I have been using the Lancair supplied low profile quick drain attached just above the nose gear hyd. cylinder.  If you install one, confirm clearance with a gear swing, I have about ½ inch.  http://shop.lancair.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=441-0002&CatId={7C36ADDE-A192-4E0B-A841-D6F1C980850D}

My procedure is:

Fly the airplane long enough to get the oil at least 180 degrees for 30 minutes.

Reach thru the nose gear doors, remove the quick drain cap, attach a 24” hose, twist on the quick drain.  (Zero mess)

Remove the upper cowl and put a small hole in the top of the Oil Filter with a sharp punch. 

Allow the hot engine to drain overnight.

Remove the cool and now drained oil filter.  Lube the new filter gasket with Dow release lubricant.

DON’T FORGET TO CLOSE THE QUICK DRAIN (I can’t imagine any of us being that stupid, well.. maybe once) and replace the drain cap.

I leave the new oil bottles in the back of my black pickup bed with the sun on them for about an hour.  They pour a lot faster that way.

Side note:  I show 8 quarts after pouring the last bottle.  Start the engine or fly, let sit overnight and it shows 6.5 quarts on the stick.

About washing the gear or engine down with a solvent gun.  When you do, you are also removing a lot of the grease on the gear retract hinge points and from the wheel bearings. 

Steve Colwell  Legacy RG

PS:  Justin at Lancair just helped me solve a Hyd Cyl/Nose Gear Weldment contact problem with SERVICE BULLETIN SB074-0111.  We need to support Lancair, they are a critical resource for us and good folks to do business with.