much easier ..
remove the oil filter ( and no ..
the engine oil will not run out when you remove the oil filter..
something that people seem to wonder about )

empty the oil filter,
screw it back on.
you've removed a cup or two of oil.

not too hard.
Even less Duh.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rocket J Squirrel" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 8:30 PM
Subject: Strategy for low-mess oil drain.

> (Number 287 In A Continuing Series Of Knucklehead Questions)
>
> I used to change the oil in my aircooled every 1,500 miles. I got so I
> didn't make much of a mess. Unscrewed the drain plug, let it drop onto
> the screen on the used oil catcher, and sat back until the drool of oil
> tapered off to drips.
>
> So after hearing that my oil is likely to run cooler if the oil level is
> between the halfway mark and the "fill" mark on the dipstick (mine's
> halfway between the halfway mark and the "full" mark) I'd like to drain
> a bit of the oil.
>
> But my former strategy won't work here: I have to cram that plug back in
> after dropping only a pint or so.
>
> Do I have to bite the bullet and just reach into the stream and hope to
> get the plug started before too darn much oil has sluiced down my
> sleeve, or is there a smarter way?
>
> Wait, wait -- I can just drain all the oil and then re-fill the thing.
> Duh.
>
>
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel (Jack Elliott)
> '84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> '74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR