I need to purchase the 36mm socket to undo the filter cannister on my 2004 MCS. The sockets specifically intended for this purpose are 6 point. Sears sells a 36 mm socket, but its 12 point. Will it work? Ill-advised? TIA.

 

I used a Craftsman 12 point and didn't have any issues.

 

Buy the cheapest 36mm socket you can find. They are usually too deep so I cut mine down with a hack saw and then cleaned it up with a file. Works great. 6 point or 12 point doesn't matter.

That said search eBay for 36mm socket and you'll have a bunch of very reasonably priced choices all ready short. Get one with a 3/8th rather than 1/2 drive as you'll probably find that easier to get in.

Rich

 

+1. Make sure you have a 1/2" drive ratchet to use with it...I haven't seen any 3/8's drive 36mm up at Sears.

 

Thanks everyone. The Sears socket is relatively short, 1/2" drive. I have ratchets in both 3/8 and 1/2, and adapters if necessary.

 

Autozone, Advance, Pep Boys etc has them..

 

It tends to be too tall with adapters unless you cut it down.:impatient Just give yourself plenty of extra time the first few times until you have the no leak loosen trick down pat and you should be good.

 

If you're referring to the socket...negative. Here in Baton Rouge, Autozone, Advance, O'Reilly, and Pep Boys only had the deepwell 36mm axle nut breaker.

I had to head to Sears and Sears alone. Neither Home Depot nor Lowe's had it either.

- Matt

 

12pt isn't an issue - you're not putting much torque on it.
It will just fit with a 1/2" wrench, but I cut down my Sears socket as well, but with at dremel tool.

 

... and you won't use very much torque putting it on.

... but you might need a breaker bar and some muscle starting to
take it off depending on who put it on last.

 

got the one from Sears too... works fine.

 

I've used to Sears socket for my last 2 oil changes and haven't had any problems

 

I had a 36mm socket from Sears that worked fine on my '06 MCS. It was too long (lack of clearance) on my wife's '05 MCSa. The automatic must shift the engine over about 1/2" to 3/4" to the passenger side compared to the stick. The socket wouldn't clear the plastic well once you started to loosen the cannister. I went to PepBoys and they had a short 36mm socket that worked great. Couldn't find a short 36mm at Sears.

 

On a R50 MC (02 to 06) any standard sized 36mm socket will work just fine. On the R53 MCS (03 to 06), you will need a 36mm shallow socket because there is less clearance behind the filter. I paid about $6-8 for mine at PepBoys. They sockets were shelved right next to the oil filter wrenches, not on the tool and socket isle.

 

I have the Sears 36mm and use it on my 04 MCS. There is not much room with a 1/2" drive, but it fits. I only use it for the first 1/4 turn and then do the rest by hand coming off.
Going back on it takes the socket to turn the filter down with the tight fit, but it is more of a process than needing to tighten the filter.

FWIT, it does not take anything more than hand tight for the filter because the seal is from the o-ring.

 

I bought mine on E-Bay from Evolution Gun Works (one of the best gun smithing companies in the US).