how do you keep track of your car maintenance?

[nageov3t]

so, having just bought my first ever new car, I'm thinking that with this car I should really stay on top of keeping track of expenses and maintenance... how do you guys do it?

is there a better way than just keeping a pile of papers in my glovebox? any cellphone apps that replicate offsite in case your phone dies or something? or maybe a google drive spreadsheet? just curious how everyone else does it.

bonus pic of the new car:

 

[dtgoodwin]

Keep the significant documents - major work, and especially warranty work. For regular maintenance and another place to store records is the phone app Gas Cubby. It is obviously a fuel app, but is so much more. You can put in every maintenance item and intervals and it will remind you when they are due, both standard ones, and your own defined. In addition to fuel, you can put in those maintenance items when they are done, and repairs and track the total costs associated with your vehicle. It replicates to the cloud, and if you use the same account, multiple devices (nice if married), can be used to input and track. I know it's an iOS app, not sure about other platforms.

 

[NoCreativity]

I'm a little old school and bare bones. I keep all major records/receipts in a file in my office. I have a mini notebook (3"X5"?) that I keep in the arm rest with three columns; date, description, mileage. Lets me take a quick look to see the last time something was done.

 

[Kelvrick]

I have a giant excel spreadsheet that I log all my gas purchases (I know, a little overboard). Since I also log my current odometer reading, I have a preset maintenance countdown for fluid changes, filters, etc.

 

[halik]

I had a spreadsheet for the 911, but on the new one I gave up. Not enough expenses and too much effort.

We do have a nice expense log for our boat though.

 

[Insomniator]

I keep all documents, even receipts for oil changes, in a file cabinet at home.

I don't even want to add it all up.

 

[boomerang]

The dealer notifies me when all covered service is due based on mileage reports from OnStar. When the lease is over I give it back to them. I don't have to keep or keep track of anything.

 

[NutBucket]

For you, my.subaru.com

That's what I've used for the various Subarus we've had.

 

[Kelvrick]

For you, my.subaru.com

That's what I've used for the various Subarus we've had.

Careful when you change owners though. The history doesn't go with the car.

 

[NutBucket]

Is it odd that when I've sold my cars the prospective buyers never asked about maintenance records? Maybe it's because I try to keep my cars pristine cosmetically so they assume I take care of mechanicals as well?

 

[JulesMaximus]

My car tells me when it is due for service but it calls for oil changes every 5k miles so it is easy to tell when to bring it in just by looking at the odometer. Nice thing is that it warns me in advance too so I start thinking about when to schedule it about a week before the reminder changes from maintenance required soon to maintenance required.

My wife's car does the same thing.

Receipts go in a file in the office.

 

[Remobz]

My car tells me when it is due for service but it calls for oil changes every 5k miles so it is easy to tell when to bring it in just by looking at the odometer. Nice thing is that it warns me in advance too so I start thinking about when to schedule it about a week before the reminder changes from maintenance required soon to maintenance required.

My wife's car does the same thing.

Receipts go in a file in the office.

Never forget that many people don't even drive 3,000 miles a year. Some barely drive 2,000 miles a year.

With that said, I was told to still change your oil every 3 to 4 months.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Never forget that many people don't even drive 3,000 miles a year. Some barely drive 2,000 miles a year.

With that said, I was told to still change your oil every 3 to 4 months.

I drive 5,000 miles in 3 months and my wife puts close to 15k a year on her car so time is never an issue.

If it was I think every 3 months is probably overkill for a car that is garaged. Maybe every 6 months.

 

[Remobz]

I drive 5,000 miles in 3 months and my wife puts close to 15k a year on her car so time is never an issue.

If it was I think every 3 months is probably overkill for a car that is garaged. Maybe every 6 months.

I brought it up because remember that some people like my Aunt just use their cars for short city trips and Sunday drives. For these types, if you tell them to change every 5,000 miles then that could take them over 2 years!! Imagine going 28 weeks with no oil change!

With that said, I was told in high humidity climates with ZERO WINTER one still has to change the oil every 3 months with regular oil and maybe up to 6 months with synthetic oil.

For me, the same applies because I go by months and not mileage because I drive much less than 3,000 miles a year for sure and I cannot imagine not changing oil for over a year.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I brought it up because remember that some people like my Aunt just use their cars for short city trips and Sunday drives. For these types, if you tell them to change every 5,000 miles then that could take them over 2 years!! Imagine going 28 weeks with no oil change!

With that said, I was told in high humidity climates with ZERO WINTER one still has to change the oil every 3 months with regular oil and maybe up to 6 months with synthetic oil.

For me, the same applies because I go by months and not mileage because I drive much less than 3,000 miles a year for sure and I cannot imagine not changing oil for over a year.

I probably change the oil in my bike once a year. I'm not overly worried about it.

 

[mirageracerx]

MSI records shouldnt go in the car. they should go in a filing cabinet. an updated MSI checklist should be put in the glovebox to reduce fluff and multiple papers.

 

[slippysoup]

Spreadsheet in Google drive for me.

 

[rh71]

Evernote, but I also keep the receipts in a drawer.

 

[smackababy]

I keep it in my head, along with important documents in the car. But, I also drive very few miles per year, so it is rather easy to remember a lot of stuff.

 

[pauldun170]

so, having just bought my first ever new car, I'm thinking that with this car I should really stay on top of keeping track of expenses and maintenance... how do you guys do it?

is there a better way than just keeping a pile of papers in my glovebox? any cellphone apps that replicate offsite in case your phone dies or something? or maybe a google drive spreadsheet? just curious how everyone else does it.

bonus pic of the new car:

All receipts kept in file cabinet, each vehicle has its own folder.
In wife's car we maintain a log book that tracks fill-ups and maintenance. (date and mileage along with expense type).

 

[_Rick_]

I change wheels twice a year. Since it's only 10-20 euros to have it done at the local garage, which is about as close as my parking space, I get it done there in the spring, and the yearly maintenance (or every 12k miles? Something like that) is done every year in December, on the car's birthday -- that's also when the winter tires go on, also at the dealership.

Easy to remember the service dates then, and I think I keep the paperwork somewhere around, but crucially there's a little stamp-book, where the dealer checks off the services, which is good enough for the basic service history claim, usually.

 

[LTC8K6]

I use the Jeep owner's web page. It has all the service visits there, and I can add my own services as well, such as when I change the oil myself.

 

[Sattern]

I personally haven't used an expense report in awhile, but when I did I just used one of the many popular online spreadsheets tools to keep myself organized.

 

[bruceb]

I just have a chart in Microsoft Word with these columns:

Mileage / Date Done / Oil Type / Oil Weight / Filter Type .. this tracks oil changes

and another one with
Mileage / Date Done / Other Repairs Discripition
to track the other work. They can be stored in the same word doc file. Easy to update and simple. I do keep all the receipts for major work or for anything that still has a warranty, like a new battery, starter or alternator.

 

[Kaido]

I use Fuelly: (free web-based mileage/cost tracker)

http://www.fuelly.com/

You can add notes to each fillup, so if I do an oil change or have any problems or other noteworthy items, I just throw it in there.

Awesome color btw, and congrats on the new ride!