Tips for Keeping Your Skid Steer Running in the Winter
Though preparing your skid steer equipment for the winter months is a vital part of caring for it, you must keep up with these efforts throughout the season as well. Like any other piece of machinery, skid steers are incredibly sensitive to cold weather conditions. These increase the likelihood that they’ll break down. So, if you want your prep work to last, you need to ensure you continue to care for a few parts specifically. Here are our tips for keeping your skid steer running in the winter.
Adhere to Manufacturer Instructions
Regardless of the time of year, one of the most important resources you have for maintaining your equipment is its designated manufacturer’s manual. These booklets contain all the information you could ever need about your skid steer. Therefore, you must check them first for the best advice. Many manuals contain detailed instructions for getting your machine ready for winter operation, including suggestions for winter skid steer attachments. Therefore, they also have a few snippets on avoiding and troubleshooting problems during the winter months.
Use Varying Fuel Mixtures
Make sure that you’re also using an alternate fuel mixture depending on the current weather. While standard diesel fuel keeps your equipment running at its best for most of the year, this substance tends to freeze in lower temperatures. Because of this, you must switch to a fuel mixture that contains an anti-freezing agent and continue to use it while the weather’s cold. Otherwise, you risk slowing down your fuel pump and causing your skid steer to break down.
Get the Right Tires
Another trick to keep you on the right track is to equip your skid steer with the correct winter tires and replace them when they wear down. Winter is a time with many unique conditions. From the extreme cold to the development of snow and ice, there’s a lot that your skid steer’s tires need to account for. So equipping it with the right skid steer tires for snowy and icy conditions can go a long way. Ensure that the models you choose come from a reliable manufacturer and that they have treads that can maximize traction on slick surfaces.
Frequently Inspect Your Battery
Remembering to check your equipment’s battery is a vital tip for keeping your skid steer running in the winter as well. Even if your battery is fine at the beginning of the season, its charge can quickly deteriorate as the temperature drops. For this reason, you need to check this component much more often than others to keep it running correctly.
With these tips and tricks, you can prevent many common winter skid steer problems and ensure optimal efficiency no matter what comes your way.
