Quote Originally Posted by mbeach

I've always installed my oil filter hand-tight plus a quarter turn. For some reason on my old WRX and on both VXs, I can never get it off without a wrench. Why is this? Every other car has been fine. Maybe I've just gotten weaker over the years. Wholly believable, I am getting fatter...
Go to aircraftspruce.com and do a search on DC-4. This is a dow corning dielectric that is used for lots of things but in my case specifically for smearing on the oil filter gasket prior to installing it. Works much better than oil. When it's time to remove the filter it comes off without a wrench.

This stuff is used on aviation oil filters and is specified for use on the side of Champion aviation oil filters.

Gary