Learn these 5 tricks to make your excavator not afraid of high temperatures in summer

Why are the water temperatures and engine oil temperatures of excavators high?

There are many reasons for the high temperature of an engine. Let's analyze it from the two processes of heat generation and heat dissipation: The engine heat is generated by the combustion of fuel in the cylinders and the friction of various moving parts. Due to the lubrication of the engine oil, the friction coefficient of the moving parts is small and the heat generation is also small. The main heat comes from the combustion of fuel.

The cooling system of an engine mainly consists of components such as a water pump, waterways, a thermostat, a radiator, and a fan. Under the action of the water pump, the antifreeze comes out of the radiator and enters the engine waterways to take away the engine's heat and return it to the radiator for cooling. This cycle continues to cool down the engine.

Only by understanding the heat dissipation process of the engine can we analyze the reasons for its high temperature:

1. Clogged radiator: This is the most common cause of high temperature in excavator engines. Excavators operate outdoors for long periods of time, and dust, willow catkins and other debris can easily clog the radiator, resulting in poor heat dissipation.

2. The water pump is not working or working poorly: When the water pump is not working properly, the circulation speed of the engine antifreeze is small, and the engine heat cannot be exchanged through the radiator in time, resulting in high temperature.

3. Malfunction of the thermostat: The thermostat of the engine can adjust the large circulation and small circulation of the antifreeze according to the temperature of the antifreeze. For detailed information about the thermostat, please click: Knowledge You May Not Know - The principle and maintenance of the engine thermostat. When the thermostat malfunctions, the antifreeze may not be able to switch to the large circulation, resulting in high water temperature.

4. Clogging of waterways: This type of malfunction often occurs in engines where tap water is added to the radiator. Tap water contains various impurities. Long-term use can easily clog waterways, water pipes and the radiator, affecting water circulation and generating high temperatures.

5. Abnormal air circulation in the air duct: The air duct is a problem that many users tend to overlook. The engine fan sucks cold air from the radiator, blows it towards the engine, and then it flows out through the air outlet above the engine, taking away some of the engine's heat. When the engine hood is not well sealed, the hot air is prone to remain in the engine compartment, forming vortices, which affects the engine's heat dissipation and thus generates high temperatures.

There are many reasons for the excessively high water temperature of excavators. The above are just some common ones. Meanwhile, high engine water temperature often leads to a rapid increase in engine oil temperature. This is because the antifreeze cannot exchange the engine heat in time, and the engine oil directly comes into contact with the moving parts of the engine and heats up rapidly. At high temperatures, the viscosity of the engine oil will decrease, and its lubrication effect will be poor. The wear of the moving parts of the engine will increase. In severe cases, faults such as engine bearing seizure and cylinder sticking may even occur, which is extremely harmful to the engine.

What should I do when I find that the engine is overheating?

If a high temperature is detected during the operation of an excavator in summer and the water temperature exceeds the safety line, the engine should be cooled down immediately. The operation of the excavator should be stopped, but it is strictly forbidden to turn off the engine. The following methods can be used to cool down the engine:

1. By using the method of "low speed and reduced load" to cool down, turn the throttle to the lowest. At this time, the engine load is small, the speed is low, and the heat generation is small, which can slow down the rate of water temperature rise.

2. Open the compartment door of the excavator's engine radiator to increase the air intake volume. However, it is strictly forbidden to open the engine hood to maintain the normal air passage of the engine.

3. After the water temperature drops, check if the antifreeze is lacking. If it is, add antifreeze.

4. Conduct a thorough inspection of the causes of the engine's high temperature. Check if the radiator, water pump, thermostat, etc. are not working properly. Clean the radiator and gradually identify the causes of the high temperature. For the inspection of the water pump, you can observe the water tank opening to see if there is water flowing and rolling. You can also use a thermometer gun to detect the temperature difference between the upper and lower parts of the water tank. If the temperature difference is too large, it may indicate that the water tank or water pipes are clogged or the water pump is not working properly.

5. Check if the fan is damaged. For belt-driven cooling fans, also check the tightness of the belt.

High temperatures in excavators during summer are a very common phenomenon. The main reason for the high temperatures in most excavators is poor heat dissipation, and the most common cause of poor heat dissipation is a clogged water tank. Many users do not check the radiator when the engine is working normally. They only look for the cause when the engine gets hot. This is a bad habit. As an important component for engine heat dissipation, the radiator needs to be inspected frequently, impurities on it should be removed in time, and the fallen radiator fins should be adjusted properly. Take good care of your excavator and let it get through the summer safely.