Surviving the Heat: 5 Critical Maintenance Checks for Saudi Summers
In Saudi Arabia, “summer” isn’t just a season—it’s an endurance test for your machinery. With ambient temperatures routinely exceeding 45°C (113°F) and sandstorms increasing in frequency, the operational stress on engines, hydraulics, and cooling systems spikes effectively overnight.
At GCC Olayan, we have seen firsthand how the harsh environment of the Rub’ al Khali or the humidity of Jeddah can bring a project to a standstill. The difference between a fleet that keeps running and one that overheats often comes down to one thing: Preventive Preparation.
Using the technical guidelines found in our Resources Hub, we have compiled the five essential checks every fleet manager must prioritize before the peak heat hits.
1. The Cooling System: Your First Line of Defense
It sounds obvious, but 40% of engine failures in summer are cooling-related.
- Action: Don’t just top up the water. Flush the radiator and replace the coolant with the manufacturer-specified mixture (often a 50/50 mix of water and glycol).
- Resource: Check the Scania Driver’s Guide in our Resources section for the exact coolant specifications for your model to prevent internal corrosion and boiling.
2. Air Filtration: The Silent Killer
The Kingdom’s fine sand (dust) behaves like sandpaper inside an engine. In summer, dry winds kick up more particulate matter.
- Action: Inspect air filters daily, not weekly. If the restriction indicator is red, change it immediately. Never try to “clean” a filter by banging it against a tire—this creates micro-tears that let dust in.
- Pro Tip: Use genuine Atlas Copco or Kenworth filters. As shown in our parts datasheets, genuine filters capture 99.9% of particles down to 5 microns, whereas generic alternatives often fail under high suction pressure.
3. Hydraulic Systems: Watch the Viscosity
Heat thins hydraulic oil. If your oil becomes too thin, your Kobelco excavator loses digging power, and internal pumps wear out faster due to lack of lubrication.
- Action: Check your hydraulic fluid levels and ensure you are using the correct viscosity grade for high-temperature environments (often ISO VG 68 in KSA summers).
- Resource: Download the Lubrication Chart from our Resources page to verify you are using the right grade for the current season.
4. Tires: The Pressure Problem
Asphalt temperatures can reach 70°C. Heat causes the air inside tires to expand. An over-inflated tire on a hot road is a blowout waiting to happen.
- Action: Check tire pressure early in the morning when the tires are “cold.” Do not bleed air from a hot tire during the day, as it will be under-inflated when it cools down.
5. Battery Health: Heat Kills Batteries
While we associate battery failure with cold, heat actually accelerates corrosion and evaporates electrolytes.
- Action: Clean the terminals of corrosion and check the electrolyte levels on non-maintenance-free batteries. Secure the battery hold-downs—vibration plus heat is a deadly combo for battery plates.
Download Your Seasonal Checklist
You don’t have to memorize these specs. We have made the official manufacturer maintenance schedules available digitally.
Visit our Resources Page today to download the specific Summer Preparation Guide for your Scania trucks, Atlas Copco generators, and Case IH tractors. A few minutes of reading today can save you thousands in repairs tomorrow.
