Car Maintance Made Easy

There had to be an easier way to keep track of the maintance my vehicle needed and avoid the haggling over whether I needed this, that or the other thing in addition to my oil change. Below you will find some helpful advice that simplified my life and boosted my confidence.

One thing you might already be aware of is that your maintance schedule is most likely going to be "off" from the manufacturer's recommendations. Even though it's "off," you should strive to keep the 12k, 30k, 60k mile, etc... interval on things consistent.

Take a piece of paper and draw columns and rows on it. I found the best way is 1" squares or so. The first section you want to be a bit longer than the rest.

Down the left side of the paper, list things like: oil change, PCV valve, fuel injection cleaning, radiator flush, battery check, tune-up, fuel filter, air conditioner service, transmission, rear differentials, front differentials and transfer case.

You have had your vehicle long enough to know which ones you have done and which ones don't apply. If you aren't sure, grab your owner's manual and look up the maintance schedule. It will give you a good idea of what you will have to have worked on in the future.

The first thing on my list is, "oil change." Next to that in the same box (since it's a bit longer than the rest) I have a reminder of how many miles or months or both they are due. Example: every 3k miles or 3 months. In the first square after that I put down the last time I had the oil changed in the top part and when it's due on the bottom part. Using slashes in between them works too. Example: 12,500/15,500. Do this with each remaining item.

My car maintance lives or dies by this log. I have it folded up with my maintance receipts and kept neatly in my glove compartment. Each oil change I pull it out to see what needs to also be done at that time. I don't have to surf through each receipt to determine that. I simply scan my "grid" for the mileage or close to up coming mileage I am at to decide how many of them need to be done or can wait till next time.

Now, when I take my vehicle in and the staff looks it up on the computer, "Ma'am you need your serpentine belt replaced, a tune-up and a radiator flush. That'll be $350.00."

I can simply respond by taking out my log sheet and verifying that.

"Well, actually, I had the brakes done, (rattled off the details of what I had replaced since I wrote that down too) 17k miles ago, and the radiator flushed 25k miles ago, and (fill in the blank.) Feel free to check them, but they won't need to be replaced. See?"

I show them my log sheet. The last fellow I had work on my car actually thanked me for such detailed records that were easily compiled. He wished more of his customers came that prepared. After the visit was done, I simply marked down what I had done that day under their appropriate columns, the mileage and the mileage it would be due at again. Back in the glove box it goes and wahal!

There's no more haggling over whether or not my air filter really needs to be changed or not. No more second guessing myself and no more distained looks from the shop staff just because I insisted I was right and the computer was wrong.

Car maintance suddenly just got stress free.

Once you have done this for a little bit, you will find you will start "knowing" your vehicle a little bit better than you had in the past. You'll begin to find when you start calling around for services in the area who is trying to swindle or disrespect you just by the conversation you have about your vehicle.

To this day I have local merchants (I am not sure if they think I am dumb just because I am woman or not) quote me things over the phone that I know aren't true or try to sell and "upgrade" me right then and there. I don't use their services if they do those two things or do not listen to me when I tell them I keep detailed records and insist on NOT having a certain service done. I keep calling till I find a down to earth, respectful person along with the right price.

I have the confidence in knowing that my vehicle is running smoothly and safely and that I can easily work with the staff at any place I choose to have my vehicle maintained.

Summary: Make a list and take the few seconds after each vehicle maintance session to properly update it. Keep it in the glove box. Stand your ground if know you have kept the log up to date when you are working with local sales folk.

It might take a little bit of time to set up initially, but once you have this system in place you'll be glad you have it.