Caterpillar (www.caterpillar.com) publishes Cold Weather Recommendations for All Caterpillar Machines, (Excerpted from Operation & Maintenance Manual, SEBU5898-11-01). Further, Caterpillar organizes the document about construction machinery and heavy equipment in cold weather and low temperatures in the following five topical sections of information, operation, maintenance, reference information, and index.

In the second of the five topical sections in Cold Weather Recommendations for All Caterpillar Machines, Operation Section, Starting Recommendations, Engine Starting Information, Caterpillar divides cold weather into the following four categories based on temperature ranges. Accordingly, review daily reports, outlook reports, and real-time reports to make better-informed decisions about the probability and intensity of low temperature events.

Categories of Cold Weather

  • Category 1
    • 48 to 15 °F
    • 9 to −9.5 °C
  • Category 2
    • 15 to 0 °F
    • −9.5 to −18 °C
  • Category 3
    • 0 to −22 °F
    • −18 to −30 °C
  • Category 4
    • −22 to −40 °F
    • −30 to −40 °C

Category 2 Starting Aids

  • All Altitudes
    • Engine Model: All Models
    • Recommended: Continuous Flow Ether
    • Optional: Coolant Heater or Heavy Duty Battery and Starter Package

In Engine Starting Information, Category 2, from 15 to 0 °F or from -9.5 to −18 °C, Caterpillar recommends to “use only Caterpillar 10W-30 oil, or a lower viscosity multi-grade oil, that meets ECF-1 requirements. Do not use SAE 15W multi-grade oil in category 2 temperatures. Refer to the machine Operation and Maintenance Manual and Special Publication, SEBU6251 for more information.”

Category 3 Starting Aids

  • All Altitudes
    • Engine Model: All Models
    • Recommended: Continuous Flow Ether, Coolant Heater, and Heavy Duty Battery and Starter
    • Optional: Oil Heater, Fuel Heater, and Battery Warmer

In Engine Starting Information, Category 3, from 0 to -22 °F or from -18 to −30 °C, Caterpillar recommends to “only use SAE 5W-40 or a lower viscosity multi-grade oil. Do not use any SAE 15W or 10W multi-grade oils in category 3 temperatures. Refer to the machine Operation and Maintenance Manual and Special Publication, SEBU6251 for more information.” Further, contact your Caterpillar dealer for availability for your machine model.

(Source: Caterpillar, Cold Weather Recommendations for All Caterpillar Machines, Excerpted from Operation & Maintenance Manual, SEBU5898-11-01)

More in the next blog about heavy equipment and construction machinery in winter weather, cold temperatures and adverse conditions…

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