Do you suck the oil out to prevent making a mess? Or drain it out and catch most of it but always make a mess. Seems I always make a mess.

When I had a 4 stroke I drained it and had a rag handy,
Johnny

I prefer sucking it out....virtually no mess and just as effective....

I drain it. On my F115, I can tilt the motor all the way up and pull the drain plug without much oil coming out. Then I lower the motor catching the oil in a funnel with hose to a pan. I still usually spill some.

I've also heard of guys threading a pipe fitting on a hose into the drain hole with the motor up. Then you don't even have to deal with the funnel. I might try that this season.

I like that ideal but I thought it was strait thread not tapered, I'm going to order an extra plug to see.I already changed the oil