How do you guys keep maintenance logs? (2 Viewers)

[IdahoDoug]

I was just going over the maintenance log I keep on both trucks to see what needs to be done before summer towing. I used to kinda know what service was coming up without looking but now I am amazed how the axle repacks, oil changes, diff oil changes and the like just blend in over the years. It was easier when I'd done each of these things once or twice, but now the multiples of these services make it more difficult to recall what was done when. So it got me thinking 'how do other mudders keep track of their vehicles??'

I use a paper log, and it's full of personal notes like "spindle scored slightly on the bottom bearing surface." and "advanced timing 6 degrees - seems fine." etc. Some day one of my kids will look through it.

This business of two 80s makes it even more difficult. I could swear I bled the brakes on the 93 last spring. But it was the 97. Stuff like that. Very confusing.

So, how do you guys track service?

DougM

 

[cruiserdan]

I use Excel.

I have a sheet for fuel and one for service.


As of right now I have 201 service operations logged and 585 fuel stops logged.

 

[cheap 40]

As of right now, I'm still writing in the back of my owner's manual. I expect that will be filled up soon.......

I like Dan's method of a spreadsheet. I'll have to think about that for the future.

Tony

 

[firetruck41]

I did use automotive wolf for a couple of years, it worked well ($30), but I switched computers and it was gone. I am going to try Car Care, it is very similar but a little "prettier", has a free PDA software, though I don't have a PDA. Recently I've just been writing stuff on index cards, and have a word doc with some specifics about some of my mods.

 

[cruiserdan]

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

 

[RavenTai]

just a plain .txt file. I need to get better about putting entries in it, I usually remember oil changes but other stuff rarely makes it in there.


08/12/1996
Vehicle manufactured and shipped to original dealer

09/16/1996
South Carolina Motor Vehicle Dept.
Folly Beach, SC
Title #027079451A
Registration issued or renewed First owner reported

09/16/1996
South Carolina Motor Vehicle Dept.
Folly Beach, SC
Title #02707945A
Registration issued or renewed


10/15/1996
South Carolina Motor Vehicle Dept.
Folly Beach, SC
Registered as corporate lease vehicle

01/14/1998 17,719
Georgia inspection Station
Atlanta, GA
Passed emissions inspection

02/05/1998
Georgia Motor Vehicle Dept.
Atlanta, GA
Title #34085554 Title or registration issued

12/18/1999 44,829
Georgia Inspection Station
Passed emissions inspection

03/10/2001 63,786
Georgia Inspection Station
Passed emissions inspection

03/09/2002 76,983
Georgia Inspection Station
Passed emissions inspection

03/08/2003 91,266
Georgia Inspection Station
Passed emissions inspection

Owner 2
Purchased: 2004
Where: Georgia
Est. miles/year: 22,995/yr
Est. length owned: 2/18/04 - present
(2 yrs. 8 mo.)


02/18/2004
Georgia Motor Vehicle Dept.
Newnan, GA
Title #778533040492027
Title issued or updated
Registration issued or renewed
New owner reported
Loan or lien reported





02-11-04 bought 106,000K

Date ? Miles?
replaced coolant, thermostat, PHH, flushed system.

03-21-04, Birf repack, ~110K?

05-15-04, Miles?
replaced fan clutch

08/16/2004 114,262
Georgia Inspection Station
Passed emissions inspection

9-11-04 116,097
Oil change, Mobil one 15w50 Toyota 20004 filter

Rear rotors date? miles?

Relocated breathers 10-16-04

10-17-04 118,800
front diff delo/havoline
trans M1 ATF
T-case M1 gear
rear diff M1 Gear

10-24-04 119,110
installed PCV oil seperator

11-13-04 120,045
Oil change, 5Qt M1 10w30, 2qt M1 15w50
drained just under 3 teaspoons from oil seperator, some water
Removed running boards


1-20-05 125K
installed dual batteries

3-4-05 126,407
Changed oil M1 0w-40

3-13-05 ~126,800
changed front diff fluid, M1, removed and lubed front driveshaft.

