True grit — How to help your tractor survive winter
There are steps you can take to ensure your machine is ready for a cold snap, writes Derek Casey
FREEZING diesel, blocked filters and flat batteries are common problems encountered each time a spell of truly cold weather arrives. Tractor engines tend to give as good as they get, with even a little maintenance helping to keep running costs down and generally prolonging the tractor’s lifespan. By the same token, those who ignore the basic cooling, lubrication electrical and fuel requirements of an engine are prone to having expensive breakdowns. As temperatures take a nose dive, the following are some easy and inexpensive cold weather tips for tractors.
When temperatures plummet diesel can thicken and gel, forming a wax-like substance. This makes the normal flow of fuel to an engine’s injectors very difficult and the tractor can cut out. Poor quality diesel or poor storage technique that allows water get into the fuel leads to higher risk of freezing.
Normal winter grade diesel should be wax-resistant down to temperatures as low as -12 degrees (you might think that keeps us safe in Ireland, but during the winter freeze of 2011 certain parts of the country got as low as -17 degrees).
Even in parts of the country with less extreme temperatures, a wind chill factor can cause issues. Be sure your diesel supplier is filling your tank with winter-grade, good quality fuel. Add an anti-waxing agent to your tractor tank during really cold spells. This is cheap and it can save you a lot of time thawing frozen filters; a 235ml bottle costs €6 and treats 125 litres of diesel. from another battery. However, these can be quite expensive (€300-€400) and there is a risk that you could overpower the tractor’s electrical system. It is safer to use a spare battery of equal capacity to the one in the tractor for jumpstarting.
Keep a spare battery on the farm at all times during winter for jump starting and/or replacement. Ensure the battery terminals are clean and well connected. Before temperatures truly drop, replace a fading battery that you suspect is going to let you down. Check that the amp hours on the new battery are the same as the one being replaced.