How do you guys keep maintenance logs? (1 Viewer)

[OGBeno]

Damit!!! nobody told me I was suppose to right this stuff down.

Victor man...c'mon.....you're a mod. You're supposed to write everything down man!

 

[IdahoDoug]

I also don't like the auto-remind calendars because I prefer to use mileage vs time. Sometimes the truck sits, and sometimes I put 3 months of miles on in a couple weeks. So I could see myself getting annoyed about maintenance notifications coming when the truck either doesn't yet need it, or I've already done it. Plus there's something visceral about looking at my personal log written in my own hand. There's gotta be 17 different pens, pencils and writing styles in there. Also (and this is just between us sickos), sometimes when I'm bored as when sitting and waiting for someone I'll get it from the glove box just look through it and see what I get to do next on the 80. Can't do that if it's on the computer.

DougM (sicko primo)

 

[NaterGator]

Can't do that if it's on the computer.

Never say never...

 

[Ting]

I use Excel too.
Firetruck - I will try car care.

If I ever sell my truck, I like to pass along the info to my new owner.

 

[Lugboot]

Dan, so you keep your fields limited to Date, Service, Mileage, and Notes? Any other columns in the spreadsheet?

Here's a paste from mine:



7/3/2005 New Tires 130960 Dunlop Radial Mud Rover 305/70/16 (5)
7/9/2005 Oil & Filter Chg 131070 Switched To M1 10-30 M1 10/30 90915-20004
9/4/2005 Rotate Tires 132962 2002 Miles, 5tire Rot.
12/6/2005 Oil & Filter Chg 134815 3745 Miles, Added Appx 1.5 Qts M1 10/30 90915-20004
12/10/2005 Rotate Tires 134922 1960 Miles,2nd Rot, 3962 Total Miles On Set
12/10/2005 Inspect Brakes 134922 Fronts Appx 6mm To Backing,rear Ok
12/10/2005 Tb Cooant Leak 134922 Spotted During Rot, Cut Back Inner Hose & Sw To Worm Clamp.
3/7/2006 Rpl Dash Pad 136694 Replaced Cracked Pad And Dash Bulbs
3/17/2006 Pack Ft Whl Brg 136859 Grease Black, Tab Washers Scored Seals,tab Washers, Loc
3/17/2006 Rotate Tires 136859 1937 Miles,3rd Rot, 5899 Total Miles On Set
4/11/2006 Rpl Rear Bk Pads 137249 Rotors At .661 Inch. .630 Is Min. 04466-60020
4/15/2006 Oil & Filter Chg 137298 Early Change,switched To M1 0-40 M1 0/40 90915-20004
5/21/2006 Rotate Tires 139003 2144 Miles,4th Rot,8043 Total Miles On Set
9/1/2006 Rpl Air Filter 140850 Swapped Out Trd Oiled Filter Will Clean 17801-61030
9/1/2006 Rpl Intake Hoses 140850 Replaced All Intake Hoses W/trd Silicone
9/3/2006 Oil & Filter Chg 141070 M1 0/40 90915-20004
9/3/2006 Rotate Tires 141070 2067 Miles, 5th Rot,10110 Total Miles On Set
12/17/2006 Rotate Tires 142964 1894 Miles, 6th Rot, 12004 Total Miles
2/4/2007 Replace Belts 143644 All Belts, Including Blower Belt Set Oem Belts
2/9/2007 Rpl Heater Hose 143700 At Rear Of Return Pipe,also T And Hose To Rear Heater And Core
2/25/2007 Oil & Filter Chg 143910 M1 0/40 90915-20004

 

[zcruiser]

Excel spreadsheet, with a tab for each vehicle, including ones I no longer own. I do not track fuel (too depressing/tedious) but everything else, along with costs. I also separate the costs into 'maintenance' and 'upgrades' so that I can keep track of the amount of money I'm spending on the core vehicle vs. 'bling'. That part is more appropo to my 300ZX, where the cost is about 50/50 vs. the cruiser where the 'bling' factor is very low (e.g., George's LEDs).

