A few minor suggestions to add to your already fantastic write-up:
- Raise your oil catch pan closer to the drain plug using cinder blocks, wood, etc. to avoid the mess on the driveway. The closer you get it to the drain plug, the less possibility for the oil to miss the catch pan. I learned this one the hard way too.
- Ensure the area around the filter lid is clean before removing the filter. This is to avoid any dirt from falling into the open filter cavity (dirt in the engine) or the area where the o-ring seats (causing an oil leak).
- Have a clean paper shop towel in your other hand when you remove the old filter from the engine to catch the last few drops of oil that always want to spill on the power brake components before you can safely stow the filter in a proper container (I usually use a zip-lock bag).
- Change the o-ring on the filter lid if your filter comes with a new ring (my most recent Fram filter did).
- Clean the oil filter cap and lubricate the o-ring with some of the new oil (just dip your finger in the new oil and wipe it on the o-ring). This will help it to condition the o-ring and help it seal better with the machined surface on the engine block.
- Clean the oil drain plug and lubricate the rubber washer with a drop of new oil as well. This helps keep the rubber in good condition and forms a better seal with the engine oil pan.
Also, your question about filling the oil filter -- SkyVue2 has the right answer. That technique was sometimes recommended for engines with the old metal cannister style filters. I'm not sure of the exact rationale, but probably something like avoiding a possible air block, or maybe ensuring oil gets to the engine faster during the first start-up after the oil change. In any case, filling your Kappa filter with oil would make a big mess. Filling the filter cavity in the engine would just run down into the engine block.
2007 Sky Red-Line, Midnight Blue, Opel GT Antenna, JPM console, visors & elbow pads, GMPP PUpgrade, T-Bolt Clamps, DDM ProBeam/Backbone, 1st DDM Under-Hood LED on a Sky!