[Yoshoobaroo]

Are there any rules written black on white in your lease that say you can’t? If not I would do it anyway. I have left in many apartment complexes throughout college and a few years after, and I’ve always done basic maintenance in the parking lot. It’s never been a problem. Usually if there is a rule preventing you from working on your car in the parking lot it’s more meant to keep broken down cars out of the parking lot rather than keep people from changing their oil. Just don’t make a mess on the pavement, but the drain valve helps a lot with that too.

You could get a fumoto drain valve and a set of plastic ramps to speed up the oil changes, that way you can sneak them in your parking lot. I’ve literally changed my oil in <10 mins from start to finish. No tools, just a filter and a jug of new oil.