If your reading this, you’re probably considering buying a skid steer loader or bobcat. You will need to consider a few things.

What are the Service & Maintenance costs?

• What is the cost of a basic service?
• What is the cost of a major service?

Do I need to get genuine parts?

• Genuine parts are usually more expensive
• Aftermarket parts are readily available and cheaper
• Genuine parts usually need to be used if it’s still under warranty

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection?

• Getting a professional opinion can save you money on the purchase
• Can save you money down the road

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If you’re looking for a bobcat pre-purchase inspection, bobcat repairs or regular bobcat servicing call DieselWest for professional service and professional advice. No matter what your brand or model.

It can’t be said enough; prevention is the best cure.
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Preventative maintenance’s main purpose is to avoid you being stuck on the side of the road on a rainy Friday afternoon with screaming kids in the car or on a busy job site holding up the planning schedule and avoiding costly towing or repair costs.
Regular servicing by your mechanic can pick up these minor problems before they become a big hassle to you, your business or your customers.

Keeping an eye out for any oil leaks on the ground or new noises when you’re driving. Can go a long way to letting you know when it’s time to get it looked at by a professional.

Having issues with your 4x4 or earth-moving machinery?
Does your bobcat, excavator or truck need a service?
Contact DieselWest to discuss your requirements

Coolant is an important requirement for your engine to run without overheating. In today's modern high performance diesel engines as little as 5% loss in coolant within your engine cooling system can cause overheating issues.

There are many reasons your coolant could be leaking. Perished radiator hoses, radiator leaking, heater leaking the list goes on.

Truck got a coolant leak that needs looking at? 
You don't know where it's coming from? 
Then DieselWest is the mobile diesel mechanic for you. We can carry out coolant system diagnosis and repairs to all types of trucks and machinery, and being mobile we can come to you.

International 5470 coolant leak on engine oil cooler that needed repairs onsite.

There are many moving parts that make your car, skid steer bobcat or loader operating the way it should. It’s drive-line being a big part of what keeps you moving.

Frequent checks and keeping on top of your daily, weekly and scheduled servicing to help stop the small drive-line issues becoming major problems and costing more money to fix.
Whether it be an inspection or a quick greasing to changing transmission, gearbox or transfer case oils these go a long way in prolonging the wear and tear on your car or machine.

Got drive-line issues?
Contact DieselWest for your drive-line maintenance and repairs. 

​This is a sign of an issue with your cooling system. If it’s left for too long it can develop into an expensive repair bill.

There can be a few causes of oil in your cooling system. A leak from your engine such as an oil cooler or cylinder head/gasket issue.

Cooling systems usually combine an automatic transmission oil cooler in the cooling system, which can sometimes leak oil to your radiator or coolant into your gearbox. Either way put simply oil should not be in your cooling system or coolant in your engine or transmission oil.
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DieselWest can carry out diagnosis and repairs to your engine, transmission or cooling system. 

Maintaining your cooling system is very important to keeping your engine from overheating.

In modern diesel engine cooling systems a loss of 5% or more can cause your engine to overheat.

Regularly checking your coolant level and fixing cooling system leaks can go a long way to maintaining your cooling system and prevention of engine overheating issues.

Changing out your coolant at the scheduled intervals will help stop damage caused by corrosion.
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Top ups also need to be done using coolant either pre-mixed or concentrates used with demineralised water. Using tap water can accelerate the corrosion of components and the deterioration of radiator hoses.

If your reading this chances are you have a hydraulic ram that is leaking on your machine.

Earth-moving machinery relies very heavily on it’s hydraulic cylinders to operate it’s intended function whether it be to move your excavator bucket lower your skid steers loader boom, there are a multitude of uses for hydraulic cylinders.

Hydraulic systems are required to be as clean as possible to operate correctly & efficiently. If you have a hydraulic oil leak from a leaking hose, leaking o-ring or leaking ram, if oil can get, out dirt & moisture can get in.

Dirt & moisture can cause a lot of issues in your hydraulic system. From oil contamination and degradation reducing the oils service life and causing damage to your seals and moving parts such as hydraulic pumps, hydraulic valves or hydraulic cylinders causing them to leak.

​If your ram is leaking it will need to be resealed to bring it back to its former glory and do what you need it to do. If you need your machines hydraulic system checked out or hydraulic cylinder re-sealed give DieselWest a phone call today.

Hydraulic oil leaks can be easy to find or difficult to determine the source of the leak.
They can be a slow weep to a fast flowing leak leaving a puddle of hydraulic oil.

Hydraulic hoses can leak for a variety of reasons from ageing, rub-throughs or damaged from operating movements. It is important to regularly inspect hydraulic hose condition to prevent your machine breaking down when you least expect it.

A leaking o-ring can cause a large oil leak. O-rings can age, fatigue or blow out from high pressure. Ensuring the correct type & grade of o-ring is used is essential to stopping the leak and preventing it from occurring again.

Oil seals are used on a variety of hydraulic components from pumps, motors and cylinders. Keeping an eye on your oil levels and visually inspecting leaks on your machine is a good way to pick up those small leaks before they become big expensive ones costing more money to fix and more down time.
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DieselWest can diagnose your hydraulic leak whether it be on a skid steer, excavator or any other type of machinery. Give DieselWest a call today to get your leaks checked out.

Hydraulic cylinders play an important role in your machines ability to do the work you bought it for.There are a few tell-tale signs that can point to the cylinder needing repairing.

​Is it leaking Oil?
Oil leaks are the easiest to spot usually leaking onto the machine or leaving a patch of oil on the ground. If it is then your cylinder needs to be stripped down and re-sealed. Some of the time this can mean removal of the cylinder from the machine.

Is the cylinder getting unusually hot?
If the cylinder is getting abnormally hot this can be caused by the internal seals of the cylinder bypassing and not sealing anymore causing excess heat to be generated in the cylinder. The only way to fix this is to replace your hydraulic cylinder seals.

Does it creep or move on it’s when not being operated?
This is another symptom that can be caused by the internal seals being faulty, bypassing and needing replacement.

Getting your hydraulic cylinder resealed can be a simple or complex process depending on what has caused it to start leaking. Does it need machining? Which most likely will need to be done in a workshop. The cylinder can either be stripped down and repaired in a workshop or carried out onsite.
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If your hydraulic cylinder needs re-sealing or other repairs call DieselWest and have a chat about your hydraulic cylinder issues. 

While all types of earthmoving machinery at some stage will need servicing or repairs, maintaining your excavator requires specialist knowledge and expertise. But there are a few ways you can keep these costs down, such as:

• Regular greasing
• Daily oil level checks
• Daily visual inspection for leaks
• Track & roller inspections
• Adjust your tracks tension as required

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Depending on the manufacturer of your excavator the service schedule & intervals can vary. Some brands require more TLC than others. Here are a few generic service intervals to give you an idea.

• 250Hr

Usually the most basic and least costly usually more of an inspection

• 500Hr

This can compare to say your cars minor servicing. Can include engine oil and filter change

• 1000Hr

At this interval there is usually all the pre-mentioned service tasks plus a few more component inspections & oils to change out

• 2000Hr

Comparing to your cars Major service this includes the other service interval requirements can include hydraulic oil and filters and an engine valve set to be done.
These are only a generic guideline the original manufacturer may have specific service recommendations depending on the model and even serial number of your excavator.

If your excavator is due for a service or needs a more in-depth hydraulic fault diagnosis or repair. Contact DieselWest for your servicing and repair needs.