Chain Wrench vs Oil Filter Wrench: Uses and Types

A chain wrench wraps a steel chain around a round object, such as a pipe, a large fitting or a fence post, and grips harder the more you turn the handle. An oil filter wrench is made for one job: gripping a filter canister firmly enough to break it loose without crushing it. For most car filters, a cap wrench that fits over the end of the filter is the neatest choice, and band, three-jaw and strap wrenches handle filters whose size you don’t know.

Chain wrench vs oil filter wrench at a glance

	Chain wrench	Oil filter wrench
Grips	Pipe, tube, fittings, round and odd shapes	Oil and fuel filter canisters
How it holds	Chain wrapped round the work, teeth bite as you turn	Cap fits the filter end, or a band, strap or jaws squeeze the can
Size range	Wide; set by chain length	Cap: one filter size. Band, jaws, strap: an adjustable range
Marks the work	Yes, the teeth bite	Cap: no. Band or jaws: little to some
Best for	Plumbing, irrigation, stuck round parts	Oil changes

How a chain wrench works

The chain loops round the work and hooks back onto the jaw at the end of the handle. When you pull the handle, the jaw’s teeth press against the work and the chain tightens, so the grip increases with the force you apply. Pull the other way and it slips, which lets it ratchet in a tight space without being taken off.

Uses:

• Pipe and fittings, especially large diameters or where a pipe wrench won’t open wide enough.
• Round parts with no flats, such as pulleys, couplings and old fittings with rounded edges.
• Tight spots, where you can only swing the handle a little.

The capacity is printed on the tool, usually as the largest pipe size the chain wraps. The teeth leave marks, so wrap polished or plated parts with a rag, or use a strap wrench instead.

Types of oil filter wrench

Type	How it grips	Pros	Cons
Cap (cup) wrench	Fits the fluted end of the filter; turned with a ratchet	Strong, even grip; works in tight spaces	One size per cap; must match the filter
Band wrench	Steel band tightens round the can	Cheap; fits a range	Needs room to swing; can dent the can
Three-jaw wrench	Jaws close on the filter as you turn the ratchet	Adjusts to many sizes; works from the end	Bulky; jaws can slip on smooth cans
Strap wrench	Rubber or nylon strap pulled tight	Won’t scratch; good for plastic housings	Weaker grip on a stuck filter
Plier type	Large curved jaws, like slip-joint pliers	Grips filters of most sizes from the side	Needs side access

A cap wrench is sized by the filter’s outside diameter and its number of flutes; the filter maker’s catalog lists both. If you change oil on several vehicles, an adjustable three-jaw or plier-type wrench covers most of them.

How to remove a stuck oil filter

1. Let the engine cool enough to touch the filter, and put a drain pan under it.
2. Fit the wrench as close to the base of the filter as possible, where the can is strongest.
3. Turn counterclockwise, looking at the filter’s end. Short, firm pulls work better than slowly building force.
4. If a band wrench slips, try a cap or three-jaw wrench, which grip the stiff end of the filter.
5. As a last resort, a screwdriver driven through the can near the base gives leverage, but it’s messy and can tear the can; only do it on the filter itself, never near the engine block’s threads.

When fitting the new filter, wipe a little clean oil on its gasket and tighten it by hand, as the filter maker directs; most say about three quarters of a turn after the gasket touches.

Which one to buy

• Plumbing, irrigation and general round parts: a chain wrench, or a pipe wrench for smaller pipe with flats or threads to grip.
• Oil changes on one car: the cap wrench that fits its filter.
• Oil changes on several vehicles or a small engine: an adjustable three-jaw or plier-type filter wrench.
• Chrome, plastic or soft parts: a strap wrench.

For nuts and bolts with flats, a ratcheting wrench set is faster than any of these, and a torque wrench is the tool when a bolt needs a specific tightness.

Related guides

• Ratcheting Wrench Sets: Are They Worth It?
• Types of Torque Wrenches: Click, Digital and Beam