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Operators know they’re supposed to do preventive maintenance (PM) every day to keep a wheel loader in peak operating condition. Yet, how will they get all that dirt moved by the end of the day if they take extra time to check fluid levels, tires, grease points, etc.?

It can be tempting to skimp on these tasks to gain a few extra minutes and stay on schedule. But if you give in to that temptation and bypass daily service checks, you could end up short-changing the performance of your machine and, in the end, you may actually get less done.

“Use of recommended maintenance practices is paramount to the well being of the product,” says Frank Hepner, senior product service engineer, Caterpillar. “Extensive testing has been performed on various components to determine maintenance intervals and filter requirements.”

Consult the manual

As with other earthmoving machines, wheel loaders call for a simple daily maintenance routine to be set up and implemented. “Ideally, it should be performed by the operator at the start of the day,” says Nick Rogers, product specialist, Liebherr. “This should begin with a check of the fluid levels (hydraulic oil, engine oil and fuel) and end with a walk-around of the machine.”

While most loader models will have the same general rule of thumb as to when certain tasks should be completed, you should check the operator’s manual for your specific machine since slight variations may exist. Many manufacturers also may post service intervals on stickers affixed directly to the machine and located in an easily identifiable spot, such as the door.