How to document oil changes

[JustN89]

Excel file with receipts, and pictures of the odo with the materials that match the receipts.

Best receipt is what’s under the valve cover. When they remove it, that should answer the question if I did routine maintenance.

 

[oldcodger]

As long as it is under warranty I would take it to the dealer. When I bought my truck I would buy the oil I wanted and take it to the dealer. I furnished the oil and they furnished the filter and labor. When the warranty ran out I started doing it myself.

 

[nomas]

People get really carried away and take videos , etc. Keep your receipts for oil , filters , etc. and document it on a form or spreadsheet . No reason to overthink it .

 

[wpod]

Write it own and save the receipts. In court if you are under oath then what is said would be the record.

 

[sfbmw]

For every car, I keep a spreadsheet, an online folder with all receipts (scanned and born digital), and a physical folder.

 

[fantastic]

Google Sheets & Docs to save receipts.

 

[D1sc]

I just finished (15 min ago)my first oil change 400 miles on my 24 caddy v6 and took pictures and saved the first gallon in a clean container.I used 5 of 6-5-30 amsoil

and a qt bottle of Lucas synthetic oil,the filter was a royal purple. I will save the receipts and pics hopefully it never sees the dealer.There is so many drain plugs underneath it. I jacked up the front to get it drained but everything is super accessible.I use the considerable section in the owners manual to record everything.

 

[John105]

The short answer is that there is nothing you can do to truly prove oil changes were done; you are not a business and they can always find reasons to doubt your recordkeeping.

But I use an Excel spreadsheet and keep receipts, and cross my fingers.

I agree I use excel but it doesn’t prove anything especially when the mfg wants to find a reason to deny. But other than 4 oil changes, my wife’s purchased new 2011 Enclave has had all the oil changed by me. I have found GMC service to be subpar so I am drawing a line in the sand, taking a stand, and getting my point across to GM by my planning to buy a 2025-26 Chevy Tahoe High Country. Yes I need a spine. I really hope our future L87 has no DFM issues

 

[Wylie6G72]

I was keeping a record in a small spiral notebook in the glove compartment and saving paper receipts, but I've ditched that method in favor of scanning my receipts and will probably create an Excel spreadsheet for oil change mileage and date.

 

[PWMDMD]

I use AUTOsist which allows you to log the information, take pictures of receipts, and it will also time-stamp the entries. Then I sign into the owner's site and log the same info.

 

[nomas]

I just finished (15 min ago)my first oil change 400 miles on my 24 caddy v6 and took pictures and saved the first gallon in a clean container.I used 5 of 6-5-30 amsoil View attachment 224580and a qt bottle of Lucas synthetic oil,the filter was a royal purple. I will save the receipts and pics hopefully it never sees the dealer.There is so many drain plugs underneath it. I jacked up the front to get it drained but everything is super accessible.I use the considerable section in the owners manual to record everything.

A 400 mile oil change .... Well alrighty then . Saved the oil in a jug ? WTFO ?

 

[D1sc]

A 400 mile oil change .... Well alrighty then . Saved the oil in a jug ? WTFO ?

If you don’t understand look at the definition of a break in oil change on a new engine broke in properly.

 

[4WD]

I got in a bit of back and forth at trade in one time bcs I was not “in the system”. He grabs the manager and I show him pictures on my phone with motor oil, gear oil, ATF, air/oil filters (new & used), drained oil etc - most taken on the front of the vehicle along with an odometer shot - he was impressed and the deal was good …

 

[road_rascal]

I've been documenting oil changes with a photo of the filter and oil jug with the hood open, and using whatever photo processing program you use to insert text of the mileage and date, such as this beauty on my dad's daily driver 1987 Saab 9000 Turbo: I then enter all the info on a MS Word document. I then print it and put it in appropriate car folder with all the other receipts.

 

[nomas]

If you don’t understand look at the definition of a break in oil change on a new engine broke in properly.

Who wrote this " definition " ?

 

[D1sc]

The pics have a date on them and if that isn’t good enough,oh well.

 

[D1sc]

Who wrote this " definition " ?

The guy that builds all my LS engines,he uses terms like heat cycles,seating rings and other automotive stuff but do it your way and I’ll keep buying new to avoid the 9999 mi.oil change people.

 

[nomas]

I’ll keep buying new to avoid the 9999 mi.oil change people

Huh ?

 

[Plumb Bob]

Excel and some pictures. That's as far as I go.

 

[awguy]

I buy the filter at the dealer and write the mileage and date right (that I actually did the oil change) on the receipt which goes in a folder. I also cut out the piece of the box that has the part number and write on that too.