ENGINE PROBLEMS
The cooling system isn’t the only area of a landfill compactor that is prone to trash build-up. The engine can also be vulnerable. As refuse material gets inside the machine, it adversely affects the engine, along with the drive train components. Protecting a compactor’s power source is not only a maintenance issue, but a safety issue as well.

Debris accumulation in the engine compartment at the very least increases maintenance time by requiring cleanout before work can continue. A more devastating scenario, however, is the potential for the engine to become ruined or even to start on fire. Even the slimmest possibility that a machine worth hundreds of thousands of dollars could be destroyed over a lack of cleaning should underscore the importance of routine maintenance.

To simplify engine maintenance, some compactor manufacturers have provided hinged access doors so that the engine compartment can be accessed quickly and easily. Many have also taken the step of designing a sealed tub around the engine compartment that keeps debris out and protects drive components from damage.
Before the dawn of the sealed tub, belly pans were the norm on landfill compactors. The disadvantage that belly pans present is the problem of leaving cracks and seams exposed. Garbage will inevitably make its way through those cracks and into the machine.

The sealed tub simultaneously keeps all materials out of the engine compartment, while also keeping liquids from the engine inside the machine. If the compactor would happen to leak hydraulic oil or coolant, these fluids would stay in the tub until they could be appropriately drained. For landfills that are not licensed for petroleum products, the sealed tub prevents the spillage of fluids, thus saving time and money for unnecessary cleanup and further avoiding environmental impact issues.

Furthermore, the sealed tub creates residual air pressure inside the engine compartment. Because the holes that bring air into the compartment are slightly larger than those pushing air out, a positive pressure is maintained. This helps prevent debris from entering the engine compartment. With so many features contributing to preventative maintenance, a landfill operator would have a hard time denying that a sealed tub is a valuable asset.