Sometimes the leverage is necessary. My first time removing my fan, I made my own tool long enough to jam it against the frame rail on the driver's side of the engine bay and use a big (and I mean BIG) wrench to get the fan loose. Sure wanted to use the wrench on the mechanic who tightened the piss out of the fan some 300 miles earlier. After that first time, I've been able to loosen the fan with a light slap on the wrench because I don't tighten it with a pipe wrench. Word to the wise: fans don't come loose on these cars, so don't tighten them other than spinning the fan up as you are threading it on. One good spin and it tightens up perfectly. Just my $.02