Keep Your Outdoor Power Equipment Safe from Heat

Imperial Services a distributor of outdoor power equipment, warns everyone that excessive heat doesn’t only affect cars, but it also causes havoc to expensive lawn equipment as well.  In fact, lawn mowers, tractors, and small engines sometimes need more routine maintenance performed than automobiles.  Performing a few simple actions will safeguard your engine and power equipment from irreversible damage.  
Reduce prolong heat exposure to equipment.  Most engines generate enormous amount of heat.  When coupled with the hot sun, the equipment can deteriorate more quickly.  Turning off the engine when possible, rather than idling, will help reduce exposure to excessive heat.
Use ethanol-free gasoline.  Ethanol runs hotter in most small engines. This type of fuel blend tends to break down rubber gaskets and other engine parts faster than regular gasoline. According to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), “Improperly filling your lawn equipment with E15 could result in irreversible engine damage, in addition to exposing operators to a variety of safety risks.” 

Check the tires.  Low pressure in a tire will make a engine work harder.  Sometimes the tires to riding lawnmowers may need to be adjusted to the hotter operating conditions associated with summertime temperatures.  Likewise, a loose plastic wheel on a lawnmower or similar device will cause unnecessary strain and wear on the motor.   
Inspect the belts and hoses.  Check the belts and hoses and have them replaced according to the manufacturer’s directions. Make sure the belts and hoses have no cracks or irregularities.
Check the battery.  Examine the battery and cable connections, extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, are not good for a battery’s health …and it’s important that batteries are constantly well maintained.”  Moreover, over-charging a battery can produce excessive heat and reduce life of the battery as well.  Bring it in to have Imperial  Services change the oil and filter.  Oil keeps the engine lubricated and cool during operation.  In other words, it reduces friction around machine parts and transfers heat to the cylinder block, then finally to the outside air.  As oil heats up, it deteriorates and can no longer perform its primary function.  In effect, changing the oil according to the manufacturers’ guidelines is essential.

Check your coolant.  Most new tractors do not have air-cooled engines.  Therefore, the engine must be cooled with a mixture of anti-freeze and water. The purpose of the coolant is to take the heat away from the engine, carry it to the radiator which then dispenses the heat to the environment and get it out of the engine.  Rusty colored coolant typically means rust in the system and a “milky” color indicates oil is getting into the cooling system. In either case, the coolant needs to be changed with a procedure called "flush and fill" and should be done periodically according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

A good rule of thumb to follow: Power equipment has about the same heat tolerance as human.  When you get too hot to work, just remember to bring your equipment inside as well. To gain more information regarding outdoor power equipment, call or stop by Imperial Services.

Make sure to visit our website for a total list of our Inventory and Rental Equipment. Imperialservicesinc.com