Winterising Your Groundcare Machinery: Maintenance That Pays Off

As winter sets in and frost takes hold, your groundcare equipment needs attention. From lawn mowers to snow blowers, proper winterisation protects your investment and ensures your machines are ready to roll when spring returns.

Here’s how to keep your groundcare machinery in peak condition through the colder months:

1. Clean It Top to Bottom

Before putting any machine into storage, clean it thoroughly. Remove grass clippings, soil, and debris. Clean machines not only look better—they resist corrosion and operate more efficiently.

2. Inspect and Replace Filters

Check air, oil, and fuel filters against the manufacturer’s schedule. Dirty filters restrict flow and strain the engine—especially in cold weather. Use high-quality replacements for reliable performance in low temps.

3. Stabilise the Fuel

If your machine will sit idle, add a fuel stabiliser. Run the engine briefly to circulate it through the system. This prevents gum, varnish, and hard starts later.

4. Check and Change the Oil

Cold starts demand fresh oil. If your oil is old or contaminated, change it before winter. Use winter-grade oils where needed, as they flow better in low temperatures.

5. Examine Belts and Chains

Inspect belts and chains for cracks, wear, or slack. Replace anything suspect. Proper tension prevents strain on the engine and supports smoother operation.

6. Lubricate All Moving Parts

Apply grease or lubricant to pivot points, linkages, and hinges. This prevents rust and keeps components moving freely, even when frozen conditions hit.

7. Check Tyre Pressure

Cold weather drops tyre pressure. Low pressure can lead to poor traction and stability. Check and inflate to the correct levels throughout the season.

8. Protect the Battery

Cold kills batteries fast. Fully charge it, and if possible, remove it for indoor storage. If the battery must stay in place, use a maintainer to keep it charged and prevent deep discharge.

9. Store Indoors (If You Can)

Indoor storage protects equipment from snow, ice, and moisture. If space is tight, use weatherproof covers to reduce exposure to the elements.

10. Inspect and Sharpen Blades

Dull or damaged blades reduce performance and stress your equipment. Sharpen or replace mower blades and cutting tools now so they’re ready when the season changes.

11. Prep for Snow Work

If your machinery handles snow removal, now’s the time to inspect and test blowers, ploughs, or attachments. Make sure everything is functioning properly before the first snowfall hits.

12. Follow Manufacturer Guidelines

Always check your equipment manual for winter-specific recommendations. Each model may have unique requirements you don’t want to overlook.

Keep Winter Maintenance Simple with RICO Europe

Need new filters, oil, or parts for your winter prep? RICO Europe has the tools to make it easy:

Part Finder

Find the exact filters your equipment needs—by make, model, or part number. No guesswork, just precision.

Oil Finder

Match the right cold-weather oil to your machine and operating conditions.

By using the right parts now, you’ll reduce repairs later—and avoid costly downtime come spring.

Try the Oil Finder and Part Finder Now.