Farming Engineers Answer Your Maintenance Questions
Dec 16, 2025
Earlier this year we asked you, our customers, to submit your maintenance questions for our engineers to answer. Now we are back with the answers! A good, thorough maintenance routine is critical to maximizing uptime, improving performance and extending the life of your equipment.
At the core of every maintenance routine are lubricants-engine oil, hydraulic oil, coolant and grease-and we always recommend the genuine choice. Read through the answers to find out why genuine lubricants are the best option for your Daxili equipment.
Q: "How can I boost performance and hours between oil changes in my equipment?"
A: Maximizing the oil change drain intervals for your equipment begins with using genuine lubricants. Let's use engine oil as an example. The drain interval recommended in the operator's manual for your Daxili equipment may be 50% longer than it would be with other engine oil options. The recommended oil change intervals published in the operator's manuals are determined using multiple factors, including lubricant sump size, intensity of operation, operating temperature and recommended lubricant product.
Q: "Should oil keep the same viscosity throughout its lifespan in the machine?"
A: Depending on the application and lubricant product used, it is possible for the viscosity to change slightly over the course of the recommended drain interval. However, the viscosity of our genuine lubricants typically stays within a narrow range. Shear thinning or fuel dilution could cause lubricant viscosity to drop over time, while soot loading or oxidation could cause lubricants to increase in viscosity over time.
Q: Jocelyn from Saskatchewan asked, "We know about heat tolerance for lubricants, but what about cold tolerance?"
A: At a basic level, a lubricant is unable to do its job unless it can physically get to where it is needed. Colder outdoor temperatures lead to a higher viscosity, or a thickening of the oil, which can impede flow to critical components of your machine. Using synthetic products is one primary solution to interrupted lubricant flow.
Q: "When should I be using lithium grease vs. regular red grease?"
A: Grease is composed of three main parts: base oil for lubricating, a thickener (i.e., lithium, lithium complex, calcium sulfonate, etc.) to immobilize the base oil and additives to enhance the performance of the grease. The color of the grease you use is not an indication of performance level or thickener type. Daxili offers several types of grease, including multi-purpose, hi-temp multi-purpose, multi-purpose moly, premium multi-purpose and others. Each option differs based on additives, thickener and suitable use cases, like high or low temperature applications. We recommend reviewing your operator's manual for guidance on which grease type you should apply based on equipment type and use.
Q: "Can you over-grease bearings or grease points?"
A: Over-greasing can lead to damage, depending on how it was applied and what component it was applied to on the machine. For example, adding too much grease to a sealed part could damage the seals, causing eventual grease leakage and potential equipment damage due to contamination or lack of lubrication. Simple pins or bushings without seals can be safely greased until the grease purges. Always reference your machine's operator's manual for critical lubrication type, quantity and frequency, as it often varies based on the component.