Tractors are farmers’ workhorses designed to make hard work more manageable. They carry heavy loads and pull large equipment over fields almost impossible to access with manual tools. This is especially useful during harvest time when crops like wheat need to be harvested quickly before they become damaged by rain or other weather conditions.
Tractors help farmers with several vital activities such as cultivating, plowing, fertilizing, harvesting crops, and planting. They also play an essential role in transporting food to the market; modern tractors are built with safety features like rollover protection structures (ROPS), seat belts, etc.
Considering the role tractors play in farmers’ lives, it’s no wonder they treat them like a prized possession. Winter is just around the corner, and it is time for the farmers to perform winter maintenance on their tractors to be ready for the next farming season.
Your tractor dealer can help you with the winterization of your tractor. Ray’s Tractors in Columbia, SC, has expert technicians who can guide you.
This blog post shares four critical winterization activities that you should perform to keep your tractor in top shape.
1. Fuel Treatment with Anti-Gel Additive
The majority of the tractors in the US run on diesel. Diesel fuel is a more efficient energy source than gasoline. It provides 10% more energy per gallon on average than regular gas. An issue with diesel fuel is that it has a ‘gelling’ point, which is the temperature where the fuel forms crystals due to the presence of wax.
The wax crystals prevent the fuel from flowing through the fuel line. The best way to prevent this is to add an anti-gel additive to your fuel before the beginning of winter. The anti-gel (antifreeze) additives prevent the formation of wax crystals in the fuel. The antifreeze is also a corrosion inhibitor; it keeps everything in the cooling system from rusting. The freeze protection will remain as long as it’s not diluted, but the corrosion protection wanes after a few years.
2. Check the Fluids
Tractor fluids should be checked year-round, but it is essential to do so in the winter. When spring comes around, condensation occurs inside your tractor if there is room for water to pool. If the fluids are not topped off, the condensed water will mix with the fluids causing performance issues and maintenance problems. Engine oil and filters should also be changed before winter storage.
3. Disconnect the Battery
If you do not use your tractor during winter, don’t keep the battery plugged in. The battery will deplete and may leak if left connected for an extended period, so you should unplug it and store it in a container.
4. Use Proper Storage Methods
Cover your tractor with a tarp or keep it in a shed; this protects the seat, paint, wiring, and hoses from the harshness of the sun and bitterly cold temperatures. When using plastic, make sure it is breathable because plastic covers may sweat and create additional issues without proper ventilation.
For top-quality tractor inventory and repair & maintenance services in Columbia, SC, visit Ray’s Tractors.
