Even though the summer months are getting behind us, heat is still deadly when it comes to machines on the job. There are more summers ahead of us and even warmer temperatures than usual can affect machines.
Specifically in that heat does a number on equipment wearing down and breaking down. As a result, it’s important for us to be more prepared for weather and in those extreme cold or heat situations.
Reading through the operator’s manual guidelines is one good step, but there is more that you can do to maintain your machines for these conditions. Here is how you can stay on top of maintenance.
Summer months are particularly busy because it’s where many construction jobs are done. The last thing that you or the crew needs is a machine that breaks down during that time.
The best way to do this is to have in place a proactive plan. This plan should have you doing the following on a regular basis:
All of this ensures that the air flow passages are clean and that the machine is able to exchange hot air in the engine with cool air from outsider. When air flow is blocked for whatever reason, the engine compartment can quickly turn into a hot box. This traps the heat and damages the engine.
Even during those cooler days, you want to be staying on top of that routine above. Because when the temperature spikes, the components will naturally be working harder and wear out faster.
When these temperatures occur, you’ll still want to be vigilant and look out for the following:
It’s easy to get into the mindset that when you’re operating a machine, you’re indestructible, but that’s not the case. Machines do have limitations and it’s important for us to know them – especially when running them in extreme heat or cold.
By taking these maintenance measures to heart, you’ll have an easier time using the machine amongst many other benefits.