Tool Review: Channellock 212 Oil Filter Pliers
This simple, inexpensive tool makes oil changes a snap, no matter how hard the guy at Take 5 cranked your oil filter on last time.
Sometimes, tools that you impulse buy with zero expectations are among the best in your box. That’s what happened with these Channellock 212 Oil Filter Pliers. I’m always looking for new ways to get stubborn oil filters off, whether they’re cranked on too tight, in a difficult-to-reach area, or, as is often the case, some combination of both. I’ve used strap wrenches with some success, although those typically require a lot of room to work. I’ve also used those stamped-steel cups that never quite seem to get a grip on the end of the filter. I figured that for about $25, these were worth a try. They were.
Unsurprisingly, these Channellock pliers are the single best oil change companion a guy (or gal) could ask for. I say “unsurprisingly” because I’m a big fan of Channellock stuff. It’s affordable, rugged, and it works. My home toolbox has a drawer filled with a dozen or so other blue-handled Channellock pliers of various types, and I even carry two pairs of their classic tongue and groove pliers at my day job as an electrician. At work or play, Channellock stuff generally gets the job done. Channellock tools aren’t “pretty” tools. The castings aren’t finished to perfection and they aren’t treated with any high-tech coating. It doesn’t matter. Your dad probably has a rusty pair of Channellocks in his tool box, with a buttery-smooth action and teeth that will still gleefully grip anything that refuses to budge on its own.
These oil filter pliers come in two sizes, but given the extendable tongue-and-groove jaw design, you’ll likely be able to handle almost anything with these smaller ones. From tiny Honda/Mazda four cylinder oil filters to the big coffee can-sized monsters on some of my V8s, I’ve always been able to reliably employ these to get the filter off. The sharp teeth dig into the filter without crushing it, and the long, offset handle design makes it easy to get the leverage necessary to twist the filter loose.
Those teeth are important, since you can’t always attack a filter straight on. Recently, I completed my first oil change on my new daily driver, a 2016 Acura ILX, and found that I only had the space to get the jaws on the filter at a 45 degree angle. Surprisingly, the Channellocks worked flawlessly. Like I said, these are a top 10 tool for basic maintenance, and I may even spring for a second set to keep in the house for when my wife wants a jar open and I’m busy playing with cars in the garage.
Channellock 212 Oil Filter Pliers
Price: ★★★★★
Quality: ★★★★
Features: ★★★★
Function: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
Photo: Cam VanDerHorst