Follow these best practices to make sure your machine is ready for winter.

Machine Winterization Tips

1. Check chain tanks, final drives, swing gear baths, and gear boxes for water

Check the label to make sure you’re using coolant that complies with ASTM standard D-621, with a freeze point low enough for your climate. If coolant freezes, it can crack the engine block and ruin the engine.

2. Add fuel conditioner

Fuel conditioner prevents your fuel from freezing and makes sure your engine starts in the cold. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for the amount of conditioner required. Match the fuel conditioner to the type of fuel you’re using (e.g., low sulfur).

3. Check the fuel filter

If the fuel filter is clogged, moisture can build up and freeze in the winter, causing your machine to run improperly or fail to start. Empty the water traps in the filters before cold weather arrives. To avoid downtime, keep an extra set of fuel filters in your cab.

4. Check cold start aids

Diesel engines spray ether into the air system to help the engine start in cold weather. For older machines that have ether spray bottles, check the bottle to make sure it isn’t empty. For new machines with an automatic ether system, inspect the connections and hoses for cracks or loose connections.

5. Check the block heater

Block heaters keep fluids at the right temperature and viscosity. If it isn’t working, the oil can thicken, so it’s harder to turn the engine over and adds stress on the battery. Plug in the block heater to check it, then touch the hoses to make sure they are warm.

6. Inspect air pre-cleaners

Large dust particles and debris can build up during the summer and should be removed. Otherwise, snow and ice could collect around them, allowing moisture into the air system, which could cause engine failure.

7. Check battery and connections

Corrosion around battery connections causes less voltage to be transmitted and increases the strain on the battery. Corroded connections can drain the battery, preventing your machine from starting. Periodic inspections for corrosion reduce the chance of having a drained battery.

Winter Storage

1. Top off the fuel tank if possible

If you have a diesel engine, leave it completely full during winter months to eliminate the possibility of condensation forming in the fuel tank and spreading. Condensation can clog the fuel filter, which can clog fuel lines, carburetors, and injectors.

2. Run the engine after cleaning

Run your machine’s engine after cleaning the engine and replacing the oil so that a protective film of oil coats the internal parts. The oil coating acts as a rust preventative. Pour a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze into the coolant system before running as well to protect the cooling system to -34°F.

3. Remove the battery from the machine

Take out your machine’s battery and store it in a warm, dry place. Keeping it out of the cold will increase the battery’s life.

4. Start machines once a month

Avoid starting the machines in extreme cold weather. Find a time when temperature is above freezing to start the machine and operate the hydraulics for a brief time.

5. Store crawler type machines with adequate barrier between tracks and frozen ground

If the tracks freeze to the ground, the result can be track and undercarriage damage. The heavier the machine, the more it could sink into mud. Make sure there is an object between the machine and ground to prevent the tracks from freezing.

Cold Weather Operation

1. Protect your machine

If you can’t keep your machine inside when it’s not in use, at least keep a weather-resistant tarp over the engine. With snow comes condensation, which can cause problems for the entire engine.

2. Manage productivity

Cold weather makes the earth harder, and frost can penetrate roadways and aggregates to make utility, road, and crushing jobs much more difficult and time-consuming. Winter months have less daylight, so manage your time wisely. 

3. Keep the jobsite clean

It is imperative to keep jobsites neat and clean during winter months. When not working, leave a layer of snow on the ground to keep frost from penetrating the ground—the snow will actually insulate the ground beneath. When working, make sure to clear all snow and ice to avoid accidents.

4. Plan for earthworks projects

Frozen chunks of ground need to be placed in designated areas. The frozen chunks of earth contain water that can cause major problems in the spring, such as sinkholes.

5. Use the best fuel

Make sure you are using high quality winter diesel fuel. The fuel conditioner should match the type of fuel you are using (e.g., low sulfur) and should be approved by the manufacturer.

6. Check starting devices

Make sure block heaters and cold weather starting devices are working properly.

7. Warm up to improve steering response

Steering response on equipment with hydraulic steering may become very slow at low temperatures, even when the correct oils are used. Once the engine is started, let the machine idle until the engine reaches operating temperature.

8. Keep a spare fuel filter

Keep an extra fuel filter in the cab, and follow installation instructions in your operator’s manual.

9. Check ice build up

Check for ice or snow build up in exhaust or intake if applicable. Inspect and clear ice or snow from the throttle and brake area. 

10. Stay aware of safety

Mount and dismount your machine using three points of contact. Remember that you are working with snow, and ice slips are a common cause of injuries. Wear your seatbelt when operating equipment and stay alert.