[zdzielinski]

Hey all,

I'm trying to change my oil for the first time and I've run into an issue.

The oil filter cap is being blocked by a screw and metal fastener, here's a picture.

What can I do about this? I'd rather not take it into a shop.

 

[snowwy66]

You've got your oxygen sensor in the pic. I don't see the oil cap though.

 

[mechguy78]

Hey all,

I'm trying to change my oil for the first time and I've run into an issue.

The oil filter cap is being blocked by a screw and metal fastener, here's a picture.

What can I do about this? I'd rather not take it into a shop.

Looks like someone has changed the hose clamp on the radiator hose to a worm gear style clamp (lower hose in picture) and positioned it in the way of the oil filter. I would loosen it enough so you can reposition it to make filter replacement possible.

 

[carbon02]

Being it's your first oil change, you might want to pick up a U-Joint and an extension to get to the cap. I use a standard 24mm socket--> 1/2 to 3/8" adapter--> u-joint --> 3 to 6 inch extension--> 3/8 inch ratchet..

It looks intimidating for the first time, but it's not all that bad to get to. You could take a dremel or a metal snips and snip that hose clamp excess length a little shorter. Place some electrical tape on the sharp edge. I think that would cut up the back of my hand the way I reach down to remove the cap.

 

[Taxman]

Being it's your first oil change, you might want to pick up a U-Joint and an extension to get to the cap. I use a standard 24mm socket--> 1/2 to 3/8" adapter--> u-joint --> 3 to 6 inch extension--> 3/8 inch ratchet..

The 1.4 used a 24mm instead of the 32mm used on the 2.2 Ecotec?

It's not easy to get a full sized 32mm socket on the 2.2, so I bought Lisle's lopro 3/8 drive socket for my mom's 2004 Malibu. Still use it on my Ion.
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-14700-Filter-Socket-Ecotec/dp/B0009OMYAQ

They make it in 24mm too:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0041DODDC/ref=dp_olp_new_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=new

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Looks like someone replaced the hose clamp that was on the water outlet toward the bottom with a worm drive clamp. That's not good. You need to put the original clamp back on.

 

[carbon02]

The 1.4 used a 24mm instead of the 32mm used on the 2.2 Ecotec?

It's not easy to get a full sized 32mm socket on the 2.2, so I bought Lisle's lopro 3/8 drive socket for my mom's 2004 Malibu. Still use it on my Ion.
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-14700-Filter-Socket-Ecotec/dp/B0009OMYAQ

They make it in 24mm too:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0041DODDC/ref=dp_olp_new_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=new

Thanks for the links.. Yes the 1.4L is 24mm. You can get a 24mm full socket down there, but most 24mm are 1/2" drive. So if your having to buy both the socket and the adapter, it's probably cheaper to go with what Taxman posted. You might have a problem using 1/2" extensions and 1/2" u-joints. There's room, but not that much room.

My impact socket set has 24mm and an adapter so I use that.

I actually like the cartridge oil filters, but it seems like it's a European design thing. Since the GEN1 Cruze came from Opel engines it has a lot of German automotive influence. Hengst is a European manufacturer of the oil filter cooler assembly.

 

[carbon02]

Looks like someone replaced the hose clamp that was on the water outlet toward the bottom with a worm drive clamp. That's not good. You need to put the original clamp back on.

Guessing this owner may not have the original clamp. Typically GM OEM hoses come with new clamps, are these factory constant pressure clamps available in the aftermarket? Does anyone know?

To the original poster- A screw clamp concentrates more of the pressure at one point, which on a plastic water outlet is not a good thing. It's very possible that the screw clamp might stress the water outlet causing it to crack.

I've seen a lot of youtube video's where people have tried to address coolant leaks by replacing factory clamps with screw clamps. Ideally not a great idea. Factory clamps should last the life of the vehicle. I don't think the engine compartment even as hot as it is, would be hot enough for those factory spring clamps to loose tension.

The problem becomes, once they are thrown away, I've never seen anyone carry them individually.

 

[Taxman]

Guessing this owner may not have the original clamp. Typically GM OEM hoses come with new clamps, are these factory constant pressure clamps available in the aftermarket? Does anyone know?

IMO, the biggest problem with worm gear clamps is that people over tighten them.
OP can probably loosen the one he has and rotate it out of the way.

You want wire spring clamps or constant tension band clamps?
The nice thing about band clamps is they tend to come with a clip over the legs holding them wide open, so you just slide them in place and yank the clip off with a pair of pliers.
(Don't buy the ones I linked assuming they're the right size, I just picked those at random)


https://www.zoro.com/zoro-select-hose-clamp-lcs-dia-42mm-x-19mm-pk10-ctb-42st-fk/i/G1356774/

https://www.zoro.com/zoro-select-hose-clamp-dia-1875x-0177-ylw-pk25-hc-30st-zd/i/G1677155/

 

[mechguy78]

I have been using a shallow 15/16 6 point socket with swivel and 12” extension all in 1/2” drive for the filter cap.

Ill have to look into the lisle socket for the 1.4 as it worked great for when I had the 2.2.