Using the correct machine lubricants for your machines can make the difference between effective, efficient performance and time consuming, costly downtime. Improper use of lubricants can lead to accelerated component wear and major repairs. To ensure optimal operation, it's important to adhere to the specifications in your owner's manual and follow our tips for choosing the right fluids and lubricants.

Hydraulic oil

Hydraulic fluid is used to transfer power from one component to another while at the same time protecting the entire hydraulic system by lubricating the parts it comes into contact with. Here are some tips for choosing the right hydraulic fluid:

• Be cautious of zinc – With anti-wear and antioxidant properties, zinc is commonly used in a variety of hydraulic fluids. The problem is that it can also cause the corrosion of yellow metals and have a negative environmental impact. For these reasons, many machine owners have turned to synthetic additives that have similar protective properties as zinc without the damaging effects. Always check your operating manual to ensure the metal of your components is compatible with zinc additives.
• Always use water emulsifiers – Water can cause real damage to equipment parts and engines. That's why it's important to use hydraulic fluids that have emulsifiers, which will disperse the water and minimize the risk of damage.
• Always filter before adding – Prior to adding hydraulic fluid to your machine, you should always filter it first. Filtering will help you avoid contamination that can lead to accelerated component wear and system failure.

Choosing transmission oil

Transmission oil is necessary to ensure optimal clutch performance and critical to protect gears and bearings from excessive wear. It also helps keep parts cool while the machine is in use.

When choosing the type of transmission fluid to add to your engine, always check your operator's manual, and consider the weather conditions. If the machine will be working in various types of environments and temperatures, use a multi-season oil to avoid unnecessary changes with each new season.

Changing transmission oil

Different machines and engines require transmission oil and filter changes at different intervals. You should always follow the guidelines laid out in your machine's operator manual to determine the right intervals.

When changing the transmission fluid, you should be careful to not contaminate the system. Wash the transmission tank before removing the cap, drain the oil as quickly as possible, keep filters sealed in their package until you are ready for them, and install filters carefully without dropping them.

Grease

Grease is required to minimize friction and wear and help ensure optimal machine performance. When deciding on which grease to use, check your owner's manual to learn the specifications that meet the engine's minimum operating needs. Choose a grease that exceeds these requirements to maximize life and performance of its parts.

Contact the experts at Pittman Tractor to ensure you use the right machine lubricant and oil!

Once your asphalt material is laid down, follow the best practices below to ensure it is compacted properly.

• Mix Temperature – In general, the hotter the mix, the better the compaction result. However, the ideal rolling temperature varies based on a variety of factors, like mix composition, layer thickness, and the binding agent used.
• Roller Passes – The best way to complete asphalt compaction is to start at the seams and then move along the edge of the pavement. In bends or turns, the compactor operator should compact the lane that has the smallest radius first and press down the pavement on the next pass. Dynamic compaction is used for subsequent passes with the whole operation completed by a final roller pass to remove any remaining imperfections.
• Base Conditions – Base type and condition alter the level of compaction required in a new layer of asphalt. The amount of compaction needed depends on if the asphalt layer is on top of sub grade soil, aggregate base course, cold mix asphalt, cracked asphalt pavement, new asphalt concrete, or Portland cement concrete pavement. 
• Environment – The temperature of the air and base, wind speed, and cloud cover all affect the cooling rate of the mix and the level of compaction required.

3 factors that affect your screed depth

• Speed – The faster you travel the less your screed will rise up on the head of material, so you will need to increase your attachment angle. Similarly, if you are slowing down to make a turn or a tie in, the screed will ride up on the head of material more.
• Mix – The asphalt you put through your spreader changes day to day and even truck to truck. It may have more aggregate, more liquid, or it may have sat longer. With this in mind, you always need to watch your depth and match height and make fine adjustments as needed.
• Screed angle - The attachment angle on your screed controls the depth. When starting a new job for the first time, make sure you null out your screed on a flat surface. Once you set down on the mat for your first pull, then adjust your screed. It is typical for one turn of the screw to increase or decrease the material height by ½ inch.

Most common screed error: dropping the match height lower than the main screed

The match height adjusts the extension up or down in relation to the main screed. It needs to be adjusted in order to get the perfect mat. However, if you drop it lower than the main screed, you will get material starvation on your main screed. Soon after you will see shadowing or tearing behind your main screed and the screed will start to dive because it doesn't have any material to ride on.

To avoid this from happening, you should set the extension match height to the point where you start to see a small line coming off the corner of your main screed. Once you have that, you can leave it there, because this will typically roll out easily. However, if you want that perfect look, bump your match height down slightly to remove your line. Don't go too far, however, or you will have the same problem stated above.

Contact Pittman Tractor for more information on asphalt paving and asphalt compaction!

Conduct daily walkaround inspections

It is essential that operators perform daily walkaround inspections for any equipment that is used on a jobsite. A careful inspection will allow small issues to be addressed before they become larger, more expensive and potentially dangerous problems. If any issues are noticed, operators should report them immediately and should not use the machine.

