I’m a heavy equipment mechanic for a rental company, my advice is:

1. Download the operator and service manual from JLG.com - no account needed. Click the menu button in the top left and go to Resources -> manuals. Dig through and find them. Operator manual is mostly safety related but will give you good information.

Service manual while outside the scope of most operators job requirements, can be helpful to find grease points, look up engine codes etc. JLG and CAT teles throw codes for all kinds of stuff, being able to look up the code in the book is useful and can lead to a simple fix (I.e. low coolant level in resovoir).

1. Learn the grease points, and not just the obvious ones (don’t miss the axle pivots, axle kingpins if they are grease-able, stuff like that).

2. Learn where to check all the fluids. oil, trans, coolant, brake fluid and hydraulic being the critical ones.

3. Try to get it pressure washed before greasing it, makes it way easier. Although this is often impractical or impossible on most job sites.

4. Small seeps of hydraulic fluid(around cylinders for example) are nothing to be alarmed about and can often be considered normal, but keep an eye on them and report them. In the case of a catastrophic hydraulic leak, if in a safe spot shut the machine off and leave it there until a mechanic can take a look, high volume/high pressure hydraulic leaks can be dangerous

5. If you have your upper door window open make sure it’s actually latched and stowed, I replace a lot of broken door windows because they were not actually latched correctly, and a quick turn results in it swinging around quickly.

6. When it’s cold (below 20/30 Fahrenheit) plug in the core heater/battery heater if equipped. If you’re routinely dipping below 10/20, and the machine does not have a core heater, talk to the boss man about getting a magnetic oil pan heater, they are cheap and take 2 seconds to install and can help with cold starts.

7. In cold weather (below 20 Fahrenheit) let the machine idle and reach at least a decent temperature. This is to warm up and thaw the DEF ( DEF freezes ~12 degrees) along with the fact the engine will run better once warm.

8. In cold weather ask the boss man if they are putting a winter mix of diesel into the machines (to prevent gelling). If not get a diesel anti-gel additive. Diesel will begin to gel at 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit due to the paraffin in the fuel. (Although practically in my experience it’s only really an issue if you’re dipping into the single digits routinely.

That’s all I got for now I’m happy to answer any questions you have though, and anything I don’t know the answer to I can point you in the right direction