Columns are:
Date
Mileage
Service
Vendor (self vs. shop)

I also include lines below the service section of upcoming PMs with mileage markers so I know what's coming up next. Most of it is copied out of the service schedule in the owner's manual.

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Here's a paste from mine:


3/7/2006 Rpl Dash Pad 136694 Replaced Cracked Pad And Dash Bulbs

Dan - How did you crack your dash pad? Was it sun damage?

I keep a log on a spiral bound notebook in the truck and receipts inside in a folder ..... but I'm not as consistent as I should be

 

[Hants]

Excel here. Tab for mileage/fuel, another service/mods done, another service/mod queue.

I keep gas receipts in the center console, and enter them "periodically".

 

[LX_TREME]

This is how mine looks.. for example, The time I bought (3) drive belts I received the stuff I installed it so I know when and how long I had the belts.. but unfortunately I had 10 thick files like the pic shown (All of them from 10 yrs ago -'97 since the LX was virgin )

 

[Romer]

Hmmm, I keep everything in my head. Oil changes like clock work in November and after Moab on all my trucks.

Radiator flush every two years

Tire Rotation every 4 months

Front axle just redone after 35K miles (due to re-gearing) and looked great. Will wait until 60K to touch them again.

Check diffs and Tcase fluid at every oil change and before taking any long trips.

Transmission fluid, Power steering fluid, Brake fluid all just replaced because I felt it was time.

everything else is as it needs to be done or when I feel it is time. I am starting to "feel" that I need to replace my tie rod ends even though there are no issues yet. Maybe even my alternator brushes this summer. The O2 sensors are in consideration even though I replaced one two years ago after a code.

PHH, HG, Starter Contacts, Distributor, Rotor, plugs and wires recently replaced.


Kind of counter to the engineering approach I take when I am researching stuff

 

[e9999]

wow, you guys are into Excel!

me, I just write it longhand on the spot. If I were to have to type it up, it'll get delayed and then I'll forget it all.
So I have a rather big binder where I put all my notes (dates, mileage, details etc) plus anything I download or typed up that I should keep plus receipts etc.
Over 50 pages handwritten already.

 

[Zane]

OK I'm a freak about keeping my paperwork all together. Not only do I keep a spreadsheet of what I have done, but I also have a 3 ring binder of every reciept from when my truck was purchased new organized by year. I will take a pick later... I have also scanned each receipt and burned them to a disk just in case my binder gets lost. This is my "short list" spreadsheet!

 

[cary]

I used to keep a logbook but got tired of logging all the gas stops. Now I just keep a binder with all the receipts and put a service sheet in there when I do work listing the work done and mileage.

 

[e9999]

ah, I do keep a separate little notebook in the glove box just for gas...

good for mpg calcs and business trips...

 

[cruiserdan]

Dan, so you keep your fields limited to Date, Service, Mileage, and Notes? Any other columns in the spreadsheet?

There is a further colunm for additional comments. I use it for listing additional parts or more in depth observations.

Dan - How did you crack your dash pad? Was it sun damage?

Yup, 14 years in the southwest desert sun.

 

[DuManchu]

I use Excel to keep track of maintenance items and mods.

I'm not as meticulous as some on here though.

 

[Mlachica]

Mine is almost identical to CDan's, however on paper and I keep it in the truck. I tried leaving it at home but then I never filled it out. Now that I leave it in the rig, I fill it out as soon as I'm done. I do need to transfer it to an excel file though.

date, miles, maint. done, parts, qty.

I also inlclude modifications in the same book but would like to seperate it when it makes it into excel.

 

[jcarter]

Except for the basics (oil twice a year, tune-up with radiator flush and air filter every two years) I just wait till I hear or smell something, or if it quits.

 

[shanegtr]

I found a program called "cars 1.0", its just a simple electronic log. Google cars 1.0 and you'll find it

 

[KDan]

I use excel too. However, being an accountant I also include costs (except for oil & fluids). Recurring items based on mileage, like fluid changes and tire rotations, are in bold. Then I do occasional mileage notes to keep track of where I am. I need to update it for my Moab trip last weekend when I threw a new P0420 code. Dangit.

Dan