Skid Steer Repair Near Me: Overheating on the Job

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When your skid steer overheats on the job, you don’t have time to wait in line. Productivity has stopped, and you need to get it back up again. If you need immediate skid steer repair near you, call our field service team by clicking the button above.

If you’ve got some time for diagnosis (or if you’re waiting for a field technician), here are some of the common warning signs and causes of overheating. As you’re reading, always defer to the advice of your field service technician since they know the specifics of your situation.

How to Tell if Your Bobcat Skid Steer Is Overheating

Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes it’s not. Here are a few signs that your Bobcat skid-steer or compact track loader is overheating on the job: 

• Temperature warning light or gauge spike 

• Steam or bubbling coolant from the rear of the machine 

• Engine derating or shutting down unexpectedly 

• Strange smells (burning coolant or oil) 

• Fan not kicking on when temperatures rise 

If you see any of these warning signs, shut the machine down and give it time to cool before opening anything. 

Why Is My Skid Steer Overheating? (The Short Answer)

Overheating usually isn’t caused by just one thing. It’s often a combo of heat, debris, heavy workload, and small maintenance issues that sneak up on you. But, in many cases, it comes down to one of three root problems: 

• Blocked airflow – If air can’t move through the radiator or cooler, the heat can’t escape. 

• Cooling system failure – A broken fan, low coolant, or circulation problem keeps heat trapped inside. 

• Pushing too hard for too long – Heat will build if your machine runs high RPM in hot weather, especially with a full load. 

The key is figuring out which of these is happening—and why. That’s where Bobcat of North Texas field service can help. 

Why Is My Skid Steer Overheating? (The Long Answer)

Your skid steer could be having issues for any number of reasons. But overheating in particular may be caused by one of the problems below. While you wait for a professional diagnosis, here’s some of the most common causes of overheating in skid-steer or compact track loaders.

Clogged Radiator or Oil Cooler

Dust, grass, mulch, and even plastic bags all find their way into the fins. When airflow gets blocked, heat has nowhere to go. Try blowing out the radiator and cooler with low-pressure air or a leaf blower. High-pressure air or water can damage the fins, so go easy. 

Pro tip: Build this into your routine maintenance schedule, especially during the summer. 

Fan Not Working

If your fan isn’t kicking on when the engine gets hot, you’ve got a problem. It could be an electrical issue, a failed hydraulic fan motor, or a worn belt (for belt-driven fans). You’ll usually hear the fan when it kicks in. If it’s silent while the temperature climbs, that’s a sign of a potential problem. The fans on both the M-series and the R-series loaders are located under the radiator, on top of the engine compartment, just behind the back glass, where they pull in fresh, cooler air from the top, and exhaust the hot air out the sides.  

Low or Dirty Coolant

Coolant transfers heat away from the engine. If it’s low, if it’s dirty, or if it’s the wrong type of coolant for your machine, it won’t cool the engine properly. Check the reservoir when the machine is cold. If you see crusty buildup or a reddish-orange color, it’s time to flush and refill. 

Sensor Malfunction

Sometimes it’s not the machine…it’s the sensor. A bad temperature sensor or faulty gauge can make it seem like the engine is overheating when it’s not. A field technician can run diagnostics and verify if the sensor is accurate or if it needs to be replaced. 

Thermostat or Water Pump Issues

Even if your radiator is spotless and you have the right type of coolant, you’ll start to see issues if the coolant isn’t moving. Take a look at your machine’s thermostat and water pump. A stuck thermostat blocks circulation, and a failing water pump can leak or just stop doing its job. Both are fixable with the right repair services, but they can be hard to spot without a full inspection. 

Heavy Hydraulic Load

If you’re doing high RPM work on a hot day (and especially if you’ve been running high-demand hydraulic attachments like a drum mulcher for multiple hours in a row), you’re generating serious heat. Over time, that heat can overwhelm the cooling system. When your technician arrives, consider having a conversation with them about whether your current workload is outpacing the machine’s cooling capacity. 

Need Skid Steer Repair Near You? Call Now.

Don’t spend the rest of the day throwing parts at your machine. Skid-steer and compact track loaders can overheat for a lot of reasons (especially in North Texas!). Our professional field service technicians specialize in equipment repair and maintenance. They can get to your job site fast, get to the root of the problem, and get your machine up and running again. Contact Bobcat of North Texas field service below to get started! 

Call or Text Bobcat of North Texas Field Service at (972) 483-9111