I did my first oil change on my WRX yesterday. I've done countless number of oil changes before, but this was the first for my subie. Anyways, after i put on the oil filter, plug, and oil, I realized that i put on the wrong oil filter. I put on a Purolator # 14160 instead of 14460. So far the car hasn't leaked or anything but I haven't driven it more than a mile and i don't plan on it until i decide what to do.

Can I just replace the filter without draining the oil pan?

thanks for helping out an idiot :)

As long as the filter bracket is higher than the oil pan, you should be able to change it out without making a big freaking mess - just a mess.

Just take the filter off; there is no need to drain the oil. Of course, you will lose what's in the filter. Just buy another quart and top it off after you replace it with the correct filter.

-Charles-

Yup just remove the filter and replace any lost oil.

Agreed, you can just replace the filter and top up the oil.
I've never come across a car where a filter change means an oil drain.

John