How to make sure tractors are ready for winter

[happytobestuckwithyou]

I have never had to take care of machinery before. How do I get the equipment ready for winter? Antifreeze? Stabilizers? Gas tractors? Lawn tractors? Diesel tractors? Weed wackers? Chainsaws? Car? Dingo? Diesel Truck?

 

[bp fick]

Wow!! That is a list of equipment.

Gasoline motors. I change oil in the 4 strokes. Put a splash of Stabil in the tank and let it run until mix in carb bowl. I do not run these dry but others may.

2 Strokes- Splash of Stabil in the mix, run 'em dry.

Diesel? If in doubt, flush radiator and re-fill. ABSOLUTELY run winter grade of diesel and mix in White Bottle of diesel treatment. No jello!! Check filters, and change the oil. I like 10w30 for diesels or even better 5w-40 Rotella. I don't care for 15w-40 in Zero weather. Grease everything needed.

Auto-Truck Change oil, nice semi syn or synthetic for easy flow in winter. Radiator anti-freeze within last three years? Fluid levels, wiper blades, (like the winter kind) tires aired up, tuned up in the last 3 years? Filters good?

Well, that's the fast, once over.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Wow!! That is a list of equipment.

Gasoline motors. I change oil in the 4 strokes. Put a splash of Stabil in the tank and let it run until mix in carb bowl. I do not run these dry but others may.

2 Strokes- Splash of Stabil in the mix, run 'em dry.

Diesel? If in doubt, flush radiator and re-fill. ABSOLUTELY run winter grade of diesel and mix in White Bottle of diesel treatment. No jello!! Check filters, and change the oil. I like 10w30 for diesels or even better 5w-40 Rotella. I don't care for 15w-40 in Zero weather. Grease everything needed.

Auto-Truck Change oil, nice semi syn or synthetic for easy flow in winter. Radiator anti-freeze within last three years? Fluid levels, wiper blades, (like the winter kind) tires aired up, tuned up in the last 3 years? Filters good?

Well, that's the fast, once over.

I think BP covered it well and he should know living in Michigan. He know a thing or two about winter. I would also add that you need to check the general condition of wiring and belts, grease all fitting, (it pushes out water if present), battery connections for corrosion, and if diesel you may consider a block heater or lower radiator hose heater. Do not waste your money on a magnetic or dip stick heater.

Chris

 

[E/S]

All good suggestions, one thing we watch for in my area is rodents.
Lots of bait around the equipment.

 

[happytobestuckwithyou]

BP Fick / Diamond Pilot / E/S Thanks guys for all your suggestions. There is only one thing. I am really a novice, alias widow. My husband passed away earlier in the year. I don't know what some of your terminology means. 4 strokes?, 2 strokes?, carb bowl? Jello?
The oil is changed in the 5200 Case Diesel. Does it have to be plugged in? or just before I use it (1/2 hour)?
I emptied the weedwackers tonight. The push lawnmowers, do they need stabilizer?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Sorry about your husband.

2 stroke is a machine you add oil to the gas like a weed wacker or chain saw.

4 stroke needs no oil in the gas like your car or most lawn mowers.

If you emptied the gas on all these items I would just start them and let them run till they die. They may only run for 5 seconds since you emptied the gas tank and all the fuel that is left is what is in the fuel line. A carb bowl or "bowl" is just a small reservoir of fuel at the engine. It is mixed with air right before it goes in the engine to burn. Again if you start the engine and let it run till it dies the fuel left in the carb bowl will be all used up and no issue.

As far as the Case just plug it in 1 hour prior to use if its cold out. I plug my tractor in if its below 32 but it varies machine to machine.

My suggestion is go to a good store like Napa or TSC and tell them you need gas stabilizer and diesel fuel treatment for cold weather. A good product for gas is Stabil. A good product for diesel is Power Serve in the white bottle. They will each be about $5 for the amount you need. A qt of diesel conditioner and a 32 oz bottle of gas stabilizer will take care of what you have. Put it directly in the tank per the directions then start the machinery and run it for 5 minutes to not only get the mixture into the engine but to exercise it. Its better to put a little too much in than not enough but do not go overboard. I have also found its better to either drain a fuel tank or top it off if storing something. I don not like to leave something half full. It causes condensation and that leads to water in your fuel and problems.

Also give us a general idea of your location. This will help us help you. You can fill out your profile or just say something like Northern Indiana.

Chris

 

[E/S]

BP Fick / Diamond Pilot / E/S Thanks guys for all your suggestions. There is only one thing. I am really a novice, alias widow. My husband passed away earlier in the year. I don't know what some of your terminology means. 4 strokes?, 2 strokes?, carb bowl? Jello?
The oil is changed in the 5200 Case Diesel. Does it have to be plugged in? or just before I use it (1/2 hour)?
I emptied the weedwackers tonight. The push lawnmowers, do they need stabilizer?

My condolences.
Jello is what diesel turns into when you don't use anti-jelling additive.
Run the weedwacker dry, it will be OK.
Add fuel additive to the mower, run it for a few minutes then top off the fuel tank with gas.

E/S

 

[Treemonkey1000]

What part of the country do you live in might help narrow down the preventive items. If you are in Arizona it might not be nearly as tough as The Dakotas or places like that. Here in Washington Moss is the big thing
Also do you have any friends from say Church or your Husbands friends that can give you a hand? I am sorry for your loss as well.

 

[bp fick]

I am very sorry.

Rather than overwhelm you with more mechanical terminology than you likely need to know, I would suggest you get together a little sum, say $100, and have a very knowledgeable gentleman assist you in doing all these tasks.

This is quite serious and important work to do, and time has run out.

Is there a fella who would assist you? Someone from the congregation, neighborhood, or so forth? You could make good for the oils, Stabil and such. Frankly, you really need someone to help you out on this??

I volunteer to do such things for my neighbors, and I bet someone would be quite willing to help you as well, if you make your need known.

Conditioning the fuels is easy. Anti-gel in the diesel and Stabil in the gasoline tanks. However, the other things, like radiators and oil changes get a little more difficult. Sincerest Best Wishes,

 

[irvingj]

happy-- Also send my condolences.

As far as anti-freeze, water-cooled equipment SHOULD have been set up properly, but you can either
a) ask someone to come out and check each piece of equipment for proper anti-freeze level/concentration, or
b) purchase an inexpensive specific gravity anti-freeze checker and do it yourself-- like a baster/eyedropper, suck up some of the coolant, and the concentration will show up in how many of the little balls float or sink. (There's also a similar product for checking batteries.)

I'm with others- in all my old motorcycles (4-stroke engines), I add Sta-Bil and top off tanks with fresh fuel (did that Sunday, rode all three of 'em into town!). Lawn mower (2-stroke), I just add some Sta-bil; she's a tough one. Leaf blower (also 2-stroke) I run dry. Chain saw, I keep inside- usually have to use it once or twice to remove fallen trees from driveway anyway.

Diesel car and tractor, I use an additive (Stanadyne) and keep tanks full as much as possible. Also have block heaters for both, use when really cold. Hope all this isn't too confusing!