How to safely maintain the diesel engine of a wheel loader

To ensure the reliability of your wheel loader, regular maintenance work must be completed on its diesel engine. It is important to keep the engine in excellent condition so your loader can perform tasks at peak efficiency. However, before carrying out any maintenance work to the engine, all safety measures must be observed when working with this part of the wheel loader. Understanding and observing all safety measures is the best protection against accidents. In this article, we share some tips on how you can safely carry out maintenance work to the diesel engine of your wheel loader.

1. The owner of the wheel loader and all operating personnel must read and understand the manual and other instructions relating to the operation of the engine. They must be familiar with all engine parts and how they work. It is also important to be familiar with the wheel loader and its performance limits.

2. Use only liquid diesel as fuel. Diesel cannot be mixed with other petrol or alcohol.

3. Always switch off the engine during maintenance, refuelling, repairs and cleaning. The engine must also be switched off before checking the oil level, changing oil and replacing the oil filter. When refuelling the engine, make sure no one is smoking nearby and there are no sources of sparks in the area.

4. Before any maintenance work, servicing or cleaning on the engine, allow the motor to cool down first. Also, allow the exhaust and exhaust pipe to cool first before touching it as it can cause burns.

5. Do not remove the radiator cap when the engine is running or still hot. If the radiator cap is removed too soon, hot water can spray out and cause serious burns to people working on the engine. Wait at least 10 minutes after switching the engine off and then carefully remove the radiator cap.

6. Do not let the diesel engine run in areas where there could be flammable vapour present or in other hazardous surroundings.

7. Before starting the engine, make sure that the drain valves for the coolant and oil are closed, the caps are closed and the hose clips are tightened. Having these parts open or loose during operation can cause serious injuries to personnel.

8. Make sure to release pressure in the air, oil and cooling system before removing any parts of the engine. Be cautious in removing any part of a pressurised system. Never check for any pressure leaks using your hands as oil or fuel under pressure can cause serious burns and injuries.

9. Practice proper disposal of oil, fuel and other materials. Comply with environmental laws in the disposal and management of used oil, fuel, coolant, brake fluid, filters and batteries.

10. Make sure that the tools you are using to carry out any maintenance work are in good condition. You must also know how to use these tools properly.

Some final tips

If you are thinking of engaging third-party personnel to carry out maintenance work on the engine of your wheel loader, make sure they know its proper operation and that they follow all required safety measures. If you have concerns on how to safely maintain the engine or if you are looking for a wheel loader that is worth the investment, talk to a trusted wheel loader supplier as they will be able to provide you with advice on your enquiries.