Preventive maintenance for heavy machinery: how often, and what does it include?

Preventive, not corrective

Corrective maintenance — fixing once it has failed — always arrives late: the breakdown picks the worst moment, and a stopped machine doesn't cost the part, it costs the lost workday. Preventive maintenance changes filters, oils and wear parts before they fail, on planned intervals, and catches early what is starting to go wrong. The difference between them is the difference between a controlled cost and an emergency.

The hour-based plan: the manufacturer sets the intervals

Each manufacturer organizes maintenance by operating hours — generally daily checks and services at 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 hours — and the exact content of each service is in the operation and maintenance manual for your model and serial number. Bobcat, for example, packages maintenance in 250, 500, 1,000/1,500 and 3,000-hour kits depending on the family.

Keep a log per machine with date, hour-meter reading and what was done, and schedule against that counter. In severe conditions — dust, mud, heat, continuous work — some intervals get shorter; the manual says which.

Daily checklist before start-up

Ten minutes at the start of the shift prevent many surprises. It's the operator's job, which is why training them is part of the plan: the group's APMT Academy runs skid-steer and excavator operator courses.

• Engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil and fuel levels.
• Drain water from the fuel separator, if the manual says so.
• Air filter restriction indicator.
• Leaks and chafed or cracked hoses.
• Greasing of pins and bushings per the manual.
• Undercarriage or tires, teeth and cutting edges.
• Lights, backup alarm, seat belt and fire extinguisher.
• Dashboard with no alerts at start-up.

Filters, lubricants and contamination

According to Komatsu, 85% of system failures are caused by contaminants such as dust. That's why filters and clean oil are the cheapest and most profitable part of the plan: a dirty air filter also raises fuel consumption by about 3%, according to Komatsu's fuel-saving guide.

Oil analysis completes the picture: a sample at each service shows wear metals, water or coolant before there's noise or smoke. Komatsu contracts include KOWA oil analysis from level 2.

Genuine parts and warranty

A generic filter or seal may save a little today, but on a machine under warranty the decision isn't just about price. Komatsu Warranty Pro extends coverage beyond the standard 12 months, up to 60 months or 12,000 hours, and throughout the coverage the machine must use only genuine Komatsu parts, lubricants and filters. With Bobcat, genuine parts protect the machine's warranty, and Protection Plus extends it up to 5 years or 6,000 hours, according to Bobcat.

Out of warranty, there are quality alternatives for non-critical parts; for the engine, hydraulics and filtration, genuine is the safe bet.

KOMTRAX and Machine IQ: maintenance that reminds you

Telematics tracks the hour meter for you. KOMTRAX, included at no cost for Komatsu customers according to Komatsu, sends automatic maintenance reminders, abnormality codes and a cautions dashboard, along with real hours, idling and fuel use. Bobcat Machine IQ, in its basic package included when you buy the equipment, logs hours, fuel level and maintenance intervals. With that data you schedule service on time and see which machine is overworked or spends hours idling.

Komatsu service contracts: 5 levels

If you don't have your own workshop or your fleet is critical, the contract hands the plan to the dealer and fixes the cost. Komatsu service contracts have 5 cumulative levels: each one includes the previous. The extended warranty in levels 4 and 5 applies to equipment within the factory warranty period (first year), and scope depends on the country and model.

Bobcat after-sales

For Bobcat equipment — skid-steers, mini excavators, telehandlers and utility vehicles, in El Salvador and Panama — the plan follows the official maintenance schedule by model and serial number, with hour-based kits and genuine fluids. In the Bobcat Owner Portal you register your machines and get manuals, schedules and notices in one place.

Where to get maintenance done

Grupo ConstruMarket provides service in its own workshop or on site, with trained technicians and genuine parts with factory traceability, plus quality alternative options. To request parts or service, have the brand, model and serial number from the data plate at hand. Komatsu: El Salvador, Guatemala (CMARKET), Nicaragua and Panama. Bobcat: El Salvador and Panama. Branches: Zaragoza (headquarters with workshop), Antiguo Cuscatlán and San Miguel; Mixco, Río Hondo and Xela; Managua; and Panama City.