Heavy Equipment Checklist for Cold Weather Construction
Cold weather can take a large toll on your machine and lead to costly damage if you don’t take the right precautions. To help you out, we’ve put together a heavy equipment checklist for winter operation.
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Use the correct fuel
First on our heavy equipment checklist is making sure you have the right fuel. We suggest using high quality winter diesel during cold weather construction to avoid gelling in low temperatures. Gelling can clog fuel lines and filters and keep fuel from reaching the engine. We also recommend adding fuel conditioner to combat gelling that is compatible with the type of fuel you are using (e.g., low sulfur). Only use fuel conditioner that is approved by the manufacturer. Check your owner’s manual for more details.
Check your starting devices
When temperatures drop, it’s important to regularly inspect your block heaters and cold weather starting devices to ensure they are working properly. Failure to do so may result in your engine being unable to start when you need it most.
Warm up the engine prior to starting work
Cold weather can thicken fluids and stiffen machine movements. It’s important to start the engine and then give it time to warm up to the normal operating temperature before working. Pushing your machine too hard before it warms up can hurt performance and cause component damage.
Keep a spare fuel filter on hand
A key part of our heavy equipment checklist for cold weather construction is making sure you have an extra fuel filter in your machine’s cab in case you need it. If you have to replace your fuel filter, always follow the installation instructions in your operator’s manual.
Don’t let ice build up
Watch out for ice and snow build up in the exhaust or intake and clear any that has accumulated before starting each shift. You should also remove ice or snow build up from throttle and brake area.
Improve steering response through idling
Machines with hydraulic steering often become very slow in freezing temperatures, even if the right oils are used. Once your equipment is started, let the engine idle until it reaches normal operating temperature.
Watch out for slippery conditions
Always enter and exit the cab using three points of contact. Slipping on snow and ice is a common cause of injury during the cold winter months. Always wear your seatbelt when operating equipment and stay alert.
Remember your stored equipment
- Start machines once a month, only when the temperature is over freezing
- Avoid starting equipment in extremely cold weather, as it may damage the components
- Operate hydraulics for a brief time after the machine is warmed up
- Do not try to break crawler type machines from a badly frozen situation, as it could result in serious damage
If you have any questions about our heavy equipment checklist for cold weather construction, contact our team today!