FALL MAINTENANCE MUSTS: Preparing Your Equipment for Colder Temps

By Joseph Huling, National Service & Training Manager, Takeuchi-US

Whether you love winter or dread it, if you’re in a part of the country where the temps regularly dip below freezing for a few months out of the year, you need to prepare your fleet accordingly—and that goes for machines you’ll be using and those you’ll be storing. 

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A little preventative maintenance in the fall can help avoid costly downtime during the winter months or when you take the machine out of hibernation in the spring. Here are a few tips that will help ensure your equipment is ready when you need it.

• TIP #1: Don’t wait until it gets cold. Prepare your equipment before freezing temperatures become the norm; don't wait for the first major weather event. When to conduct winter prep depends on where you live and when cold weather usually arrives.
• TIP #2: Make sure your machine’s fluids are appropriate for winter. It’s important for your machines to use the proper engine oil, coolant and diesel fuel for anticipated temperatures over the next few months. Your operator’s manual will specify the recommended engine oil viscosity for cold-weather operation. Check the coolant mixture to ensure it provides adequate freeze protection and use #1 diesel fuel or a winter blend to keep fuel from gelling in extreme cold. Inspect the hydraulic oil, because its condition is just as important as maintaining the proper level.

• TIP #3: Inspect your battery. Cold temperatures put additional demands on a machine's starting system, so make sure your battery is in good condition before winter arrives. Inspect it for corrosion, make sure connections are clean and tight, and check cables, terminals, wiring harnesses and other starting components for damage or wear. Consider testing the battery as well; one that performs adequately during warmer months may struggle when temperatures drop and the engine requires more power to start. Replace batteries nearing the end of their useful lives before they become a source of unexpected downtime. 

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• TIP #4: Prepare equipment you won’t be using for storage. Drain water from the fuel tank and fuel/water separator, fill the tank with fresh fuel, verify coolant condition and lubricate all grease points. Disconnect the battery’s negative terminal, and if you’re certain temperatures will drop below freezing during the storage period, remove the battery and store it in a warmer location.
  Retract hydraulic cylinders as much as possible to protect the rods, applying rust inhibitor or grease to any that remain exposed. If the rods can't be fully retracted or protected, start the machine about every 30 days and cycle the hydraulics to coat them with hydraulic oil and help prevent corrosion and pitting.
• TIP #5: Store unused equipment in the right environment. Place it in a dry, dust-free environment whenever possible. If indoor storage isn’t an option, park the machine on wooden planks, cover it with a tarp and avoid placing it in direct sunlight, which can create temperature fluctuations that lead to condensation and corrosion.

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The machines you plan to use through the winter months will need a slightly different maintenance routine as the weather changes. Watch for On Track’s Winter Edition, when I’ll share the daily maintenance practices that can help keep your Takeuchi working reliably in freezing conditions. Until then, stay warm!