOVAL-TOOL-HEAVY-/110874575859#ht_1097wt_1037

No, I don't know the seller, or care who they are. It's the first link
that came up that are the same ones as mine..


That's what I use. Mine was £1.99 from one of the cheap crap shops, and as a
bonus it opened wide enough (just) to undo the big fat canister on the Ford
cargo I had at the time. Well worth what I paid for it.

Steve

"Georg von Krapp" wrote in message
. uk...
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to fit it,
the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about 3"). I emailed
the supplier who said that the one posted to me is correct according to
their database, and that manufacturers were now making them shorter to cut
costs. I can't say I'm completely convinced, but what is the opinion here?
Maybe the one on the car is incorrect? I don't want to take it off and try
it, because I'm pretty sure the old one is not coming off in one piece, so
I'm not expecting to be able to put it back.

Well, to anyone who's interested, the three-legged thing was just stunning
at removing the filter from the Fiesta. It's a long time since I bought
anything that worked so well.

Mrcheerful wrote:
Georg von Krapp wrote:
"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
...
Georg von Krapp wrote:
I know. Silly question of the day. Fiesta 2003 1.4 Zetec. I got a
replacement oil filter in the post the other day. When I come to
fit it, the old one is longer (at about 5") than the new one (about
3"). I emailed the supplier who said that the one posted to me is
correct according to their database, and that manufacturers were
now making them shorter to cut costs. I can't say I'm completely
convinced, but what is the opinion here? Maybe the one on the car
is incorrect? I don't want to take it off and try it, because I'm
pretty sure the old one is not coming off in one piece, so I'm not
expecting to be able to put it back.

the standard oil filter is about three inches long. Many oil
filters have the same fitting and seal and internal bits yet are
fatter or longer so there is a degree of interchaneability. It is
likely that the incorrect one has been fitted to your engine before,
since the short filter has been standard on that engine since it was
brought in. Your local Ford dealer will have the correct (and if needed
latest
version) one for your engine and they are not expensive.

Thanks for the quick reply - I feel happier now. My Haynes manual
says that there is a cover over the oil filter, so maybe I'm looking
at that. But since it has white writing printed all over it, it does
look more like the actual filter. Have you ever used one of those
oil filter removers with three legs pointing forward? I've already
twisted one wrench on this thing (it is so stiff and awkwardly
placed) so I'm going to have to get something new. The three-legged
thing looks interesting.

The three leg type is one of the best for problem filters, I find it is best
to put a strong rubber band around the outside of the three legged remover,
this stops it flopping about while you get it into position and get the
ratchet handle on.
99 per cent of filters I take off with oil filter pliers, the remainder with
a three legged twister, a strap wrench, dedicated oil filter sockets, a
chain wrench and on
rare occasions even used a large jubilee clip levered with a bar. Once it
moves a few millimetres it will be just hand tight.





Back in the day, to remove oil filters, I just hammered a screwdriver
through the filter and used that to remove it. Then just did up the new
one by hand. Never had a problem. Is that not so possible now?

--
AC