How to find info about service history of used heavy machinery?
When investing in used construction machinery, especially larger machines, reliable background information is not just useful—it’s essential. A machine’s value stands or falls with its service and component history. You should always ask: When was the engine replaced? Has the hydraulic pump been overhauled? Were the axles changed? When was the last full service carried out, and how old are the operating oils? These details make the difference between a solid investment and a costly mistake.
The reality of the used equipment market is that machines often have complex, hidden journeys. A wheel loader offered in Holland may not have worked there at all—it could just as easily have come from Romania, Finland, or even further afield. Without reliable data, you’re left guessing.
Get machines inspected before you purchase. Ask us for a quotation.
Unfortunately, many sellers prefer not to disclose where their machines originated or what kind of work history they have. While that may not be critical if you’re buying a small mini-excavator, it becomes vital with heavy-duty equipment. If you’re considering a 300-horsepower wheel loader, you absolutely need to know how the machine was treated in the past and whether it has been maintained in line with the manufacturer’s specifications.
One of the most decisive questions is whether key components such as the original engine and transmission are still installed. If this information is missing, it’s nearly impossible to accurately estimate the remaining service life—and that uncertainty carries significant financial risk.
In short: don’t leave such a major investment to chance. The more documentation and transparency you secure upfront, the safer your decision will be—and the longer your machine will deliver reliable performance on site.
Forensic search for info about machine maintenance
The best way to find out this information is to do a thorough inspection and look for information about the origin of the machine, e.g. on the stickers in the cabin. If the dealer or seller does not want to provide the information, you can also call the manufacturer’s service partner in the respective country, where you might get the missing information. During an inspection with a contractor one can usually get some info from the local service staff.
Downloading machine info from ECU
On some machines the local dealer or an inspection service such as Mevas can download a summary from the machine ECU or ECM. Especially for Caterpillar and Volvo we can provide such service. The summary contains info about error codes, overheating or engine overspeeding. In some cases we can support with phone contact to service providers in other countries. Due our large network in the international machinery industry we know many people in various countries. Contact us please for a quotation and more info.
What is a Caterpillar PSR? How can you obtain it?
The PSR is the so-called Product Status Report. It can be downloaded from the internal ECM’s of a CAT machine or any other machine with a Caterpillar engine. To download you would need a CAT-ET, the so-called Electronic Technician. CAT dealer staff and services such as Mevas can do this for you. By the way, in a Mevas TA2 the PSR is included.
What information does the PSR document contain?
The PSR contains some important information such as:
- Engine lifetime hours
- Transmission lifetime hours
- Hydraulic Configuration
- Lifetime fuel consumption
- Injector Calibration Status
- Diagnostic Codes (Error Codes)
- Lifetime Temperatures for various components
- Tool Configuration
