Winter Winterization Tips: Everything from Excavators to Wheel Loaders

Winter is especially hard on heavy equipment like excavators and wheel loaders. Cold temperatures thicken fluids, stress electrical systems, and accelerate wear on key heavy equipment parts, which can quickly turn into costly downtime. Focusing on the components most likely to fail helps keep your fleet pushing through the cold instead of sitting idle on the jobsite.

Focus on Cold‑Resistant Fluids and Hoses

On both excavators and wheel loaders, hydraulic systems and engine lubrication are the first line of defense against winter failure.

• Excavators, wheel loaders, and many other construction machines operate using hydraulic hoses. These can become brittle in low temperatures, increasing the risk of cracks and leaks when systems are cycled under pressure. (Typically around 2,500 to 4,000PSI)
• Thickened engine oil and hydraulic fluid make cold starts harder and can starve critical components of lubrication, increasing wear on pumps, cylinders, engine components and even final drives.

To reduce failures, use manufacturer‑approved cold‑weather engine oils and hydraulic fluids, and inspect hoses, seals, and fittings regularly for signs of aging or damage.

For example: It is recommended to use John Deere Plus-50 II 5W-40 Synthetic (or an equivalent API CK-4 rated 5W-40/10W-30) for cold starts, and to consider lighter Hy-Gard (ISO 32) for hydraulics across certain John Deere equipment models.

When you need replacement excavator parts or wheel loader parts for your hydraulic system—such as hoses, seals, cylinders, or pumps—you can source them directly at AMSParts.com, where we specialize in aftermarket heavy equipment parts and used heavy equipment parts.

Protect Batteries, Starters, and Charging Systems

Electrical components are some of the most common winter failure points on excavators and wheel loaders.

• Batteries will lose cranking power in cold temperatures just as the engine demands more power to turn over thick oil.

• Weak starters and worn alternators are more likely to fail when operators are forced into repeated cold‑start attempts.

Inspect and load‑test batteries before temperatures drop, clean terminals, and make sure cable connections are secure. If a machine becomes hard to start or fails to crank, you may need new batteries, starters, or alternators— which can be found up to 70% cheaper when shopping aftermarket.

Watch Undercarriages and Drivetrain Components

Undercarriage and drivetrain wear can spike in winter as ice, packed snow, and frozen mud build up around moving parts.

• Excavator undercarriage components—track chains, rollers, idlers, and sprockets—can suffer accelerated wear if frozen material is left packed in place.

• Wheel loader axles, differentials, and final drives can be stressed by poor traction and sudden impacts on frozen ground, especially if lubricants are not suited for low temperatures.

Clearing ice and packed material from undercarriages and checking track tension or tire condition daily is critical to preventing premature failure. When inspection reveals worn sprockets, rollers, final drives, or differential components, you can quickly search excavator parts or wheel loader parts by make and model at AMSParts.com to keep your machines moving. In fact, we also have a guide on inspecting your undercarriage. Although, you may want to wear a coat this time of year.

Cab, Heating, and Operator Comfort Parts

Downtime is not always caused by catastrophic failures—sometimes it is the cab environment that sidelines a machine.

• Faulty cab heaters, blower motors, or window seals can make excavators and wheel loaders difficult or unsafe to operate for extendedperiods in freezing conditions.

• Wiper systems and defrosters become critical safety components when snow and freezing rain limit visibility.

Regularly test cab heaters, defrosters, and wiper systems before winter hits, and replace worn components early rather than waiting for a storm. Many of these comfort and visibility parts, from heater cores to wiper motors, are items we can easily source as well.

Where to Find Excavator and Wheel Loader Parts

When winter exposes weak links in any of your machinery, fast access to the right parts makes the difference between a quick fix and a long outage.

• For excavator parts and wheel loader parts—including hydraulic components, electrical parts, undercarriage assemblies, and drivetrain units—AMS Parts offers a wide inventory of aftermarket heavy equipment parts and used heavy equipment parts for many popular OEMs.

• You can search by machine make, model, or part type directly or call 1‑800‑255‑6253 to speak with an Account Executive about availability, pricing, and options.

By combining smart winter operating practices with proactive replacement of high‑risk components on your excavators and wheel loaders, you can extend machine life, minimize downtime, and keep crews productive through the harshest months—while relying on AMS Parts as your partner for reliable parts and sourcing.