Do you regularly start your diesel tractor as maintenance?

[bumperm]

Sitting unused for a while doesn't hurt the machine as much as running it for short periods of time intermittently, without getting it up to temperature (which boils off condensation). Sitting is bad for the battery, so if you can find a way to keep a smart trickle charger on it, that will extend the battery life, and make it more likely to start right away when you need it.

+1 This is especially so if its got a DPF, as relatively short runs will load up the filter. BTW, have had it for one year and over 182 hours on the clock.

Still waiting for the first snow . . ..

 

[HEC]

Thanks for all the info. I can see the warm-to-operating once you start it. I think I'll have reason to start it every 2wks-month. I can always take a ride around and confound the neighbors.

Yours probably is hst but for those with a gear trans. you may just want to drive it around a little to keep the clutch from freezing to the pressure plate and prevent your brakes from freezing in place on some tractors , don't ask me how I know . We ended up having to have the tractor split as we couldn't get the clutch unstuck and it only sat about 3 months in an unheated and damp garage .

 

[Cat_Driver]

I didn't read all the posts, this is my experience. My 84 Kubota sat idle for 15 years. Weeds grew up taller than the tractor. Weeds great through the cab area, through the bottom of the engine etc. I'm sure there has been dozens of people saying do this, do that or else, you must do this, or....
For giggles on day I aired up the tires, I pulled her out of the sand that had built up around the flat tires, put in a new battery and that good old girl fired right up. There were four of us with jaws on the ground. I checked the fluids, all were good, I plowed a field for 8 hours of hard running that same day.
Then five years later after using it regularly I decided FINALLY to change the fluids, filters, and treat the old girl to some TLC.
Yes you heard me correctly, almost 20 years with the same oil, fluids, filters etc. That was a year ago, maybe I'll fire her up this week, but chances are I won't.
A guy came by and offered to buy her for what I paid for her in the 80's, and I said nope, she's treated me right so I'll never get rid of her.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Great story Cat_Driver. While I do change my fluids regularly, I have often wondered as to the necessity of prescribed frequency.

Years ago, I had an old '59 Chevy that I bought for $200. I drove it to work every day, so I could leave the Corvette in the garage except on weekends. That old chevy had ZERO oil/filter changes for more than 5 years - ran like a champ!!!

 

[Billrog]

My dump truck sits 5 mons. of the yr. usually the backhoe sits most of the winter tractor gets used almost every day. My opinion is starting them just to idle for a short time creating the heating and cooling in the winter will just create more condensation in the fuel tank. I fill the tanks before they sit and charge the battery's up every 30 days. I've had 5 backhoes that had between 12 & 15 thousand hrs. on them before upgrading and none have ever used oil or had engine problems.

 

[houstonscott]

I didn't read all the posts, this is my experience. My 84 Kubota sat idle for 15 years. Weeds grew up taller than the tractor. Weeds great through the cab area, through the bottom of the engine etc. I'm sure there has been dozens of people saying do this, do that or else, you must do this, or.... For giggles on day I aired up the tires, I pulled her out of the sand that had built up around the flat tires, put in a new battery and that good old girl fired right up. There were four of us with jaws on the ground. I checked the fluids, all were good, I plowed a field for 8 hours of hard running that same day. Then five years later after using it regularly I decided FINALLY to change the fluids, filters, and treat the old girl to some TLC. Yes you heard me correctly, almost 20 years with the same oil, fluids, filters etc. That was a year ago, maybe I'll fire her up this week, but chances are I won't. A guy came by and offered to buy her for what I paid for her in the 80's, and I said nope, she's treated me right so I'll never get rid of her.

Well I guess if your only going to use it once every 15 years I might fall into your system. I wouldn't recommend it, if you want to use it more. I start mine every few weeks and bring them up to temp. During winter I pick warm days to do it, avoiding a cold start. HS

 

[NoTrespassing]

I didn't realize there were cold starts down in your neck o the woods HS. I'm sure some north of me will say the same about me. I had to plow in 10 below last year with no cab and a heck of a wind.

