Hot Weather, Hard Work: How Summer Heat Affects Your Forklift (and What to Do About It)

Summer turns up the temperature, and it turns up the pressure on your forklift fleet. While your team is pushing through the heat to keep operations moving, your equipment is doing the same. And just like people, forklifts need extra attention when the temperatures climb.

If you're operating in a hot, humid environment this July, it's important to know how high temperatures can affect forklift performance and what you can do to prevent costly breakdowns and operator risk.

Why Summer Heat Is Hard on Forklifts

Forklifts are built to work hard, but extreme heat pushes their systems to the limit. Key components like the engine, hydraulic system, tires, and battery are all vulnerable to high temps and heavy use. Ignoring the warning signs can lead to overheating, fluid loss, equipment failure, and safety hazards.

Here’s how the heat hits your forklifts hardest:

1. Overheating Engines

Hot weather increases the risk of overheating especially in internal combustion forklifts. If the radiator or cooling system isn’t clean and functioning properly, engine temps can spike fast, leading to shutdowns or long-term damage.

2. Battery Stress

Electric forklifts may run cooler overall, but their batteries can still suffer in high heat. Extreme temperatures shorten battery life, speed up discharge rates, and reduce overall efficiency especially if you're not following a proper charging routine.

3. Hydraulic Fluid Breakdown

Just like engine oil, hydraulic fluids break down faster in heat, losing their ability to lubricate and cool moving parts. This leads to increased friction, sluggish lift performance, and premature wear on hoses and seals.

4. Tire Wear & Blowouts

Tires, especially pneumatic ones, expand in the heat. When paired with heavy loads and rough surfaces, this creates a higher risk of blowouts, accelerated tread wear, and poor traction.

5. Operator Fatigue & Safety Risks

Let’s not forget your people. Heat fatigue can slow reaction times and increase the risk of operator error. Combine that with equipment issues, and you’ve got a safety concern that’s entirely preventable.

Smart Summer Maintenance Moves

The good news? Most heat-related forklift issues can be avoided with proactive maintenance and operator awareness. Here’s what we recommend during the summer months:

• Inspect radiators and cooling systems regularly – keep them clean and check coolant levels often.

• Test and monitor batteries – follow the manufacturer’s charging guidelines and avoid overcharging.

• Change or top off fluids more frequently – especially if you notice sluggish hydraulic response.

• Check tire pressure and condition daily – adjust for heat expansion and replace worn tires promptly.

• Encourage frequent operator breaks – heat stress isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s dangerous.

• Schedule mid-summer service checks – a trained technician can catch hidden issues before they shut you down.

Stay Cool. Stay Operational. Stay Ahead.

When the summer heat rolls in, so do equipment breakdowns, unless you’re prepared. A well-maintained forklift will power through July without breaking a sweat (or a seal), keeping your operation safe, efficient, and productive.

At Shades Industrial Forklift, we help businesses stay ahead of seasonal challenges. Whether you need a mid-season service check, replacement parts, or guidance on how to keep your forklifts cool under pressure, we’re here to help.

📞 Call us today at (765) 866-0011 to schedule a summer service or get expert advice from our team.

Don’t wait for a breakdown. Beat the heat before it beats your fleet.