I searched, but couldn't find anything (even on google).

I live in an apartment right now and don't have access to a garage. A recent "cock up" with an oil change place with my 97 prelude made me think about something for when I get my s2k in a year or so. How can I change my own oil when I don't have a garage? Are there any chains that allow you to rent a space to work on a car? I saw something about that on Fifth gear a while ago and it made me wonder if there is anything like that in the states?

Thanks

 

why cant you do it at your apts? it wont take more then 30minutes.

 

Friend's garage?
My friends does it all the time in my garage...

 

Do it at your apt. Fairly easy to do and saves some money.

 

oil change takes all of ten minutes.

additionally one of our sponsors sells a quick change drain valve you can use to make it even easier. if you're not lowered you can just slide a pan under the car, pop the hood and reach down to open the valve.

 

Hmm... yeah i guess the only real issue with changing it at the apt is disposing of the used oil.

I do know several home owners and car enthusiasts in my area so, i suppose i could talk them into letting me use their garage in exchange for some beer.

Thanks guys, problem solved!

 

take the used oil and visit your local Autozone...walk right to the back where they have the free oil disposal drums and you're done!

 

Use a Fumoto or Mityvac... There are certainly options even if you live in an apartment complex.

 

A lot of apartment complexes don't allow tenants to work on their cars in the parking lot. I'm not sure if it's a liability issue or what, but it's their property so a good tenant should be respectful. When I was in an apartment, we had rented a garage for one of our cars as well, so I did my work there.

In the case that you don't have a garage (at the apartment or elsewhere) to do the work in, the key is to do the work quickly and without leaving a mess.

Disposing of the oil is EASY. Check around, there are usually drop-off stations nearby (I've got one at my local firehouse less than a mile up the road), and as others have mentioned, most automotive stores take it free as well.

 

unless you live in some nazi apartment complex, a ten minute oil change isnt going to bother anyone...

no one would even know what you were doing unless they came up an asked, all an oil change requires on all but the lowest cars is a popped hood and a low profile catch pan.

i put my new wheels on in my gf's apt parking lot on saturday afternoon. the people that drove by while i was doing it gave me thumbs up for getting rid of those lame ap1s.