Winterizing Heavy Equipment

By Sammuel MacMullin | Proven Mining Solutions Inc.

When the temperatures drop and frost hits the window, your gear needs more than a warm-up—it needs a plan. Winter can be brutal on machines, especially when they’re expected to work like it’s business as usual in sub-zero weather.

Here’s what we look at when getting equipment ready for cold conditions, and what you can do to make sure your fleet doesn’t freeze up when the real work begins.

❄️ Why Winter Prep Matters

It’s not just about cold starts. Sub-zero temps mess with hydraulics, batteries, seals, sensors—you name it. One overlooked system and suddenly your machine’s locked up, throwing codes, or refusing to start when you need it most.

Prepping early saves time, money, and a lot of swearing on a frozen job site.

🔧 Your Cold Weather Prep Checklist

1. Battery Health & Load Testing

-> Cold drains battery strength—fast. A weak battery in summer becomes a dead one in winter.

-> Test under load

-> Clean terminals

-> Replace anything borderline now (not when it dies at 6 a.m. on a -25° morning)

2. Block Heaters, Timers & Diesel Engine Heaters

-> Make sure your cold start setup is ready to go. Block heaters are a must—but diesel engine heaters are another solid option, especially in northern sites where -30°C is just another Tuesday.

-> Test block heaters and cords

-> Use timers to save power and cycle heat efficiently

-> Consider installing diesel engine heaters for faster starts and reduced engine wear

-> Need one installed? Give Proven Mining a call—we can supply and install diesel engine heaters tailored to your fleet and operating conditions.

3. Hydraulic Oil & Transmission Fluids

-> Thick fluid = slow performance and stressed pumps.

-> Swap to winter-grade oils if recommended

-> Watch for sluggish hydraulics on startup—don’t force it cold

4. Air Dryers & Moisture Drain

-> Air systems build condensation that will freeze if not drained. Frozen valves or stuck brakes = downtime.

-> Drain tanks regularly

-> Check the air dryer is functioning and filters are fresh

5. Fuel System Prep

-> Diesel gelling is a real thing.

-> Add anti-gel treatments

-> Keep filters fresh

-> Check water separators and drain them often

6. DEF System Caution

-> DEF freezes at -11°C.

-> Ensure heaters are working

-> Let systems complete their warm-up cycle before heavy use

-> Never top off with DEF stored outside in freezing temps

7. Grease Points & Seals

-> Use cold-weather grease where applicable. Hardened grease or cracked seals can lead to failures mid-shift.

🧠 Pro Tip from the Field

If you’re running equipment outdoors overnight, make cold starts part of your daily FLHA. Pre-trip walkarounds in the cold expose a lot of problems fast—leaks, voltage drops, air leaks—and they’re easier to fix before the rest of the site starts moving.

🔧 Need Help Getting Your Fleet Ready?

Whether you’ve got one unit or a full yard of iron to winterize, ProvenMining can inspect, service, and prep your equipment to handle the freeze without the fuss.

📞 587‑723‑8777

🌐 provenmining.ca