3-17-05 ~127K
Rotated/ballanced (5) Tires

4-17-05 ~128.5K
drain/fill transmission M1 ATF
removed and lubed rear driveshaft

5-1-05 ~129.100
hooked up wire for battery switch LED's
flushed PS system, Castrol Transynd

5-7-05 129.905K

adjusted front wheel bearings

removed PCV catch pan

measured front rotors and pads
both rotors >.003 run out

pad thickness
Left outboard .389
Left inboard .403

Right outboard .406
Right inboard .390


5-20-05 130,778
Added 1 quart M1 0w-40

6-8-05 131,848
checked compression:

about 4:30 pm engine shutdown after hard run on highway AC on

5:06 PM
Ambient temperature 88°
CHT 212°
Start disassembly
(Burn fingers, sweat like a dog leaning over hot engine)

5:25 pm start test
CHT 170°
#1 205
#2 197
#3 205
#4 205
#5 207
#6 207
5:38 pm end of test
CHT 159°

5:45 pm start second round
CHT 154°
#1 206
#2 197
#3 205
5:52 pm end second round
CHT 152°

5:53 pm
battery voltage 12.78 main, 12.90 aux, almost no volt drop

installed new plugs, rotor and cap, wires inspect OK.

6-9-05 131,898
Changed oil, supertech 10w-40 + 16oz of AutoRx nippon filter

6-23-05 132,800
replaced original shocks with bilstein

7-8-05 133,738
Changed oil, supertech 10w-40, nippon filter, (rinse cycle)

8-14-05 135,823
Changed oil, supertech 10w-40 + 20oz of AutoRx nippon filter
no notable effects of A-Rx

09/06/2005 137,097
Georgia Inspection Station
Passed emissions inspection

9-27-05, 138,655
Changed oil, supertech 10w-40 + 2 quarts M1 10w-30

10-30-05 141,422
changed oil, 6qts M1 EP 10w-30, 2 qts 15w-50 M1 EP, Toyota -20004 filter
Front wheel bearings play checks good.
battery has troubles starting, need new battery?

date? miles? added 2 quarts oil, one each mobil one EP 15w-50, 10w-30

1-7-06 146,655,
rear brake pads thin (hit squeal tab), temporaily installed thicker used pads

2-18-06 149,030
1 qt make up 5w-30 Mobil 1 EP

3-11-06 149,855
changed oil, Rotella 5w-40 T-Syn, Toyota 20004 filter

Date? Miles?
added 1 quart Rotella 5w-40 T-Syn
changed rear pads, measured fronts, adjusted parking brake

6-19-06
changed air filter


6-27-06 155,000
changed oil, Mobil 1 15w-50, Toyota 20004 filter

09/22/2006 163,039
GeorgiaInspection Station
Passed emissions inspection

10-28-06 163,498
new O2 sensors
new air intake hose
new EGR VSV & Modulator tested EGR Valve and lines, Tested OK

11-24-06 164,958
Oil cange Mobil 1, 5qt 10w-30 EP, 2 quarts 0w-40, 1 qut 15w-50
front diff, Shell,
transmission drain and fill Mobil 1,
transfer case drain and fill Mobil 1,

03-9-07 170,402
oil change rotella T-syn 5w-40

 

[D'Animal]

I shove all my reciepts in the glove box or arm rest. At the end of the month I put them in a spreadsheet like Cruiser Dan does.



I drive a company vehicle throught the week. I drive my personal vehicles very little.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Dan,

Yer just trying to piss me off with the 20004 entry, aren't ya? Actually Dan, I'm curious how the Dunlops are wearing with that excellent rotation? I'm rotating the tires this weekend so it's on my mind.

 

[OGBeno]

Fuel receipts go into a large accordian style "laywer's folder" with multiple folders inside. Fuel receipts go by month, then at the end of the year, go into a large envelope.

