EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE TIPS

HOT WEATHER "Must Do" Tips For Your Truckmount
  (Tips courtesy of the HydraMaster Customer Care Team)

With the unusually high temperatures in summer months ahead,
remember that your machine (regardless of the brand) needs
to stay cool also. Extreme temperatures require you to pay
careful attention to things that are not an issue in cooler
weather.
 
Here Are Six IMPORTANT TIPS On Doing Just That –

#1 - Keep all doors; side and rear “fully” open – undo
the 90 degree stop point on the doors - open them up to
130 degrees.

If you have barn doors – bungee (tie) them open in case of
wind gusts. You must have good cross flow air ventilation
throughout the van

#2 - Check engine air filters frequently – & keep them
clean! Clean filters help the engine to run cooler –  Also
keep the oil up to the full mark, and change oil as
recommended in your users manual.

#3 - Check the antifreeze in liquid cooled engines with a
Hydrometer to see where protection level is in regards to
overheating. ALWAYS CHANGE, FLUSH COOLANT IN THE SYSTEM, IF
WARRANTED BY THIS INFORMATION. Consult your users manual.

#4 - Always keep the area around your Truckmount free of
accessories and clutter. An unobstructed 8” to 12” area must
be kept clear to eliminate congestion. This is for for
operational safety as well as allowing adequate airflow for
engine cooling.

#5 - Clean Those Radiator Fins! – Before it gets too hot is
a good time to check the front of your radiator on liquid
cooled engine truckmounts, and to be sure the fins are clear
and free of any debris. Over time - dirt, insects, leaves,
lint, misc truck mdebris, etc. gets pulled into the radiator
fins and prevents proper air flow through the radiator. This
can also cause your engine to overheat. This external
radiator cleaning should be done every year, and more often
in very dusty environments.
   
#6 - Engine oil also makes a difference. Make sure you are
following the manufacturers instructions. Answers you need -

     * Determine just what engine oil is correct for the
       summer months, and . . .
     * How often does it need to be changed?

FOR EXAMPLE:
Here are several specifications coutesy of HydraMaster . . .

* For 16 to 31 HP Air Cooled Vanguard Engines, Briggs

  and Stratton recommends the oil change intervals at . . .
      Break-in: New engine change oil & filter @ 8 hrs
      After Break-in: change oil & filter every 50 hrs
              Use 5W-30 Synthetic, Mobile 1
            -or- 
            Recommended oil above 32° = 30W motor oil
            Recommended oil below 32º = 10-30W motor oil

* Kubota and Daihatsu 3 Cylinder 700G, 950G Engines (Gas)
      Break-in:  New engine change oil & filter @ 25 hrs
      After Break-in: change oil & filter every 100 hrs
            Use 5W-30 Synthetic, Mobile 1
            -or-
            Recommended oil above 32º = 30W motor oil
            Recommended oil below 32º = 10-30W motor oil

* GM1.6 Vortec 16000
     Use only 10-30W High Quality NON –Synthetic oil
     Break-in: New Engine change oil & filter @ 25 hrs
     After Break-in: change oil & filter every 100 hrs