Mike Reehs tip of the day.. (hey that rhymes. yeah its pronounced "ray")
 

for the last few months Ive been writing the date (and miles if the vehicle has a working odometer) on routine maintenance items.. like oil filter, and the rotor.. Its really interesting to tear into the cap & rotor and be surprised by the date written right there of the last time you were in there. anyone else do this? On my toyota i write the date & miles on the filter.. on my chevy, the speedo isnt hooked up so I just write the date on the filter/rotor..

i dont know about you but if its been more than a week since I did it, it may as well have been 10 years cuz I cant remember squat. so it really helps me out

comments? suggestions?

mike

I have done that a couple times. Never on the oil filter, because all the leaking oil would just cover it up :)

But your right after a few month I cant remember which month it was that I did that. Wiring the date on the stuff is a good idea. Plus it gives you a better idea of when you should be replacing things.

I do it, its really helpful! I can't seem to remember lots of things since Highschool. Hmmm...

I try to write it on the calendar 3 months from when I have done the oil change. I really never meet the 3,000 miles in that time. So 3 months then time to change the oil. Never have done the other.

Good idea. I never think to do that. Since my truck just goes back and forth to work with me, 3 months comes way before 3000 miles!

That's a good idea. I've half-assed kept a maintenance journal, but it's not much good if you don't keep up with it.

I change my oil as I go down the road.... 1 qt. every other tank of petrol:D. For everything else I keep the receipts in a 3-ring binder so I know the dates/amounts spent. I get my inspection & tags @ the same time & try to do my annual maint right around the same time.

I used to write oil change, filter change, etc. with a Sharpie right on the underside of the hood. That way I see it every time I open the hood. (It helps to have a nice shinny underside on the hood)

sure, wiring the date onto something is a good idea... unless you're doing a frame off :D i can just see my truck rolling down the road with hundreds of little paper tags tied to it and flapping in the breeze.