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Regardless of what fuel prices do, buildings must continue to be built, trenches must continue to be dug and equipment must continue to be transported. Most importantly, your business must continue to make money.

According to Brian Rabe, Mustang product specialist, six simple steps can help improve your excavator’s fuel efficiency, thus reducing the impact high fuel prices are having on your installation division’s profitability.

AIR CLEANER

This is the easiest and most cost-effective change to make that has the largest impact on fuel efficiency. As an air filter gets clogged with dirt, it loses maximum air flow. And if the engine can’t get the air it needs, it cannot perform to specifications. That’s why changing/cleaning your air filter on a regular basis can significantly improve fuel economy.

Some excavators come standard with an air flow restriction indicator to warn the operator that it is time to change the filters. However, waiting for this warning means you’re already to the point where you’re likely wasting fuel.

“The manufacturer’s operator manual typically suggests when to change the air filter, but visual inspection should be done every 50 hours to ensure peak operating performance,” Rabe points out. “Most machines allow quick and easy access to the filter and can easily be inspected daily before starting the job.”

GREASE FITTINGS

Keeping the working end of an excavator properly lubricated can help improve fuel efficiency by requiring less power to perform digging functions. The easier it is for these components to move, the easier it is for the hydraulic system. “The majority of grease fittings on the working end of an excavator should be greased daily, or weekly at the longest,” Rabe advises.

HYDRAULIC OIL

Changing the hydraulic oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations can help improve hydraulic system efficiency, which in turn can help improve fuel efficiency. Excavators are basically a hydraulic power unit. So, the more efficient the hydraulics, the less power that’s required to perform the tasks.

ENGINE OIL

Changing the engine oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations ensures proper lubrication, which means less resistance during operation. The easier it is for an engine to spin, the more efficient it will be.

LOWER ENGINE RPM

If the job you are performing does not require full power, Rabe says running the engine at a slightly lower engine RPM can have a significant impact on fuel economy. Most compact excavators have very efficient hydraulic systems that function with power and control, even at reduced engine RPM.

“Most landscapers aren’t doing production digging on a daily basis, so a low RPM is usually fine,” says Darren Wilson, Caterpillar’s mini hydraulic excavator (MHE) industry manager for North America. “Large retaining wall jobs might call for more power, but most landscaping work is smaller and more detail-oriented.”

There are generally three working modes on a compact excavator, says Edgar Chavez, New Holland Construction’s director of marketing. “Standard mode” will more than suffice in most landscape applications. Running the excavator in “heavy mode,” for instance, will simply waste a lot of fuel without increasing productivity.

Try to run the engine at a lower RPM during operation and listen to the engine. If the engine is laboring while performing the task, you can slowly raise the engine RPM until the engine doesn’t labor any longer. This will set the engine RPM to the best effective efficiency.

AIR CONDITIONING

Utilizing air conditioning in some environments is a requirement. When possible, though, turn off the air conditioning and open the windows for ventilation. Most excavators have the ability to open the front window, side windows and door(s) for excellent ventilation.

If you must run the air conditioning, use this feature efficiently by keeping the doors and windows shut during operation. Utilizing a two-way radio for communication can help with this. Opening the doors to communicate during air conditioning operation can raise cab temperatures, requiring the air conditioning to run for longer intervals.