Does anyone keep a formal maintenance log - recommendation of forms/software
 

I'm sure some people keep a maintenance log for their cars. I would like to start doing this because as the years go by, it gets hard to keep track of things - especially when maintaining several cars.

That said, does anyone have a recommendation for a premade form or software? Just wondering what others are doing before I reinvent the wheel, so to speak.

Thanks......Vern

If you do a search there is a nice excel spread sheet posted somewhere in this forum.

I have been using the following software for at least 5 years:

Car Care Software : Car Maintenance Schedule Software : Vehicle Maintenance Software

I don't know if it is worth the $30 cost (even though I did buy a license) for just one or two cars - a simple spreadsheet would be ok.

I use Excel; Grady likes ring binders

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/198381-personal-car-specific-manual.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/505543-how-do-you-diyers-keep-track-your-service-history.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/228478-maintenance-tracking-software.html


here is a sample Excel workbook for people to use:

https://drive.google.com/?tab=mo&authuser=0#my-drive

I just use Fuelly.com because I track my fillups as well. You can put in maintenance notes as well by date & mileage.

Your Fuelly records can be downloaded to excel.

Excel Spreadsheet for me, color-coded. All receipts scanned into spreadsheet.

Works great!

Doyle

I have mine on Google Drive, I figure the car will outlast any computer, maybe even the software.

I have an excel maintenance tracker I made, that works pretty well. There are some good ideas for improvements in the links provided above. But this, once set up with your service intervals, will alert you for routine maintenance based on date or milage and use color coded formatting (green, yellow, red) to show almost due/over due. Also tracks service and mod cost and some other little stats.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1351597672.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1351597650.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1351597620.jpg

If anybody wants to give it a try, PM me your email and Ill send it to you. You need to know some excel basics to set up your car, but its not hard.

I just use a notebook and a pen... I need something I can keep for years and years and pass on to the next owner. I can also add sketches to the notebook. This is better for me when recording modifications beyond standard maintenance.

Google Drive online spreadsheet is the way to go. It's essentially like Excel but online and sharable. You can access it from any computer with web access so you can update it or refer to it anywhere. Mine has summary fields so I can track costs (not that you want to see that... ;)

I have miles, date of service, notes, links to products, service and parts websites, links to PP for install notes and pictures, and cost (that summarizes so that I know total amount of money spent on the car so far...again that can be scary ;)

I'd use Google Docs/Drive and create your own spreadsheet.

Cheers,

- Craig_D

I do, for sure - I just use a small notebook that I've divided into categories corresponding to the car's systems.

+1 on the notebook. I keep one in each car.

I keep a file folder with all receipts and a written log off all the work that's been done. Easy to access and can be simply thumbed through for a prospective owner.

I guess I should add that I keep a clip board/note book on my workbench, along with a white board so that I can jot down notes. Some do get transferred to the spreadsheet, and others get erased.


- Craig_D

I have a 3 ring binder for both P cars. Easy to jot down what gets done when and miles/ hours etc. For the track car I made up a check list with excel that I use before each event and it's easy to punch holes in any reference docs I want to keep in the binders. I have a file folder with all receipts as well, but I would never want to add them up or share that info with the woman of the house. ;)

Binder.

Dry erase board on wall for multiple cars in a grid block spreadsheet style.

Use an excel spreadsheet with hyperlinks to scans of invoices and a binder with hard copies including the maintenance/upgrade story since I owned her.

I just keep all of my receipts in a manila envelope. One for each car with major details (license plate, registration number, VIN number etc) and notes on the outside of the envelope.

Wow, some of you guys are FANCY! I use an Excel spreadsheet to document date, mileage, work done, and who did it. I also keep all of the paper receipts in a folder as backup. When I purchase a new car with records I punch all of them into Excel, which makes it very easy to search the records at a later date.

I couldn't PM you, as I am new here, but looking for an excel sheet for this exact thing. Can you email a copy: jon.izbicki@gmail.com - thank you so much,Jon