skid steer winter use and maintenance points

Skid Steer Winter Use and Maintenance Points: When operating mechanical equipment during the winter season, the challenges of low temperatures can hinder engine starting, lead to coolant freezing, increased wear and tear on parts, and higher fuel consumption. Therefore, it’s essential for all skid steer users to prioritize preheating procedures in cold weather. This crucial step significantly reduces the risk of equipment failures and enhances the overall lifespan of the machinery.

The Mattson skid steer loader streamlines this process for users. Upon powering up the entire vehicle, the skid steer loader automatically initiates a warming sequence based on the vehicle’s sensor and a preset program. Users simply need to wait for the countdown displayed on the instrument panel to conclude before starting the engine. In cases where the initial start is unsuccessful, turning off the key switch and then switching it back to the vehicle’s power-on position for another preheating cycle is recommended. It’s important to note that the interval between two start attempts should be more than 30 seconds. This user-friendly design not only enhances the convenience of operating in colder temperatures but also contributes to the skid steer loader’s longevity and reliability during winter use.

Before preheating, don’t forget to check your Meilian equipment, carefully check whether the indicators on the instrument panel are normal, whether there is oil leakage and water leakage, and listen to the sound of abnormal vibration of the engine and other components. It’s right to be careful.

After the inspection, first keep the engine running at the lowest speed for 5 minutes, and then increase the speed to the high speed for 5 minutes to fully warm the engine. After that, operate each oil cylinder without load for 5-10 times to fully circulate and heat up the hydraulic oil. At the same time, operate the equipment to turn left and right and walk back and forth for 3 times respectively. When the system temperature rises to 50 ~ 80 degrees, you can start the formal operation.

Timely maintenance, replace it when it’s time

The low temperature in winter will affect the smooth operation of Mattson skid steer. In order to maintain the stable performance of the equipment, all maintenance parts should be replaced. If you can’t bear it for a while, you may pay a greater price.

Use diesel oil with low freezing point and good fluidity: at low temperature, the viscosity of the fuel oil increases and the fluidity becomes poor. Poor atomization is easy to worsen the combustion process of the fuel oil and significantly reduce the power and economy of the engine. Therefore, the fuel with low freezing point should be selected. The general selection principle is that the freezing point of fuel oil is about 5 ℃ lower than the ambient temperature.

Select engine oil with low viscosity: the viscosity of engine oil increases with the decrease of temperature, the fluidity becomes poor and the friction resistance increases, which will make it difficult to start the engine. This adverse effect should be compensated or eliminated by replacing the oil with low viscosity in time.

Replace low-temperature hydraulic oil: replace the hydraulic oil suitable for the local minimum temperature for Mattson skid steer equipment to avoid uncoordinated action caused by low hydraulic oil temperature.

Replace lubricating oil and grease used in winter: in winter, whether it is lubricating oil or grease, select products with low viscosity and low condensation point of base oil, which can produce good lubrication at low air temperature.

Filling antifreeze: when the temperature is too low and the conditions permit, antifreeze can be used. The cooling system should be thoroughly cleaned before use, and antifreeze with good quality and low corrosivity should be selected.

There is no lowest price, only lower price. You get what you pay for. We hope you are looking for the perfect working performance of the equipment, not the low-priced inferior goods. HAMAC only provide our clients with high quality machines. Wish a cooperation with you in the future.