A while back, someone was lamenting the oily mess created when
removing the oil filter on their diesel Vanagon.  I had an idea,
but wanted to wait until I needed a filter change to try it out.
Here's what I did:

Tools required:  strap type oil filter wrench, 2 liter plastic
soda bottle with cap.

1.  Cut the curved bottom off of the soda bottle.  I used a razor
knife.

2.  Cut an additional section (just a little wider than your oil
filter wrench) about 90 degrees around the large end of the
bottle.  This is for the handle of the filter wrench.

3.  Slide the filter wrench to the top (base) of the filter, work
the bottle onto the filter until it encloses the entire filter
and wrench.  Make sure the cap is on the bottle.

4.  There is enough room between the coolant hoses to work the
filter off.  Use the wrench to unscrew the filter.  Grip the
bottle with your hand to keep the filter from tightening when you
reposition the wrench.

I did this yesterday and it worked great!  No more oily mess to
clean off the engine.  The soda bottle has plenty of room for the
half quart or so of oil that leaks out when you loosen the
filter.

Note:  Another list member suggested drilling a hole in the
filter to drain the oil prior to removing the filter.  I tried
this on my wife's Honda (another huge mess when changing oil) and
it didn't work.  Only a few drops of oil came out until I broke
the seal at the filter gasket, then it came out from both ends at
once :(

Mike Snow
1982 Westfalia Diesel
Camp Pendleton, California