This Car Maintenance Bundle contains tracking sheets we use every month. On long overland journeys, it is super important to keep track of maintenance. You want to know what tasks have been done, when, and at what mileage. Back home it is often customary for local mechanics to notify you when your vehicle is due for maintenance (oil top-up, oil change, etc.). Yet on a long journey, it’s up to you to keep track of it and make sure it’s done properly, and with the correct liquids.

On intense overland expeditions, it is wise to use the standard maintenance interval as a minimum and carry out oil changes more often if deemed necessary. Higher temperatures, dusty regions, and water crossings can all impact the quality of your oils for example.

Besides knowing what has to be done when it is wise to read up on local advice too. For example, back home we use 10W40 for our 300tdi engine, but here in Africa, it’s always 15W40 due to the higher temperatures (10W40 isn’t even available in most countries). The same can apply to transfer box and gearbox oils. Read up on what’s locally used, and inquire for advice and trustworthy shops (don’t fully trust all bush mechanics out there). If you do your research beforehand, you can even include the local alternative on your list.

The tire rotation schedule tracks where each tire goes when the rotation is carried out, and also includes notes about tire health. Although not everybody carries out these tire rotations, we like to keep all tires in a similar state of use. By rotating your tires via our schedule you prolong the life of the whole set (using 5 instead of 4 tires) and prevent tires from wearing unevenly due to a change in position. It is generally considered good practice and we like to keep up with it.