Winter weather is harsh and brutal, undoubtedly putting a strain on loaders, the tools that create our wealth. Here are some tips for winter maintenance of mini loaders. Come and take a look!
1. For vehicles parked for more than two weeks, the engine must be started every 15 days and run for a period of time to charge the battery. If this period is prolonged, remove the battery and charge it with a charger (this also applies to vehicles waiting to be sold at dealerships). Also, move the vehicle appropriately to change the pressure points of the tires to prevent deformation. If the vehicle is parked for more than two months, the negative terminal of the battery must be disconnected or removed.
2. The fuel oil, lubricating oil, coolant, and auxiliary materials used in mini loaders should be used as follows:
① Use -10# light diesel for diesel engines, or -35# light diesel in cold regions.
② Use CD-grade engine oil for diesel engines. 3. When the temperature is generally below 5°C, preheat the engine with hot water or steam before starting. Start the engine only after it reaches above 30-40°C (primarily to preheat the cylinder temperature, which in turn heats the misted diesel, as diesel engines are typically compression-ignited). However, Shanyu loaders now have preheating systems, making them easy to start even in winter.
4. When the temperature is below 0°C, check the antifreeze concentration regularly. Do not use untreated water as engine coolant.
5. Winter operation can be challenging for small loaders. It is recommended that each start should not exceed 8 seconds. If the engine fails to start, release the start switch and wait for 1 minute before attempting the next start. After starting the engine, allow it to idle for a period of time (but not too long, as this can cause carbon deposits to form on the cylinder walls and cause seizure). This allows the battery to charge and the water temperature to reach 55°C and the air pressure to 0.4 MPa before starting the vehicle. 6. Full-load operation is permitted only when the diesel engine water temperature is above 55°C and the engine oil temperature is above 45°C. During operation, the engine water and oil temperatures should not exceed 95°C, and the torque converter oil temperature should not exceed 110°C.
7. When the air temperature is below 0°C, drain the cooling water from the radiator lower chamber, engine, oil cooler, and torque converter oil cooler after each day's work to prevent freezing and cracking. If there is moisture in the air reservoir, drain it frequently to prevent freezing and brake failure. If antifreeze has been added, draining is not necessary.