Winterizing Heavy Equipment
Winter has arrived and brought cold temperatures...and the need to winterize your heavy equipment. The bitterly cold weather can take its toll on your construction equipment if you don't take the proper precautions. Whether or not you plan on still using your farm equipment this season, you'll need to go through the proper winterization process. We rounded up some simple maintenance tasks you can do yourself. For all other projects, enlist the help of the experts at Burrows Tractor. We proudly serve those in Portland and North Plains, Oregon as well as Kennewick, Ellensburg, Richland, Yakima, and Wenatchee, Washington.
The Owner's Manual
All heavy equipment comes with an owner's manual. While it's a pretty dry read, it does offer you valuable information. While we can provide general tips for construction equipment, it helps to have the insider's scoop on what works best for your given piece of machinery. Consult it to know the specifics on your farm equipment, from the maintenance schedule to the ideal tire pressure.
Maintaining Your Engine
Your engine is the heart and soul of your heavy equipment. Taking proper care will help ensure it runs smoothly and runs for many years. Key areas to focus on are the type of fuel you use, lubrication, and the filtration system. Letting any of these parts fall in less than ideal conditions and you could face costly repairs for your farm equipment.
You'll want to regularly check a few parts of your farm equipment. Are the fuel tank cap and vent working properly? Are there any signs of water or sediment in the fuel? If so, this indicates a problem. Further, leaving it can damage the fuel injection system. Inspect your fuel filter to see if it's the issue. When it's winter time and the temperatures dip, you will want to consider changing to a #1 diesel or quality gasoline mix. Any standard fuel problems your construction equipment faces will only get worse with the plummeting temperatures, so it's wise to use the right fuel for winter.
You'll also want to be proactive about lubricating your engine, changing your oil, and replacing the air filters. Check your owner's manual for the specific timeline for those steps.
Oil and Coolant
It may come as a surprise, but overheating is still a problem in the winter time. Cold temperatures alone won't be able to stop your heavy equipment for overheating. You'll need to still regularly inspect the coolant reservoir and hoses to catch any signs of leakage early on. The ideal amount is always filled to the cap. Coolant also plays an important role in keeping corrosion at bay, lubricating, and inhibiting cavitation. Check your owner's manual to know how often you should replace the coolant fluids.
Engine oil is also important to prevent overheating and to help ensure proper lubrication. You'll want to coordinate your construction equipment oil with the temperature. You'll also want to check the oil during winterization, just like you would with your car engine. Make sure the oil has the right color and viscosity. If it looks off, then it might be time to replace your farm equipment's oil and filter.
The Battery
Your battery helps power your heavy equipment. If you aren't going to be using your construction equipment, you'll want to remove the battery and connect it to a battery tender or a trickle charge. That way, it'll still be ready to use come warmer weather. Make sure you store your farm equipment battery somewhere where they can stay dry and warm!
For all your heavy equipment needs, visit Burrows Tractor. We proudly serve those in Portland and North Plains, Oregon as well as Kennewick, Ellensburg, Richland, Yakima, and Wenatchee, Washington.