Just ran into a disappointing situation. My local Napa - where I usually get my parts because of the ease of having a monthly account - is closing. So, I discovered a few things because of having to find new place to get my maintenance parts. I also wanted to hear you guys' experiences / advice on some things.
First - I am buying my Oil and Oil Filter at Walmart from now on - much cheaper! (They don't have air or fuel filters)
Secondly - I bought a fuel filter (Threaded cap included) at Autozone (they don't carry just the filter insert cartridge) It is completely different than the Napa, Oriley or the Ford ones. I have had trouble in the past with getting the threads on new caps to start and screw in straight - but this Autozone filter would not thread straight no matter what I tried!
Anyway - the top of the cap on the regular filters (Napa / Oriley and Ford) are all the same on the OUTSIDE TOP = having slots across the outside edge for tightening and loosening the cap and filter cartridge. However, there are 2 different types that hold the cartridge in place on the underneath / inner side of the cap. One has 4 snap clips and the other only has 2 - and they work differently. (I'm sure some of you already know a lot of what I am saying and showing here - but bear with me...)
Here is a pic of the Napa / Oriley / Ford lid - outside TOP-
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Here is the Wrench I made myself for tightening and loosening these style of caps- It's just a piece of flat 1/4 inch steel with a 3/4 head bolt welded to it - works geat!
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Here is the under side of the Napa Lid where the cartridge snaps in - it only has the 2 retainer clips-
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Here is the under side of the Oriley lid - it has 4 different type snap clips
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Now - here is the OUTSIDE TOP of the Autozone cap - (Notice the "X" pattern of raised "ribs" for tightening and losening the cap - I ended up breaking one of the "ribs" off when loosening the cap after one of the many cross thread attempts to install it, (I tried to get it to start straight ten or more times!)
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Here is a pic where you can see the broken rib-
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Here is the Wrench I made today for this Autozone style cap - I used square U channel iron and welded the same size bolt to it.
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Now - the cartridge in the Autozone filter - is not meant to come out. It has a threaded nipple that sticks into the cartridge with a plastic nut on the inside of the cartridge. I busted it apart - and found that the Autozone cartridge will NOT work with the other brand caps! It is too small and does NOT snap in.
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I have kept several of my old / used caps over the years (Just in case!) When I get to town again, I plan to see if the Oriley cartridge will snap into the NAPA / Ford caps - if not - the 2 clip cap and the 4 clip cap will take different cartridges - thusly - always having to either buy new caps - or making sure the cartridge bought will fit into one of the caps I already have.
I have noticed over the years that some caps must have had the threads messed up at the factory - because I've had several, from different auto parts stores - just not want to thread on straight. Sometimes I can get upo on the motor and press my weight down on it as I turn and eventually get it to start threading correctly - but what a pain. I like re-using a cap I know works easy.
At Oriley's - here is a pic of the 2 clip style
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2515&ppt=C0023
And here is the 4 clip style
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2515&ppt=C0023
Anyone else have any trouble with these little boogers?
First - I am buying my Oil and Oil Filter at Walmart from now on - much cheaper! (They don't have air or fuel filters)
Secondly - I bought a fuel filter (Threaded cap included) at Autozone (they don't carry just the filter insert cartridge) It is completely different than the Napa, Oriley or the Ford ones. I have had trouble in the past with getting the threads on new caps to start and screw in straight - but this Autozone filter would not thread straight no matter what I tried!
Anyway - the top of the cap on the regular filters (Napa / Oriley and Ford) are all the same on the OUTSIDE TOP = having slots across the outside edge for tightening and loosening the cap and filter cartridge. However, there are 2 different types that hold the cartridge in place on the underneath / inner side of the cap. One has 4 snap clips and the other only has 2 - and they work differently. (I'm sure some of you already know a lot of what I am saying and showing here - but bear with me...)
Here is a pic of the Napa / Oriley / Ford lid - outside TOP-
Here is the Wrench I made myself for tightening and loosening these style of caps- It's just a piece of flat 1/4 inch steel with a 3/4 head bolt welded to it - works geat!
Here is the under side of the Napa Lid where the cartridge snaps in - it only has the 2 retainer clips-
Here is the under side of the Oriley lid - it has 4 different type snap clips
Now - here is the OUTSIDE TOP of the Autozone cap - (Notice the "X" pattern of raised "ribs" for tightening and losening the cap - I ended up breaking one of the "ribs" off when loosening the cap after one of the many cross thread attempts to install it, (I tried to get it to start straight ten or more times!)
Here is a pic where you can see the broken rib-
Here is the Wrench I made today for this Autozone style cap - I used square U channel iron and welded the same size bolt to it.
Now - the cartridge in the Autozone filter - is not meant to come out. It has a threaded nipple that sticks into the cartridge with a plastic nut on the inside of the cartridge. I busted it apart - and found that the Autozone cartridge will NOT work with the other brand caps! It is too small and does NOT snap in.
I have kept several of my old / used caps over the years (Just in case!) When I get to town again, I plan to see if the Oriley cartridge will snap into the NAPA / Ford caps - if not - the 2 clip cap and the 4 clip cap will take different cartridges - thusly - always having to either buy new caps - or making sure the cartridge bought will fit into one of the caps I already have.
I have noticed over the years that some caps must have had the threads messed up at the factory - because I've had several, from different auto parts stores - just not want to thread on straight. Sometimes I can get upo on the motor and press my weight down on it as I turn and eventually get it to start threading correctly - but what a pain. I like re-using a cap I know works easy.
At Oriley's - here is a pic of the 2 clip style
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2515&ppt=C0023
And here is the 4 clip style
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2515&ppt=C0023
Anyone else have any trouble with these little boogers?