This Sunday (important day to note, as the dealer was closed and no auto parts stores carried an oil filter), I drained and changed the oil. Turns out, the wrong filter was sent and the oil was already out of the car with the new oil in. So, I had to re-use the old filter since the S was needed today.

Based on the angle and location of the filter canister in the block, it appears I can change the filter without losing much if any oil. Can anyone confirm this?

 

Keep in mind that the oil system is a closed loop system. Once you create a path of least resistance for the oil to flow it's going to flow. Personally, I would just do the change over again. And keep a good stock of filters

 

with the engine off the vast majority of the oil drains down to the pan. You should simply follow the same proceedure you use to drain and change the filter when you drain the oil for a change. Crack the can a bit to let in air and the oil trapped in the filter will drain down to the pan. Then remove the can and replace normally. You may still get a little oil spill, but not very much - I usually just put a wad of paper towels under the filter area to catch it.

Check your levels when done of course but I doubt you'll see much of a drop.

I got to try this first hand when I broke the o-ring on the canister when changing the oil, but did not discover this until I was about half way around the brok on a test drive and saw I was leaving a trail of oil behind me
By the time I was back in the garage there was oil everywhere . . . I pulled the can, fortunately I had another filter set and changed out the o-ring - successfully this time; cleaned things up and despite what I would have sworn was half the oil in the car being gone, it was actually down less than 1/2 quart....

Everytime I saw that oil stain in the street and on the garage floor I was reminded to be more careful about my leak check b4 the test drive . . .