I'm using MyCarfax, it does all I need, and it's free. I manually enter my DIY maintenance tasks, but when I take it to the dealer for service it shows up automatically. It reminds me when it's time to do something, and I can quickly check how much time is left before something is needed.
But I'm curious, maybe there is something better out there?

 

I use the same system I have been using since late 1974 - the maintenance schedule printed in the vehicle's owners manual and a manila folder containing all service records in chronological order that stays in one of my home office file cabinets. I am primarily a DIY maintenance/service guy and whenever I do maintenance or repairs to any of our vehicles, I document the service on a sheet of paper with the date and mileage, staple any pertinent parts receipts to it, and that document goes into that vehicle's manila folder. It ain't rocket science but it certainly works for me. Whenever I decide to sell one of our vehicles, that vehicle's manila folder goes along with it to the buyer. Over the decades, that manila folder has proven to be the clincher for just about all of the vehicles I have sold. It proves that each and every vehicle was properly cared for.

 

lexus.com/owners has a similar service. Many of us in the SC430 forum use it.

 

I use the Lexus drivers website so that my work and the dealer's work is in one place on the cloud.
https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/

 

I change the oil & filter every 6,000 miles, clean the air filter & cabin filter when they look dirty. Change the spark plugs once before specified in the manual. Replace brake pads when needed. It's a lexus, doesn't need much. I did change the 8-speed trans fluid early. I can't work on that & I'm sure it's expensive.

 

I just use the car's built-in maintenance indicators. Air filters get checked at every oil changed and replaced if necessary, which typically works out to every other oil change. Tire rotations are unnecessary since both cars have separate summer and winter sets; and impossible on my car since the summer set is staggered.

For my father-in-law's car, which only gets driven maybe 4k miles/year, I change his oil every May.

 

 

On all of my cars, I change the oil once a year when license tabs are due. Easy to remember.

 

I am just using a spreadsheet in Google Sheets right now. In theory I want to use MyCarFax as well. I relied on CarFax a lot when car shopping so seems like the nice thing to do.

 

I run an app on my Kindle called "Car Maintenance Reminder." I allows you to track many different kinds of maintenance (oil change, brake fluid change, transmission fluid change, tires,etc) and lets you know when maintenance is due. It is easy to use and allows you to track multiple cars.

 

And bad for the engine.

 

What do you mean by this? What's bad for the engine?

 

Me too! I have a separate book for each vehicle. I use the first few pages to document useful info like: VIN, type/capacity of oil, tire pressure, wheel lug torque spec, etc. I use the last few pages for common part numbers like, filters, plugs, etc. I use all the other pages for maintenance and repair logging.

 

If you're talking about the once-a-year oil change, it all depends on mileage and driving style. It is probably fine unless JDR76 is taking his cars to the track on weekends.

 

I do one-year oil changes on my vehicles that turn less than 5K miles/yr. However, I use premium oils and filters, always get my vehicles to normal operating temp before shutting them off (no moving cars around in the driveway), and stay on top of all other maintenance by the book. Other than that, I drive um like I stole um!