Review on 🔧 OTC 4568 2.5-5.25" 3-Prong Self-Adjusting Oil Filter Removal Tool by Douglas Cochrane

I can't give this tool 5 stars because it doesn't work the way it is and I can't give it a star because it's well built (e.g. durable). Read on to find out how to get this tool up and running. First, the one I received is not exactly the one in the picture. The lever ends in the picture look more like sandpaper trains, while the one I got just had deep grooves on the levers (and it's not all silver, for what it's worth). That being said I don't think it will matter as the real issue is the angle of the arms in relation to what they are trying to grab, which of course is the oil filter. Now maybe if they sent me the one in the picture it would work straight away but the one I received has arms that aren't at right angles like I think they should be. The levers point slightly inward, meaning the only part of the lever that makes contact with the oil filter is the tip (the extreme end of each lever) and not the sides of the levers where the pull is originally intended . Because only the tips are touching, the filter will slip off if you try to rotate the filter. To close the gap (dead space) between the filter and the sides of the brackets, I taped duct tape to the brackets (because it's thick and spongy) and then covered it with 3M Protector Outer Tape (used on stairs or where you need it) covered traction). I glued it on with a glue gun and now I have a working tool that actually grabs and rotates the oil filter because the tread band is now in contact with the oil filter instead of having dead space. Also, I believe you can buy self-hardening putty (found in the automotive department), apply it to the arms to close the dead space/gap, and then cover that with tread tape. I know it sounds like a lot of work to make this a functional tool, but it's well made and I think it will last a lifetime. However, the manufacturer needs better quality control to ensure the final product meets the specs of the original as I don't see them designing the tool to grab the filter with only the tips of each arm as they place the pull tabs higher than just the tips of each arm. Also, this tool is only for removing and not installing the oil filter if that is not obvious.