Okay to Operate Tractor Just Long Enough to Move Outside When Cold?

[Fallon]

Confused tractor operator...L3901 HST with the new tierIV systems tell you to not idle the tractor too much....causes even more soot build up requiring more regen burns....so what do you do in cold weather....idle it for 10-15 minutes and add to the soot build up or idle a couple minutes and get to work??

I'd idle it for a minute to let old pressure build up, then fast idle it for a few minutes. Then run it gently so it can really start building heat. If everything is properly lubricated your only problem will be cold thick hydraulic oil. Operate it gently, but if it's working right, run it. You'll build up heat WAY faster making it work than idling doing nothing.

 

[riptides]

Wow. Interesting.

I am up the road from the OP, I have never warmed up the equipment and gone about business. The Kubota sits outside, has for most of its life, I usually turn key and go. That Kubota is 13 years young.

The other tractors, when they are here, get the same treatment.

I had no idea of a warm up cycle, and know even less about the newer Tier design/operating requirements. Forgive me for bad tractor operations.

 

[sixdogs]

It's not the temperature so much around here but the wind on the flat ground with nothing to break it. We're around 10 degrees now but toss in a 10MPH wind and it's brutal. I've been in 25 to 30 below with no wind and what I have today feels much colder.

 

[dchemphill1]

Thanks Fallon appreciate the advise.

 

[sixdogs]

On warming up a tractor, I've run them for an hour at 20 degrees and the transmission oil was still cool/cold.