From a workshop tech who’s cooked enough knuckles to know better.
Every year, like clockwork, summer rolls into Central Australia and reminds us who’s boss. The calls start coming in, machines limp through the door, and operators swear “it was running fine yesterday.” Sure it was — until the heat got to it. Truth is, heat doesn’t just make your crew grumpy… it quietly chews through engines, batteries, seals. It affects anything that spins, pumps, or burns fuel. Here’s the real breakdown of what the heat does to your equipment — straight from the workshop bench.
Heat Doesn’t Kill Machines Fast, It Kills Them Quietly
Everyone expects a dramatic meltdown, smoke, steam, alarms screaming. But in Central Australia, heat usually works more like termites: slow, sneaky, and expensive. Here’s what we see all summer:
Oil Quality Type. When it’s 40°C outside, engine oil thins out. That means less protection, more friction, and bearings that wear out long before their time. Having the right type of oil for your machine is essential.
Cooling Systems Tap Out. Dust cakes fins. Radiators block up. Coolant levels get low. Suddenly, the machine’s running at temperatures that make it want to throw its tools down and walk off the job.
Batteries Age Fast. Heat is a battery’s worst enemy. We test a lot of them. Most failures start in summer, the battery doesn’t “die” until winter.
Rubber Seals Crack and Shrink. Hoses, boots, gaskets – all the boring stuff people ignore until a leak shows up. Heat accelerates every bit of their aging.
How to beat the Heat, Before It Beats Your Equipment
Here’s the good news: most summer breakdowns are preventable. A few simple habits can save thousands.
Stick to Oil Change Intervals (Or Shorten Them) In this heat, pushing oils too far is a bad gamble. Make sure you’re using the right oil type for your machine and change it often. Fresh oil = cooler engine.
Keep the Airflow Clean. Dust loves clogging filters and radiators. Give them a blow out more often. Not a blast that bends fins — a gentle clean. Preventing build-up is key.
Top Up Coolant, Before You Need To. Running low in summer is asking for trouble. Keep a bottle on hand and check your levels at the beginning of the work day. Do a quick check over clamps and hoses while you’re there.
Park in the Shade, Even if It’s Just a Tree. You’d be shocked how much heat soak affects starting, performance, and battery life. Any shade will help minimize wear and tear.
Watch for Early Warning Signs. Anything that feels “off” probably is.
- Hard starting
- Hot smells
- Loss of power
- Overheating after only light work
Final Word From the Workshop
Machines don’t fail because they’re weak. They fail because our environment is brutal. Stay on top of airflow, lubrication, and cooling, and your gear will get through summer without kicking up a fuss.
Need help? Bring it in — we’ve seen it all and fixed most of it twice
