1) That's not a bad idea.
2) V-6? I don't know. My '98 4-cyl has a plug on the back of the block, sorta alongside the oil filter. 2001 4-cyl is probably the same.
PS fluid... I judge that by how dirty it looks. I don't believe it's good to leave it in 'forever', but I don't have a good basis for picking an interval.