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Wheel loaders are workhorses in the harshest of winter conditions: They lift and carry heavy materials and push and dump snow. But, to take on these tasks efficiently and safely, proper maintenance is essential.

Follow these nine tips to help you get the most out of your wheel loader this winter.

1. Start Prepping Early for Winter Wheel Loader Care

Don’t wait until the last minute to winterize your wheel loader. Chaise Ireland, president of Conestoga Contracting in Elmira, Ontario — which receives 41.8 inches of snow on average each year — recommends starting in July and completing all repairs by November 1.

“We like to start our triage process early in case we have any issues with parts or materials, but our local dealer, CG Equipment, is always great at stocking the parts we need,” says Chaise. “We make a list, order the parts and maintain and repair our equipment in our shop.”Preventive maintenance and triaging future minor repairs is crucial to keep Chaise’s operation running smoothly.

“Our fleet team records minor issues, completes periodic equipment checks and puts the equipment out of service to carry out the repairs instead of losing days of production,” he says. “They will often perform these inspections on-site to ensure maximum uptime. We track the service hours and intervals via our GPS management software along with the DEVELON Fleet Management solution.”

The operation manual lists recommended service intervals, a checklist of seasonal maintenance items, and oil and fluid recommendations for your construction equipment. The manual will explain which wheel loader components should be regularly inspected, including fluids and filters, the battery, tire pressure, grease intervals and heating and defrosting systems. Chaise recommends greasing all equipment points with a lighter grease for winter months.

You can also request training on proper wheel loader and heavy equipment maintenance techniques from your local DEVELON dealer. They will help you become familiar with decals and key maintenance points on the wheel loader so you can better care for your machine this winter.

2. Switch the Engine Oil

Pair wheel loader fluids to outside temperatures. Most wheel loader manufacturers recommend CJ4 engine oils to protect the machine’s vital engine components.

Using incorrect diesel engine oil can cause costly damage to the machine’s internal components. In addition, components can become plugged or corroded and not work efficiently.

Refer to your operation manual for instructions on filling your machine at the recommended intervals with the appropriate fluid, including hydraulic oil, in the correct increments.

3. Use a Winter Fuel Grade

Switch to a special winter fuel grade, such as No. 1 and No. 2 diesel or a winterized blend.

No. 1 grade diesel fuel has lower energy components than its counterpart, No. 2 grade, because paraffin (a type of wax) has been removed from the chemical mix. The absence of this chemical allows it to remain in liquid form during winter. The downside of No. 2 diesel is its tendency to transform into a thickened gel when the temperature drops. This can often lead to hard starts and other complications during winter.

Winterized fuel is a combination of No. 1 and No. 2 fuels. When blended, they hold a higher concentration of No. 1 grade fuel and are used when it becomes too cold, starting at 14 degrees. The combination of both grades should contain enough energy components and lubricant properties to reduce the chance of the chemical mix gelling in colder temperatures.

Other tips:

• Keep the fuel tank full to prevent moisture buildup, and add a fuel stabilizer to avoid fuel gelling in extremely low temperatures.
• Verify the quality of fuel you are using from your provider, checking to make sure water and other contaminants are not present in your fuel.
• Follow proper fuel management practices as outlined in the operation manual.

4. Inspect Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Adjust the Coolant

In very cold temperatures, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) can freeze, so keep DEF in storage during the winter months.

Also, inspect the coolant to make sure it’s free of impurities as you run the engine. If the coolant needs to be replaced, choose the best grade for your machine and region. For your machine to perform well in colder weather, the antifreeze mix must be properly blended.

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