After reading all the posts here, I still think I'll try to fire the tractor up every 2 weeks during the winter. I usually vary the rpms for 10-15 minutes. It's pretty damp where it's parked and I like to know that the battery is still charged. I'd tender it but I don't have power in that building.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I didn't realize there were cold starts down in your neck o the woods HS. I'm sure some north of me will say the same about me. I had to plow in 10 below last year with no cab and a heck of a wind.

After reading all the posts here, I still think I'll try to fire the tractor up every 2 weeks during the winter. I usually vary the rpms for 10-15 minutes. It's pretty damp where it's parked and I like to know that the battery is still charged. I'd tender it but I don't have power in that building.

 

[GManBart]

Common forum conundrum. Someone asks a question, nearly everyone says one way is best, but they still plan to do it their way. Why ask the question in the first place?

 

[TomSeller]

about once a week to put out hay

You either put out a lot of hay or they eat like birds

 

[GManBart]

After reading all the posts here, I still think I'll try to fire the tractor up every 2 weeks during the winter. I usually vary the rpms for 10-15 minutes. It's pretty damp where it's parked and I like to know that the battery is still charged. I'd tender it but I don't have power in that building.

That is almost the absolute worst-case scenario. To take care of the engine, you need to get the oil temperature high enough to boil off any moisture, and keep it there for probably 20min or more. You're barely getting the water up to temp in 10-15min....that can actually cause condensation when you shut down and everything cools off that little bit.

 

[DK35vince]

If mine would set for several months I might start it up and let it run a while.
But starting one up every 2 weeks for short periods of time is doing more harm than good IMO

 

[Billrog]

Another point in cold weather I never start any of my diesel engines unless the block heat has been plugged in for 4 hrs. Cold starts cause premature ware so I prefer to avoid that.

 

[fieldman12]

Mine don't get used much in the cold months. I do start them up every two to three weeks on a warm day. I drive them around for a half hour or so. Hydraulics really don't warm up much unless under a load. Never seen any issues.

 

[the8080]

After reading all the posts here, I still think I'll try to fire the tractor up every 2 weeks during the winter. I usually vary the rpms for 10-15 minutes. It's pretty damp where it's parked and I like to know that the battery is still charged. I'd tender it but I don't have power in that building.

Even after all the good advice. Take the battery out of the tractor and park it.

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
After reading all the posts here, I still think I'll try to fire the tractor up every 2 weeks during the winter. I usually vary the rpms for 10-15 minutes. It's pretty damp where it's parked and I like to know that the battery is still charged. I'd tender it but I don't have power in that building.

You don't need power in the building to trickle charge your battery. Get one of these for $15: 1.5 Watt Solar Battery Charger

Neighbor keeps his Kubota M6040 charged up with it. Works fine. Hang it outside. Run a DIY extension to the tractor, if necessary.

 

[Mace Canute]

If you don't need your tractor, leave it sit, that doesn't cause any harm at all. Starting it occasionally and running it for even several minutes is absolutely the worst thing you can do to it.

 

[Racer11]

Starting up your engine to let it run till it is warm and shutting it down is the dummest thing a guy can do to his motor. I have a buddy that does his Harley the same way during the winter,,,I finally cured him of that habit when he came over to take our first spring ride. Mine had been sitting since the middle of November and it was around the middle of May. He and I left from my house and I told him that I just checked the oil and the tank was full from when I parked it. I put on my coat straddled the seat and she cranked over for a few rounds and started running,,,the look on his face was priceless.

 

[houstonscott]

Ask your local fire dept. if they start their diesels and run them everyday, ask your local Coast Guard Station if they start their boats and warm and check them everyday, if you want it to run when you need it you'll do start ups and checks. No engine ever wore out from start ups. It's about keeping it reliable when you need it, not crossing your fingers. My guess the guy who is concerned and starts his equipment and does checks will have his equipment much longer then the guy who looks for the key once a year. HS

 

[NoTrespassing]

Common forum conundrum. Someone asks a question, nearly everyone says one way is best, but they still plan to do it their way. Why ask the question in the first place?

I guess you're replying to my last post. I read every post and not everyone agreed. Taking everything into consideration about my particular circumstances, I've decided what is best for my situation.

Thanks for all the input!