Hot Temperatures & Excavators

Summer can be hard on equipment, too, so here are a few additional uptime tips for when the temperatures keep climbing.

• Run your AC properly. One of the biggest issues we see in the summer is operators running the AC and having the doors or windows open at the same time. If you do that, all you’re doing is putting unnecessary load on the AC component.
• Fill the fuel and DEF tanks at the end of each day. If you’re down to the last quarter or so in the tanks, that fluid is extremely hot because of the return cycles. Hot fuel/fluid draws moist air through the breathers into the tanks, and even small amounts of water mixed in with your diesel will cause performance issues and maintenance hassles.
• Manage your greasing intervals during hot spells. Most OEMs have outlined greasing intervals in the operator manuals. It’s very important to follow these guidelines, especially if you’re in an extremely dusty or hot application where your grease may thin out faster or be exposed to more contaminants.
• Give machines more time to cool down. The most important component — and the reason for a normal condition, two-minute idle time before shutting off the key — is the turbocharger. Turbochargers are lubricated with engine oil and rotate at extremely high rpms. If not allowed to idle down, turbocharger shafts and bearings can be damaged.

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Hayes Services can schedule your project and help you manage its complexities. If you are considering working on a project not discussed here, then be sure to contact Hayes Services. From landscaping efforts to foundation preparation, there are a large variety of projects that require the assistance of excavation companies like Hayes Services. Be sure to work with a fully licensed contractor in order to achieve the safest and highest quality outcome.