Mitsubishi MTX13 & MTX15 storage and seasonal maintenance: how to winterize your tractor damage-free

Proper Mitsubishi MTX15 storage prevents exactly the kind of damage that most often brings these machines to the mechanic in spring. Winterizing your Mitsubishi MTX13D or MTX15D according to the manual prevents frost damage to the block, a dead battery, rust, and a stuck clutch. In this article, you'll walk through the complete autumn checklist, winter advice, and the spring restart.

Suitable for the entire series: Mitsubishi MTX13D and MTX15D.

Mitsubishi MTX13 & MTX15 autumn checklist: winter-ready in eight steps

1. Cleaning: clean the machine thoroughly, but never point a high-pressure jet at the dashboard or electronics.
2. Greasing: grease bare metal and threads to prevent rust.
3. Change the oil before storage: old oil contains acids and moisture that affect bearings and cylinder walls for months. So change it in autumn, not in spring. You'll find the correct oil advice in our guide on engine oil and fluids for the MTX13 and MTX15.
4. Check levels and run the engine: check the oil and coolant levels and let the engine run for about 5 minutes so the fresh oil reaches everywhere.
5. Cooling system: bring the antifreeze up to strength, or drain the coolant completely. If you choose to drain it, hang the "no water" warning label on the steering wheel — a forgotten empty cooling system can quickly turn into a broken engine come spring.
6. Battery: in severe frost, remove the battery, store it indoors, and recharge it monthly.
7. Lower the lift: never store the machine with the lift raised.
8. Store dry and level: park the machine in a dry, level spot and check the tire pressure (1.2 bar front, 1.0 bar rear).

Mitsubishi MTX13 & MTX15 in winter: keep working through it?

Do you keep using the machine through winter, for example for snow clearing? Then switch to winter specifications: below -10°C, the manual recommends 10W-30 engine oil and winter diesel, and in severe frost, bring the battery indoors at night. In cold weather, preheat for the full approximately 6 seconds and always let the engine warm up gently; the complete cold-start procedure can be found in our article on operating and starting the MTX13 and MTX15.

Mitsubishi MTX13 & MTX15 storage checklist in table form

Mitsubishi MTX13 & MTX15 spring restart: the first-50-hours mindset

Treat the machine after the winter break as if it were brand new — the "first 50 hours" mindset from the manual:

• Check all levels: engine oil, transmission/hydraulics, front axle, and coolant.
• Preheat fully and let the engine warm up gently at ±1500 rpm.
• Test the brakes and clutch carefully before the first drive. A stuck clutch after a long period in storage is a known issue with this series — as is stiff-working brake linkage.
• Check the filters and tire pressure; you can see which filters are fitted to the machine in the filter overview for the MTX13 and MTX15.

Do you notice rust-colored coolant when starting up, or are you unsure about the history of the cooling system? Then flush it first with a cooling system cleaner before filling with fresh antifreeze.