Is keeping a tractor in a heated garage in wintertime bad for it?

[sweep]

I keep my tractor in the basment of my house all year long. It's basically at a constant year long temperature, AC in the summer and heated in the winter.

Some where I read that when you take a tractor from a heated garage to the outside, say in 20-40 degrees range and then bring the tractor back inside to a heated garage it can cause sweating inside the block/transmission leading to damage caused by the water particles.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[beenthere]

Might be some sweating, just like your glasses fog up when coming in from the cold.

But I can't imagine that it would be enough to stop keeping it inside and warm. And doubt it causes an appreciable damage. Water will collect in the water trap for the fuel, and stay at a low point in the oil in the tranny and/or engine. Draining when changing fluid will take care of it then.

 

[jinman]

If you don't see a lot of condensation on the outside of your tractor, there is likely very little inside. If your heated room is so humid that you see condensation, then you should probably consider a dehumidifier to keep the air a liittle dryer.

 

[Tig]

When I did field service I favoured heated garages, both at home and around the city. In and out all day long. Temperature differences could be as much as 45C. (-35 to +10C) My car held up well and showed no ill effects. I feel it was easier to clean since the all the frozen dirt and salt would fall off.
That's a lot more extreme than most tractors see and when I scrapped the car it had one rust hole as big around as my pinky.

 

[BobRip]

The air in a house is usually pretty dry in the winter. If you fully warm up the tractor before putting in back in the house I don't see how you could have problem. I keep my Power Trac in a heated garage (rarely below 60) and have not problems with condensation.

If you leave a vehicle outside you will probably get condensation on it every morning.

 

[sweep]

If you don't see a lot of condensation on the outside of your tractor, there is likely very little inside. If your heated room is so humid that you see condensation, then you should probably consider a dehumidifier to keep the air a liittle dryer.

Last year I noticed no condensation on the outside of the tractor when I brought it back in. I changed the oil today and noticed no water when drained so I guess its ok. My basement has never been damp or above normal dryness.

3-4 times last year i took the tractor out in 20 degree weather to blade the driveway-sure did start nice and easy in my 70 degree basement I figure any negative "condensation" damage is negated by the easier on the engine, warm oil starts.

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Do you notice the diesel fuel smell in the house when you start the tractor in the basement. Or is your tractor a gasser? I have my tractor in an unattached garage and the one thing I do notice is the smell when I put it away and close the doors.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Sweep , don't you have problems getting it up and down the stairs. Just kidding. I keep my tractor in the heated garage all winter and haven't seen any moisture problems. When I start mine it goes outside immediately. This keep the smoke from discoloring the paint and I think if you let the bucket or blade get cold before you start pushing the snow is less likely to stick.
Bill

 

[Raw Dodge]

In the winter,the only thing you really want to avoid is letting the tractor sit outside for hours without being used,so it gets really cold,then firing it up,and parking it inside quickly,without warming it up.Thats the only time condensation can form.If your using it,the whole machine warms up,esp eng/trans,then you park it inside a 70 degree room,no problem.Even the fuel tank will warm up as returning diesel fuel gets warm as it cools the pump,and runs back from the warm cyl head.Bring it in from 20 outside,cold,and you wil lget condensation all over it.We had that happen when i worked in the garage,we'd push in dead cars at 6pm after sitting outside in the cold all day, to let them warm up to work on the folllowing am,and within 1/2 there would be water drops all over it.Bring in a car that was just running,no condensation.

 

[CurlyDave]

Do you notice the diesel fuel smell in the house when you start the tractor in the basement.

I keep my tractor in a garage under our bedroom, and I do not notice any diesel smell from the tractor.

I do leave the door open while I have the tractor out to let the fumes from starting dissipate and when I put it back in I run it in at idle and leave the door open for another 10 minutes.

The hot water tank is in the garage and the heat lost from the tank keeps the garage warmer than it would be otherwise.