Patman
Staff member
I live in an apartment but I drive 15 minutes to my Father’s townhouse and do my oil changes there. I keep my ramps and drain pan in his garage so that I don’t need to lug them back and forth.
Apartment dwellers... where are you doing your oil changes?
- Thread starter e36andy
- Start date
I move from a house to apartment building with assigned spots. I have 2 vehicles neither one has to be lifted to get at oil filter. I extract the oil thru the dip stick with a mighty vac clone, if it’s nice outside a use a jar to get the little bit left thru Fomoto valve. NO MESS.
For the filter… Subaru is on top, so no issue. The Equinox, I use a gallon food bag and place it over the filter. It catches the oil from the filter so nothing hits the ground. Once off I seal the bag…. No mess.
For the filter… Subaru is on top, so no issue. The Equinox, I use a gallon food bag and place it over the filter. It catches the oil from the filter so nothing hits the ground. Once off I seal the bag…. No mess.
When I was younger, I did it in the apartment parking lot at night. I might park it in a less conspicuous place. I tried to stay very tidy with the work. Wind would blow and I’d get sand in my face. On nicer days, I drove out to a field or worksite somewhere, but then the motor was hot and I had to contend with that. If it were me today at my age, I would definitely go with a topside extractor if I just had to do it myself, if the car supports it (my ford wouldn’t). I would also be open to finding a shop that was convenient and friendly, and naturally keep all the receipts, and perhaps inspect as much of the work as I could afterwards. When I was living in an apartment, my car went to the dealer several times for oil changes, and once when I bought a used car and had no schedule I went to a valvoline place and they did ok (they let me witness everything, but I had no filter options), and I’d go back there if I had to.
When I was younger and living in an apartment, I did them on base at the Auto Hobby shop.
With all the cameras these days, I would not chance the apartment complex.
But we have garages around here that rent a lift by the hour. Not cheap, and going to the dealer might be even cheaper for your BMW than renting a lift at that kind of place.
For my car in Colorado, I show up at @wwillson house…
With all the cameras these days, I would not chance the apartment complex.
But we have garages around here that rent a lift by the hour. Not cheap, and going to the dealer might be even cheaper for your BMW than renting a lift at that kind of place.
For my car in Colorado, I show up at @wwillson house…
I don't have a lift, but do have some pretty good ramps.
Ha-A friend's son had the last of 3 Saabs I found for him. (taking a bow)
I innocently offered to help change the oil and do another trannie dump.
Afterwards, while cleaning up, he told me auto maintenance was frowned upon (apartments)!
Muttering to himself, he said, "[blank] 'em".
I replied, "No kid, we're the ones who would've been [blanked] had a good citizen called the cops". <or site management
That was my intro exposure to his anger issues. Alas, he's still that way.
I innocently offered to help change the oil and do another trannie dump.
Afterwards, while cleaning up, he told me auto maintenance was frowned upon (apartments)!
Muttering to himself, he said, "[blank] 'em".
I replied, "No kid, we're the ones who would've been [blanked] had a good citizen called the cops". <or site management
That was my intro exposure to his anger issues. Alas, he's still that way.
Thank you all for the ideas!
Once upon a time ago, I worked as a park ranger.
Jerks with nowhere better to do it, were changing their oil in the park, just draining the old oil onto the ground and paved areas without even trying to catch it in a pan. Unfortunately this was long before there were security cams on the entrances.
Jerks with nowhere better to do it, were changing their oil in the park, just draining the old oil onto the ground and paved areas without even trying to catch it in a pan. Unfortunately this was long before there were security cams on the entrances.
If the filter is up top a fluid extractor is the way to go.
When I lived in apartments they did allow work like that given there are no spills. I'd usually do oil change in car wash area in underground parking as that stall was large but my stall was good enough too. I did timing belt change on my then Jetta in the same car wash stall. Replaced suspension in friends driveway; replaced CV boot and rebuilt CV on the street in front of my apartment building. Times were different then.
When I lived in an apartment, I did it in the parking lot. Work fast, be clean, do it after hours. Nobody complains.
Back in college I would drive my car up on a curb and change it there in the college dorm parking lot. One time Campus PD rolled by probably curious what was going on but they didn’t say anything about it. In my apartment days I’d change it way back in a corner lot away from other cars - never had any complaints.
Not that bad working outside. I put new injectors and cups in my F350 7.3L when it was -10*.
Did the timing belt on my car yesterday, was around 10*
when I had an apartment I would change the oil early on a Sunday morning before anyone woke up . And.. I would park it way in the back lot. Some people probably saw me, but because I was quick and didn't make a mess.. No one cared.
Patman
Staff member
The only problem with that is that it would be difficult to get the proper lighting under there to see what you’re doing. Unless you got one of those bright lights that miners wear on their heads
