I usually just spin the filter enough for the oil to start pouring around the edges. Just have an oil pan/bucket beneath the filter at that time of course... Once it stops draining around the filter just take it off with your hand. You shouldnt get that much oil on your hand it if you do it that way. I'm usually laying on my back the entire time doing this with my right hand. I guess you could wear rubber gloves too (which I should look into hehe...)

I figured Id post because I changed my oil today too! Car has 2-thousand something miles on it, and about a thousand since the last oil change. The oil was like sludge this time and I know the last thousand miles were very, very hard miles

 

I don't see why you have to remove the front passenger tire to change the oil??!?!? its even easier withouth removing the tire just so you know.

 

^trust me it was way easy. It takes 2 minutes to take your tire off. Its just a cleaner,easier way to do it IMO. Especially if you dont have ramps.

 

I know is says on the oil filter can, "Hand Tighten Only", but the 4g63 engine likes to toss its oil filter with the resulting loss of oil and toasting of the engine. My '03 manual says to tighten the filter to 124 inch pounds and I suspect this is in recogniton of this problem. There have been a lot of engines trashed over the years this way, ask the DSM guys, so you want the filter on there reasonably tight, more so than what you would do on any other car.

 

Even if the filter is 3/4 turned? I usually put a mark on it, and make sure its exactly 3/4 or a little more of a full turn.