Examinations should include:

• Looking for any fluids on the ground around a parked machine
• Fluid and battery levels
• Tire condition and inflation level
• Horns and lights
• Safety gear, including seat belt and backup alarms

Look and Listen for Equipment Irregularities

It's important for operators to be alert for potential equipment malfunctions on the jobsite. Things to look for include intermittent electrical failures, inappropriate noises, cracks or other signs of impending breakage, and any damage to a machine.

Know what situations increase the risk of tipping or overturning

Fast swings of a load put machines at risk. Be sure operators are moving loads carefully and adhering to prudent speed limits. Never exceed the working range or lifting capacity of a piece of equipment and keep the machine as level as possible when operating.

Test drive before purchasing

Renting is an easy, obligation-free way to try out a piece of construction equipment that you aren't certain about buying. It's also a great method of determining whether or not a machine meets your size, power, productivity, and fuel-efficiency needs.

Rent on your schedule

Pittman Tractor's flexible rentals offer daily, weekly, and monthly rental rates, making it easy to only pay for construction equipment rentals when you need them. Return the machine when you don't need it, pick it back up again when you do. For added convenience, we offer jobsite delivery and pickup via our fleet of delivery trucks and trailers.

Perfect for specialized and short term projects

If you need a specialized piece of construction machinery for a short-term or one-time job, renting is very likely your best option. Instead of having to buy a new piece of equipment that may do more or less than you need it to, renting allows you to operate the specific type and size of equipment that best fits the job.

» Check Out Our Rental Fleet

Tips and Best Practices

General safety instructions

• Always conduct a complete safety check and daily walkaround to identify potential hazards.
• Only trained and experienced drivers should operate rollers and other road construction equipment.
• Find out where fire extinguishers, first aid supplies and alarm telephones are located before beginning work.
• Drive slowly in sharp bends and avoid driving across slopes. Always drive straight up or straight down the slope.
• No crew members should ever position themselves between the paver and a hauling truck backing into the hopper.
• Ensure there are no obstacles or obstructions in the direction of travel of paving and compaction equipment, either on the ground or overhead.
• Always use the machine's ROPS (roll over protective structure) when operating on uneven or unsafe ground.
• Use steps and handholds to climb safely into trucks and equipment.
• Inform the operator before climbing into a truck bed.
• Do not climb onto truck running boards, unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Do not distract equipment operators with excessive talking.
• Keep other vehicles that aren't in use parked out of the way of traffic.
• Use hearing protection if the noise level exceeds 80 dB(A).
• Avoid operating rollers near edges and ditches, as the ground conditions and bearing strength may not support the roller.
• Always drink plenty of water when working on a road or paving job during the summer, as heat exhaustion can set in suddenly.

What to wear

• Always wear long sleeve shirts and full length pants to protect arms and legs. Clothing should not be loose fitting, however, as loose clothing can get caught in moving parts.
• Ensure your crew uses safety vests and colored jackets so they are easily visible while working on the road.
• Hard hats should be worn at all times in order to prevent falling or flying objects that could result in serious or life threatening head injuries.
• ANSI approved safety glasses should be worn at all times to avoid eye injuries. Approved glasses are marked on the frame, lens or both.
• Wear steel toe work boots that extend above the ankle and have non-skid holes.
• Use gloves to protect hands while climbing in and out of equipment.

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is sprayed into the exhaust stream of diesel vehicles to reduce emissions by treating exhaust gases after they have left the engine.

DEF makeup and purpose

DEF is a non-hazardous solution made up of purified water and urea. It is not a fuel additive. Colorless and similar to baking soda in its alkalinity (pH), DEF breaks down nitrogen oxides in the exhaust stream in order to meet emissions control standards. This technology is called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and is used in select models of Tier 4 equipment to meet applicable standards.

Tips for use and storage

• Store DEF at a temperature between 32°F and 86°F.
• Keep DEF out of direct sunlight.
• DEF should only be stored in a plastic or stainless steel container, as it can cause rust to form in raw steel containers.
• Use only a DEF nozzle. DEF tanks are sized to allow only a DEF fill nozzle to be inserted, ensuring that the proper fluid is pumped into the tank.
• Keep a supply of DEF available, because equipment will cease to operate once the DEF tank is dry. DEF tanks will hold between 15 and 50 gallons, depending on the size and horsepower of your equipment.

Fluid level indicators

• A DEF gauge shows the fluid level and indicates when it is time to refill.
• A series of warnings will alert the operator when the DEF fluid level is at less than 10% of capacity.
• Engine power is reduced if the DEF tank contains less than 5% of its capacity, although you will typically have enough power to travel a short distance and add more fluid to the tank.
• The DEF tank needs to be filled once for every 3 to 4 times that you refuel with diesel fuel. This frequency will vary with operating conditions.

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