Is winter approaching? Is winter in your area harsh? Does the temperature come below zero Fahrenheit in winter?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then you should prepare your mini excavator for the winter season.
A mini excavator is a popular machine in the world of construction because it can perform a variety of tasks. It can not only make its owner’s life easy but can be a source of side income and business.
But in the winter season, if you do not take care of this machine, it can stop working and can get damaged. It will not only cost you heavily but will also snatch your chance to earn side income in the winter season.
You should winterize your machine so that harsh weather can’t impact its parts. You should take certain steps to ensure that your mini excavator has a long lifespan, and keep working for you.
This compact machine has made your life easy by doing various household and construction tasks which other construction machines can’t perform.
They are cost-effective as they have a long lifespan and are easy to store. They only need a pickup to get delivered to the job site and don’t need any special driver’s license.
So, to keep it cost-effective, you should be cautious when winter approaches. Because not only is your mini excavator in danger, but its attachments are too. They are also costly and can cause you a great loss.
This article contains certain tips which will help you to prepare your mini excavator for the winter season.
Let’s start with the discussion.
Prepare your Mini Excavator for the Winter Season:
- Choose the right oil:
You should choose specific cold-weather engines and hydraulic oils. They are ideal if you are continuously working in weather below zero Fahrenheit.
Usually, synthetic and multigrade oil is best for every type of temperature throughout the year. But, it will not be an ideal one if the weather is continuously below zero.
- Consider winter diesel:
Arctic diesel has a lower freezing point than standard diesel. So, you should use this diesel in your mini excavator in winter.
This diesel also has a better cold filter plugging point which makes it ideal to prepare your mini excavator for the winter season.
If the proper diesel blend is unavailable, consider additives in its place.
“Diesel exhaust fluid” freezes if it remains in weather below 12 degrees for a long time. So, store it in a well-insulated place.
Also, keep the tank 70 per cent filled to avoid any corrosion.
- Fill the fuel tank at the end of the day:
Another important tip for winter is to always fill the tank at the end of each day. It will help you to avoid frozen tanks.
You should clean the water separator tank daily before filling the tank.
Make sure to keep the water tank clean by cleaning debris, water, and sediment.
- Consider the condition of Hydraulic Hoses:
The outer part of hydraulic hoses can crack if they are exposed to cold temperatures for a long time. When they are exposed to salt brine, snow, and ice for a long time, their chrome can crack.
To prepare your mini excavator for winter, you should condition the hoses. For it, operate your mini digger and let the oil temperature reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue it for one hour.
Also, you should steam wash the exterior of your machine to avoid any salt buildup in it.
- Use Engine Block Heaters:
You can use a block heater to fire up your engine to increase the hydraulic oil temperature.
It is the simplest way to speed up the warm-up process of preparing mini excavators for the winter season.
You should block the radiators to restrict cold air.
- Make sure that your batteries are fully charged:
Batteries can lose 50 percent of their strength when the temperature is low. So, to prepare your mini excavator for cold weather, you check the voltage and power of your battery.
If your battery is already weak, consider replacing it before winter comes.
Also, keep your batteries charged and warm in the winter season. It will help them in starting swiftly.
If possible, you should store your batteries indoors at room temperature.
- Inspect your tires:
In the winter season, before starting your mini excavator, you should check your tires at the beginning of every shift. If your tires are properly filled, then you should use your machine.
In the winter, tires lose air quickly so you should be cautious in this regard. You can use dry nitrogen gas to inflate your tires. This gas will prevent ice crystals which can cause deflation in the tires.
You should always inflate your tires in a warm area.
- Gave your mini excavator a nice stretch:
Another effective tip for preparing your mini excavator for the winter season is to run your engine before the beginning of the day’s work.
You should run the engine for a long time until it reaches optimal temperature. Also, give a nice stretch and use all of the mini digger’s functions to distribute warmed oil. For it, start moving the machine slowly.
At the end of the day, wait for 90-120 seconds before shutting off the system. This idle time will keep your machine’s engine in the best condition.
In this way, your machine will operate with ease.
- Inspect your mini excavator:
For preparing your mini excavator for the winter season, you should give a thorough inspection of your machine before winter starts. Took it to a professional person who can have a detailed look at your machine.
Also, you should inspect your machine before operating it. Check the attachments, tires, hoses, tanks, engines, and wires for any cracks, cuts, or wear spots. If there are any cracks, replace that part immediately.
- Remove snow from your machine:
You should clear snow and debris from your machine daily. If you will not clear snow and ice from your machine, its vision can get obscured which can cause inconvenience.
So, to keep yourself and the people around you safe, make a habit to knock off snow and ice from your machine.
- Check the mini excavator’s coolant concentration:
To prepare your mini excavator for winter conditions, you should keep checking the coolant concentration of your machine.
When the temperature drops, your coolant concentration should increase.
If your weather is down to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit, you should use 40 percent coolant. But if your weather is down to 31 degrees Fahrenheit, you should increase the concentration to 50 percent.
- Use different heaters:
There are different types of heaters you can use to prepare your mini excavator for the winter season.
We have discussed engine block heaters so let’s discuss other types of heaters too.
You can use diesel-powered coolant heaters to warm the cab.
There are water separators with heaters which you can use too. They minimize or prevent wax build-up in diesel fuel.
There are also arctic-rated hoses that can handle situations down to -40 degrees Celsius.
- Keep the pieces of equipment and fluids at room temperature:
If you are not using your mini excavator in the winter, it is best to store its equipment indoors at room temperature.
You should take off its attachments so that its joints and hinges remain safe. In extreme weather conditions, they can wear out and can get damaged.
When you store them indoors, they will not only remain safe but will also save you from knocking off snow from all the equipment. It is a difficult task that you can avoid with a bit of precaution.
Store fluids and oils at room temperature too so that they don’t freeze.
You should also store starting fluid at room temperature and inject it into the machine when you have to use it.
This fluid is highly inflammable so store it with precautions. You should avoid storing it in the operator’s cabin as there is a danger of an accident.
Conclusion:
So, these are thirteen steps to prepare your mini excavator for the winter season.
You have seen that these thirteen tips are pretty easy to follow and will not take much of your effort and time.
To summarize these thirteen points, we can say that you have to switch to winter-friendly fluids and diesel. You should keep inspecting your mini excavator for any cracks. Lubricate and check every part of your machine to ensure its smooth working.
You should take care of the engine too by keeping the batteries charged and considering the mini excavator’s coolant concentration.
There are different heaters you can use to winterize your mini excavator.
You should know your machine and should have a complete checklist with you to ensure its smooth working.
If you need any more guidance or want to buy or hire a mini excavator, you can contact us. We will be glad to give you more information and choose the right mini excavator for your project.
