5 tips to maintain your heavy machinery during summer

The sun is shinning and temperatures are rising here in the Netherlands. This means that summer is just around the corner. And while most of us like summer, heat can damage your heavy machinery seriously when not taken care of properly. To help you out, we have put down 5 tips to beat the heat when it comes to your machines. Following these tips, will save you unnecessary repair costs and improve the longevity of your machine.

1. Check Coolant Regularly

Coolant absorbs excess heat from the engine and cools it through the radiator. This ensures your engine to keep running within the correct operating temperature range. Therefore, coolant is crucial in preventing your machine from overheating. Especially in summer times, it is of high importance that your coolant reservoir is sufficiently filled. As such, operators should check the coolant levels on a daily basis and top it off when necessary. Besides, it is wise to check if the hoses and radiators are intact and do not have any leaks or cracks.

2. Clean Your Machine Properly

Heat causes the soil to dry, creating dusty environments. When your machine is not cleaned properly, dust will eventually build up in the machine. As this blocks the airflow, preventing cool air to come in, this can cause your machine to overheat. Therefore, it is advised to clean your machine on a regular basis. This doesn’t need to take long, cleaning the radiator with an air compressor will take you a long way.

3. Schedule Work Outside Peak Hours

When possible, try to avoid working during peak hours. Such peak hours typically range from 10.00AM to 02.00PM. As the sun is at its strongest during these hours, the engines and radiators of your machines are at the highest likelihood of overheating. Scheduling work outside these hours will not only benefit your machinery, but also your employees. Chances of sun damage and heat strokes are significantly lower during off-peak hours.

4. Shut Down or Switch to Sleep Mode When Not in Use

Probably you won’t be using particular machines all throughout the day. So whenever you do not need that excavator or grader for instance, shut it down or put it into sleep mode. This allows the machine to cool down and prevents it from overheating. And a nice bonus; it will save you on energy costs and the amount of oil needed for your machines.

5. Store Your Machine Outside the Sun

As logical as this may sound, limit exposure of your machines to direct sunlight. Storing or parking your heavy machines inside or in the shade, will protect your machines from the sun’s direct heat. This will significantly lower the likelihood of overheating your machines. While cool and dry storage areas are the ideal choice, storing your machines underneath tarps or trees might also bring you a long way. Try to not only do this after working hours, but also during shorter periods of inactivity like coffee or lunch breaks.

Following these tips will help you avoid down-time and improve the lifespan of your machinery fleet. And if your fleet is not complete yet for summer work, we can help you out. Take a look at our machinery page, we have 150+ machines available directly from stock!