As the dog days begin, the weather has become extremely hot. Small excavators also need to be properly “lightened” under high temperatures. Excessive ambient and operating temperatures can significantly affect the service life and work efficiency of a small excavator. Only at appropriate operating temperatures can a small excavator achieve its best performance and extended lifespan. Below are the impacts of high summer temperatures on equipment and key maintenance points, with a focus on small excavators.

Engine Cooling
Taking the Wacker Neuson series of small excavators as an example, the coolant has a service life of 1,000 hours or one year and must be replaced on time. When the engine runs at high temperatures, heat dissipation relies mainly on the coolant, with the fan as a supplement. The protective agents in the coolant are chemical substances; prolonged use significantly reduces cooling efficiency. Some users add tap water for convenience, but under high temperatures, water forms scale that blocks the cooling channels, leading to poor heat dissipation and even engine damage. Therefore, always use proper coolant in summer. The engine compartment of a small excavator is relatively compact, making heat dissipation more dependent on high-quality coolant—never cut corners.

Fan Belt and Engine Cleaning
Inspect the fan belt daily. If it is too loose, the fan speed will be insufficient, affecting external engine cooling. Replace the belt periodically if necessary. Engine cooling is critical in summer; oil or dust buildup on the engine exterior can also hinder heat dissipation. Regularly cleaning the engine exterior improves cooling performance. For small excavators that often operate in dusty environments, keeping the engine exterior clean is especially important.

Monitoring the Instrument Panel
All small excavators have a water temperature gauge on the instrument panel that displays the coolant temperature in real time. If the needle enters the red zone and the indicator light and buzzer activate, the coolant is overheating. In this case, let the engine idle until the temperature drops and the light goes off, then shut down the engine. Check the coolant level and add more if necessary, but never open the coolant filler cap. Under high temperatures, the coolant is pressurized, and opening the cap can cause burns. Incorrect operation may also damage the engine. The cooling system of a small excavator is relatively compact and heats up faster, so operators must always pay attention to the temperature warning.

External Radiator and Fan Blades
Inspect the cooler daily and clean the radiator as needed. In dusty or polluted environments, cleaning must be performed more frequently than specified in the maintenance schedule. Failure to clean the radiator regularly leads to insufficient heat dissipation, abnormally high coolant temperatures, reduced engine power, lower work efficiency, and potential engine damage. Additionally, check the fan blades regularly. On older small excavators operating in harsh conditions, fan blades may become damaged or missing, resulting in inadequate airflow and poor cooling. If the blades show signs of aging, replace them promptly to prevent broken blades from detaching during operation and causing damage to the engine or radiator, which would lead to unnecessary losses. The radiator of a small excavator is often tightly arranged and prone to debris accumulation—special attention should be paid to blockages between the fins during cleaning.