Maintenance goes into a, now, rather large .doc file (160Kbs so far).

Like Doug, I sorta know when things need to get done, but then again, it'snice to be reminded of quality time spent with cruiser.

-o-

 

[OGBeno]

Dan,

Yer just trying to piss me off with the 20004 entry, aren't ya? Actually Dan, I'm curious how the Dunlops are wearing with that excellent rotation? I'm rotating the tires this weekend so it's on my mind.

I've got the same tires as Dan (except in 35's) and they are doing quite nicely--rather impressed with the lack of wear--on a 3000 mile rotation and balance program through Goodyear.

-o-

 

[NaterGator]

Google calender layer!

 

[cruiserdan]

Dan,

Yer just trying to piss me off with the 20004 entry, aren't ya? Actually Dan, I'm curious how the Dunlops are wearing with that excellent rotation? I'm rotating the tires this weekend so it's on my mind.

The tires are doing quoite nicely and I plan to replace them with the same when the time comes.

Re the 90915-20004..........I have sold 500 since December and I have 500 more on the water as we speak.

Get yer billfold out..........

 

[Bluetribal]

A log is easy and could just be put in WORD or EXCEL but I am thinking of creating an EXCEL spread sheet that includes the mileage that you need to next do maint on that particular item. But I have only done oil, Front & Rar Diffs, and Coolent. I am trying to think of what other things I can add to it. Maybe tire rotation. Then I can have it print out in mileage order of what is next.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Interesting you mention quality time. Makes me wonder how much time I've spent either in that vehicle driving it, or doing all the maintenance that same 14 years demands. If I average 36mph (total guess) over that 160,000 miles I've spent 4,444 hours at the wheel. Just guessing I spend another 15 hours a year maintaining it, and voila - 4,654 hours of my life I've been touching my 80!!!! Other than my bed, I don't think there's anything else that comes close. Wow.

DougM

 

[OGBeno]

A log is easy and could just be put in WORD or EXCEL but I am thinking of creating an EXCEL spread sheet that includes the mileage that you need to next do maint on that particular item. But I have only done oil, Front & Rar Diffs, and Coolent. I am trying to think of what other things I can add to it. Maybe tire rotation. Then I can have it print out in mileage order of what is next.

Some other things to add:

1. Tune up
2. Coolant flush/thermostat
3. Clean throttle body
4. Front axle job
5. Rear axle job
6. Grease drive shafts
7. Pull tranny pan down and clean. Refill with nice, new clean tranny fluid
8. Exercise lockers (if you don't use them on a regular basis)
9. Xfer case drain/refill
10. Clean engine bay

Just a few more for ya.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Holy crap. That's 193 days. I've spent over 6 months in contact with the 80 over a 14 year period. That's 3.6% of that time period on average.

DougM

 

[OGBeno]

Interesting you mention quality time. Makes me wonder how much time I've spent either in that vehicle driving it, or doing all the maintenance that same 14 years demands. If I average 36mph (total guess) over that 160,000 miles I've spent 4,444 hours at the wheel. Just guessing I spend another 15 hours a year maintaining it, and voila - 4,654 hours of my life I've been touching my 80!!!! Other than my bed, I don't think there's anything else that comes close. Wow.

DougM

Not to mention all of the time spent here, talking to Dan on the phone when ordering parts, thinking about your cruiser, talking about your cruiser, etc.

 

[NaterGator]

You guys need to get with this Google calenders thing, because it'll automatically remind you you've got upcoming maint. to schedule however far in advance you want... that way those of us who are as forgetful as I am won't neglect to do obscure but necessary maintenence.

 

[OGBeno]

You guys need to get with this Google calenders thing, because it'll automatically remind you you've got upcoming maint. to schedule however far in advance you want... that way those of us who are as forgetful as I am won't neglect to do obscure but necessary maintenence.

Outlook does the same thing. So does a calendar on a cell phone. So does writing notes to yourself and placing them on a cork board. So does writing them on a calendar on a wall.

 

[Biff]

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