Mitsubishi MT14–MT20 Seasonal Maintenance and Storage
Is your Mitsubishi MT14, MT15, MT16, MT17, MT18 or MT20 going into winter storage, or standing idle for a long period? With the right seasonal maintenance, you can prevent starting problems, a flat battery, and seized components. On this page you'll read how to prepare the tractor for storage and how to put it back into use.
Suitable for the entire series: Mitsubishi MT14, MT15, MT16, MT17, MT18 and MT20 (2WD and 4WD/D).
Preparing the Mitsubishi MT for storage
- Clean the tractor and remove grass, mud, and leaf debris — especially around the engine, the radiator screen, and mower residue.
- Refresh old oil and fluids if you're due for a service interval anyway; dirty oil affects internal components during long periods of standstill.
- Fill the fuel tank completely to limit condensation in the tank.
- Check the antifreeze in the cooling system for sufficient frost protection.
- Grease all lubrication points and set the lift to its lowest position with the lowering speed lever locked.
- Store the tractor dry and under cover and place it on a flat, stable surface.
Mitsubishi MT battery maintenance in winter
The battery is the most vulnerable component during long periods of standstill. A diesel engine with glow plug preheating requires a lot of starting current, so a half-charged battery will leave you stranded in spring. Preferably disconnect the battery and recharge it periodically. You can check the charge level using the specific gravity (SG) of the battery fluid at 20 °C:
| Specific gravity (20 °C) | Charge level |
|---|---|
| 1.280 | full (100%) |
| 1.210 | 75% |
| 1.160 | 50% |
| 1.110 | 25% |
| 1.060 | empty |
If the value drops below 1.220 (at 20 °C), recharging is needed. Keep the battery terminals clean and free of white corrosion, and tighten them securely.
Putting the Mitsubishi MT back into use
When you take the tractor back out after winter, check the following before starting:
- the engine oil level and coolant level;
- the transmission/hydraulic oil and (for 4WD) the front axle oil;
- the tire pressure and V-belt tension;
- the battery (charged and properly connected);
- for leaks under the tractor.
Then preheat thoroughly, start the engine, and let it warm up gently at around 1500 RPM before you start working. This way, every season starts off reliably.
Help with cold starting
If the tractor does have a flat battery after a long period of standstill, use jumper cables from another 12V vehicle following the correct sequence, or fully charge the battery first. If the engine still starts poorly when cold despite a full battery, check the glow plug preheating and the fuel system as described in the troubleshooting article.
