[rgrimm]

One of those dirty (literally) secrets that all of us who have "been there, done that" hate to admit.

Try using a flexible tube to syphon some of the oil out. You should be able to work the tube down the filler next (I did have the dip stick out and it was relatively painless to get a quart I needed removed out).

A less dirty mess than taking out a drain plug. But if you to take out a drain plug, remove the sump, not the oil tank...much less oil to catch.