When I change my oil filter can I let the car sit over night and the oil drain out the filter without making a mess when I unscrew it or do I need to punch a hole in the oil filter so oil doesn't go everywhere? I just don't want to make a mess I just got it back after spending a ton on it. Seems like if you punch hole in filter like u might take a chance of metal getting in the motor,is my concern with punching hole in the filter. Thanks

 

Just drain the oil from the oil pan. When it runs out just unscrew the oil filter and put the new one on.

Ez pz.

 

If you drain the oil when the engine is cold there will be little to no oil in the filter. Anything that does drip can be cleans up with a rag.

 

^ what they said, I just changed mine, I let the oil pan drain while I did other things (injectors, wheel bearings etc) and when I pulled my oil filter, there wasn't a drop left in the filter

 

Even with the engine warm, it isn't much of a mess.

 

I also wrap a shop towel around the filter base. It usually catches any that may leak out. As others have said I drain the oil first and dilly daly around to let some oil drain back out of the filter before I take it off. You want to change the oil warm while more contaminants are suspended in the oil.

 

I normally poke a couple of holes in the top of the oil filter with a screwdriver to allow the oil to drain from it a few minutes before I remove the filter.

 

Mi 2.

 

Thanks for the info. I got it hot and on ramps. Dropped the plug. Let it drain real good then plugged hole. Put 2 quartz of oil in it so wouldn't be dry then Loosened oil filter so it wouldn't be hard to get off when cold. But not so loose that it might leak. Worked out good next morning. oil filter Didnt leak at all. Thanks for your help