I work at a Jiffy Lube and I have done a lot of oil changes on cartridge filters. I have also tried all the different types of tools for the filters and for the Toyota corolla 1.8L they changed the removable portion of the canister from aluminum like the 3.5L Toyota
v6 to a plastic one which I don't like. Early on I did not have any special filter tools when they first came out because they really weren't available. so I used filter pliers, very dangerous. It would sometimes crack the small extra pieces of plastic but I never had the integrity of the cap damaged. I would never recommend doing the oil change that way. I then tried the really cheap cap removal tool designed for this they are usually black and fit a 3/8 in. drive ratchet in the middle and you will notice that the tool will have several tack welds around the ratchet hole they break very easy especially on the first oil change. For some reason I can not understand why manufacturers, (and this applies to all cars) they either over tighten oil filters or the dry gasket them. So the first time with those plastic filter caps is very dangerous. I again have never had one actually break but I have had to put a lot more force into loosening the filter than I would have liked to. The good filter cup tool is the one
[URL="http://about<b></b>:blank#"]flamedrgn[/URL] has in the picture a wrench or socket fits on it and the longer wrenches give you more of a advantage of leverage. Leverage is everything when your on your back under a car and you have about 6 inches of space to work with. The first one of those we bought still is in use today which has done hundreds of oil changes as where the cheap filter tool would break on the first oil change.
A little advice with canister filters make sure you change out the gaskets and seat them properly or they can leak. do not over tighten them its not necessary. after you add oil start the car up let the oil pressure light turn off, rev the car up to 2500 rpm or so and hold it there for 30 to 60 seconds. then just let the car idol of 3 min or so and check the filter for leaks. if you do it that way I guarantee you will never have a problem with a leaking filter, which is very common with canister filters.
If you have trouble loosening a oil drain plug or taking that filter off a good technique is to put your non-dominant hand around the wrench/ratchet. Then take your dominant hand across your body, make it into a fist and tap the non-dominant hand with the bottom of your fist. use the meaty part of your fist not your fingers that would be painful. if you have the space you can interlock open ended wrenches to give you more leverage.
