Cooling System Maintenance Tips

Cooling system issues are the cause of about 40% of all machine downtime, especially during the summer. Your equipment’s cooling system keeps the engine from overheating and allows it to operate at the optimal temperature. If it is not maintained correctly, then the system has to work harder to prevent the engine from overheating, hindering machine performance.

Follow the cooling system maintenance tips and best practices below to avoid downtime and ensure optimal operation.

Keep the radiator and coolers clean 

Dry, dusty weather can cause dirt and other particulates to build up on your radiators, air coolers, and oil coolers. This buildup reduces airflow and impedes heat transfer, causing operating temperatures to increase and the engine to overheat. To keep the radiator and coolers clean, it’s important to wash dirt and dust off of them with a hose every few days, especially during the summer.

Inspect your cooling fans 

Checking cooling fans is critical for cooling system maintenance. It’s important to be on the lookout for loose or damaged fan blades, as cracks or nicks in the blades will cause the fan to become unbalanced and vibrate. That vibration can hurt water pump bearings and other related components, eventually leading to complete system failure. We also recommend cleaning dust buildup from the fan blades every few days in the summer.

Check hoses and clamps

As temperatures rise and fall in your cooling system, the hoses and clamps expand and contract over and over again, which can cause the hose-to-neck seal to wear out. You should inspect all radiator heater core hoses and lines for abnormal softness and hardness, cracks, and leaks. Always make sure all the connections are tight to avoid water leakage and hydraulic hose failures.

Analyze your coolant 
If your coolant looks cloudy, or you see floating particulates, it could be a sign of corrosion, cavitation, and rust in your cooling system. All types of coolant should remain clear at all times. If yours isn’t then you need to inspect the inside of the radiator for corrosion. At a minimum, we recommend draining and flushing your coolant annually and testing your coolant every 1,000 hours. Star Equipment has sample test kits available that are easy to use.

Contact Star Equipment with any questions about cooling system maintenance!