Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/732903
October 2016 | EquipmentWorld.com 36 filter element and work continuously to re-liquefy wax and ice crystals with no other add-on hardware. Talk to your fuel supplier about what they do to reduce condensation and other contaminants during transport and delivery, and what you can do at your fuel islands, storage tanks and jobsites to keep fuel clean. Also check with your fuel suppliers to en- sure that they are providing winter blend diesel fuel rather than the No. 2 diesel commonly supplied in the spring and summer. • Lube oils. As the amount of daylight shrinks, you may find it convenient to do your lube oil changes before temperatures plunge below freezing. Die- sel oils "shear down" over time, which means their viscosity range shrinks. And as oil accumulates soot, it becomes thicker and harder to pump, decreasing horsepower. As a result, oil that is nearing the end of its useful life will not provide optimal engine protec- tion, especially in those critical cold-start situations. A key consideration is the right viscosity. You may want to switch from a 15W-40 to a 5W-40 as long as you're within the guidelines provided by your OEM. Pour point depressants are sometimes added to en- gine oils in cold weather, but many of today's diesel lube oils will include this in their formulas. Check with your lube oil supplier and OEM before using any aftermarket additive. • Air filter maintenance and replacement is a rou- tine task, but now is the ideal time to do so. Earth- moving in the summer and fall often creates a good deal of airborne dust, so your machines should be due anyway. Pop in a new filter now, and in most cases, you shouldn't have to worry about this until well into next year. Also use this time to check for air leaks that may allow unfiltered air to be pulled into the engine. Contaminated air is a major cause of premature engine failure. • Diesel exhaust fluid or DEF is now used in almost all Tier 4 Final engines and will freeze in tempera- tures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can freeze and thaw in the DEF reservoirs on your machines without losing any of its functionality. DEF storage in the shop or fueling area is another matter. Make sure you've stored your bulk supplies of DEF where they can't freeze, otherwise you'll have to thaw it out before dispensing. Leave room for expansion, as DEF can swell in volume up to seven percent in the winter months. • Coolants. Over the summer, operators, drivers and maintenance people may have topped off the cool- ing systems on many of your trucks and machines. That makes it likely that the specific gravity of these fluids is questionable. Occasionally, people top off with the wrong coolant as well. Keep in mind that coolant doesn't just keep the engine from overheat- ing, it also protects against freezing, scale, corrosion and pitting on the liners in diesel engines. Test the coolant with a refractometer for the best accuracy. If the engine has a coolant filter, make sure it is maintenance | continued A combination fuel filter, water separator and heater can prevent many of the fuel-related problems diesel engines experience due to cold weather. Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) will freeze in cold temperatures. Your equipment compensates for this, but if you store your DEF outside, you may not be able to top off your reservoirs until you can thaw out the containers.