I feel your pain, as i too live in a city and park in a "ramped" garage, which makes repairs difficult, but here's my work arounds....

For oil changes get a container that seals so that it can hold the oil for a few days/hours after it's in the container, but MORE IMPORTANTLY get one that fits under the drain plug without raising the car (in other words, you don't want a pan that is more than 5 or 6 inches or so from the ground while laying flat). As the previos poster sugguested, this can be had for $6 or so. What i then do is go to the local Pep Boys (where they take back used oil) and do the oil change in their parking lot, then simply walk in with the used oil to have the recycle and then it's done! This is also handy in case something goes wrong, like the one time i nearly stripped the driain plug, i simply walked inside and bought a new one (who knows what i would have done if i wasn't actually AT the auto parts store). Things to keep in mind when doing this: 1) try to park away from busy areas of the parking lot as to not bother other customers and to avoid your legs getting run over by somebody pulling into the parking space next to you, 2) use a plastic bag around the oil filter when you remove it to avoil oil leaking onto to the pavement, and 3) watch out for the alternator wire when removing the oil filter as it's in a vulnerable position that many of us have accidentally knocked off and then end up with drained batteries (but better you knock it off than some kid at the oil change place). The above, including the container, should cost you less than paying ANY place to do the oil change, and the you don't have to pay for the container the next time you do it.

The other tip is, if your garage is anything like mine, the top floors are often empty of cars AND although the sides of the garage are on angles, the center area is FLAT (only jack your car and use jack stands on FLAT ground). Anyways, i go to the top of the garage when i have bigger work to do so that i'm away from traffic and have a decent work space area. The lighting in the garage sucks, so a good flashlight is also a necessity.

posted by 67.82.15...

• Oil change, Daniel S, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 00:16:53
  • Well, I think you've all convinced me to do my own., Daniel S, Tue, 19 Nov 2002 05:18:47
  • Re: Oil change...Do it yourself :), Wally Kniaz, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 23:27:44
  • Re: Oil change, Mathew Symonds, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 14:14:12
    • Well, since you asked..., Greg Netzner, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 16:57:46
  • The only time I took my Saab to a quicklube ..., jwr, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 12:03:46
  • Getting the feeling that we don't like quicklubes?, Greg Netzner, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 03:19:12
    • Re: Getting the feeling that we don't like quicklubes?, Daniel S, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 08:44:42
      • Re: Tips from another city/urban DIYer, thereuare, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 09:31:29 <-- Viewing This Message
        • you can jack up your car with wood, Rick F., Fri, 15 Nov 2002 10:04:52
  • It is so easy to do it yourself. Just get your fiter, KB88900T, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 02:24:28
  • Re: Oil change, Rob85Turbo, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 00:33:56
    • Re: Oil change, Simon S, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 01:56:56
      • Re: Oil change easy, Sally, Fri, 15 Nov 2002 02:07:47
        • Last time i was at Mr. Lube.>, Ryan B., Fri, 15 Nov 2002 11:30:35

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