Engine hours vs mileage: which should you track?
Track road vehicles by kilometres or miles, and track machines that run without going anywhere by engine hours. Loggy does both: when you add a vehicle you pick kilometres, miles or hours, and every log uses that unit.
Why hours suit some machines
A tractor can run all day in one paddock. A generator has no odometer at all. A boat engine can idle at the dock for an hour and the boat never moves. For machines like these, distance tells you almost nothing, and hours of running are the number that matches the wear.
Cars, utes, trucks and motorcycles are the other way round. They cover ground, so kilometres or miles are the natural count.
Which unit for which machine
| Track by | Typical examples |
|---|---|
| Engine hours | Tractors, excavators, skid steers, ride-on mowers, generators, boat engines, forklifts |
| Kilometres or miles | Cars, utes, vans, trucks, motorcycles, trailers that are towed on the road |
When a machine has both a meter and wheels, follow the meter your manual uses for its service intervals.
How to set it up in Loggy
- Add the machine and choose its type. If yours is not on the list, add it as Other.
- Fill in the make, model, year and currency, then pick Hours as the unit instead of KMs or Miles.
- Log each service with the hour reading, the parts, the cost and any receipts or photos.
Machines are free to add, and so is everything else on the free plan, with no limit on how many you track. Add your first vehicle
Planning the next service
Your machine's manual gives the service interval, often as a number of hours. Loggy keeps the history so you can see when the last service was and what was done. It does not set the interval for you, so check the manual.
Loggy reminders go off on a date you choose, and they can repeat. A simple way to use them for a machine is to work out roughly how many hours you run in a month, turn the manual's interval into a date, and set a repeating reminder for it. Each time you log a service, you can reset the next one from the real reading. Set a service reminder
Try it on your own vehicles. Loggy is free on iOS and Android, with unlimited vehicles and no ads.
Frequently asked questions
Can Loggy track engine hours?
Yes. When you add a machine you choose Hours as its unit, then log each service against the hour reading. It works for tractors, excavators, generators, mowers, boat engines and other equipment.
Can I track a boat by engine hours in Loggy?
Yes. Add the boat, pick Hours as the unit, and log services and repairs with the reading, receipts and photos. A faults list and to-dos keep upcoming jobs in view.
Does Loggy remind me every 100 hours?
Reminders in Loggy are set by date and can repeat. Estimate how long the hours take to run up on your machine, then set a repeating date reminder to match.
Does it cost extra to track machines?
No. Unlimited vehicles and machines are included on the free plan, with no ads.