Average runtime?

[Sysop]

I was reading in another thread and it was mentioned by a user that most times when they start their tractor, it is for 30 minutes or less... I personally found that rather astonishing as I am the type if I have a task that will only take 30 minutes or less, if possible, I'll put off until I have the tractor out working for the day.

I consider 30 minutes to be a minimum warm-up/maintenance cycle on a cold winter day when it's not being ran often to keep the battery charged, or as a high-average for a warm-up cycle while getting it ready to work any other time... Even on a hot day it takes 15 minutes for the temp gauge to come up to where it stays all the time. Most times once I start my tractor it runs for about 4 hours at a time as an average. I have ran it as much as 9 hours in a single day while trenching with the backhoe. When I shut down, I generally only do 5 minutes of idle for a cool-down (my temp gauge stays very steady at dead center unless the vents become clogged and there is really no difference in high load or idle temps).

So, "what say you"? How long is your average runtime when you start it up? Do you just fire it up for every little chore as it comes up? Or do you have "project days" where things go on a to-do list and you do a lot at once?

 

[bdog]

I bought my machines to use. Obviously running them up to operating temp is a lot better on the engine as it allows for moisture to be burned off but I don't hesitate starting them for any task I need no matter how small it is. I run a small business and often need my tractor or skid steer to unload pallets, move a trailer, load or unload something heavy, etc which are very short tasks but need to be done. I also often have to simply move machines around to get them out of the way. I figure as long as they get up to operating temp on a regular basis the short run times in between are not hurting much at least I have never had any problems.

I do know an elderly man that works in a office less than a mile from his house. Due to his health he can't walk there so he drives there and back every day. That is all he uses his car for as they take his wife's car anytime they do something else. Basically his car runs about 2 minutes every morning and 2 minutes every evening and that is it. He has a had a fair amount of problems with the car because of this because it never gets to operating temp.

 

[bdog]

I bought my machines to use. Obviously running them up to operating temp is a lot better on the engine as it allows for moisture to be burned off but I don't hesitate starting them for any task I need no matter how small it is. I run a small business and often need my tractor or skid steer to unload pallets, move a trailer, load or unload something heavy, etc which are very short tasks but need to be done. I also often have to simply move machines around to get them out of the way. I figure as long as they get up to operating temp on a regular basis the short run times in between are not hurting much at least I have never had any problems.

I do know an elderly man that works in a office less than a mile from his house. Due to his health he can't walk there so he drives there and back every day. That is all he uses his car for as they take his wife's car anytime they do something else. Basically his car runs about 2 minutes every morning and 2 minutes every evening and that is it. He has a had a fair amount of problems with the car because of this because it never gets to operating temp.

 

[TomSeller]

I would say on average 2 to 3 hours for utility tractors. I try not to start an engine just to do one or two things. For crop tractors, a good 8 hour average, up to 16 hours at a time.

 

[PHPaul]

What bdog said. If I need to use it as a four wheel drive powered wheelbarrow for 5 minutes, then that's what I do.

Is it the best possible circumstance for longevity and optimal wear? No.

Is it going to cause the tractor to wear out before I croak? I seriously doubt it.

At my age, I'm more inclined to "abuse" my equipment than my back, knees and shoulders.

Seeing as it's a new toy, I do tend to find more than one thing to do when I fire it up tho.

 

[paine]

I think your over thinking it, If you need the tractor then use it. Yes I will make sure it gets up to operating temp when ever possible but I don't think your going to do any damage by using a tractor for 10 min and shutting it down. Not to mention that my DX33 seems to warm up rather quick unless its super cold out. If you use it strictly 5-10 min at a time then yes I think you will shorten the engine life but as long as that's you warm her up more often then not, no worries.

 

[oldpilgrim]

What bdog said. If I need to use it as a four wheel drive powered wheelbarrow for 5 minutes, then that's what I do.

Is it the best possible circumstance for longevity and optimal wear? No.

Is it going to cause the tractor to wear out before I croak? I seriously doubt it.

At my age, I'm more inclined to "abuse" my equipment than my back, knees and shoulders.

Seeing as it's a new toy, I do tend to find more than one thing to do when I fire it up tho.

my words out of your mouth.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I find that I now sometimes postpone a small chore, instead of cranking up the tractor for 10 or 15 minutes. I'll use it if I must - but, my goal is to plan on at least an hour.

 

[davesl708]

I run mine on average one hour per startup. Mowing takes at least one hour. Moving snow the same. Clearing scrub brush and moving wood three hours.

 

[CobyRupert]

Here's a question: Do diesels have a bit of blow-by like gas engines, where fuel can accumulate in the oil until it evaporates and get's reclaimed/re-introduced by the evap system?
My son's car runs for just a couple minutes a day, but I tell him to make sure that every few days, plan a trip where it (oil & catalytic converter, etc...) gets up to temp so that "accumulations" can get burnt off.
Do diesels have the same issues?
Carbon build-up on in the top end?
Fuel/ moisture in the oil?
I use my tractor when and as needed, sometimes for 5 minutes..but I feel better if it gets up to temp after a few short cycles to evaporate moisture (and fuel?) out of the oil, etc... How real are my concerns? Don't know.

 

[jrepp44]

Be careful with averages, if you put one hand in a freezer and one hand in a hot oven the temperature should be a comfortable average. :laughing:

 

[oldpilgrim]

Here's a question: Do diesels have a bit of blow-by like gas engines, where fuel can accumulate in the oil until it evaporates and get's reclaimed/re-introduced by the evap system?
My son's car runs for just a couple minutes a day, but I tell him to make sure that every few days, plan a trip where it (oil & catalytic converter, etc...) gets up to temp so that "accumulations" can get burnt off.
Do diesels have the same issues?
Carbon build-up on in the top end?
Fuel/ moisture in the oil?
I use my tractor when and as needed, sometimes for 5 minutes..but I feel better if it gets up to temp after a few short cycles to evaporate moisture (and fuel?) out of the oil, etc... How real are my concerns? Don't know.

Blowby is gases/liquids that get by the rings in a cylinder.

Gassers have rings. Diesels have rings.

So the answer is yes...and possibly more since a diesel has a much higher compression.

 

[MossRoad]

Be careful with averages, if you put one hand in a freezer and one hand in a hot oven the temperature should be a comfortable average. :laughing:

Nice! :laughing:

 

[Sysop]

Wasn't trying to overthink anything or change my habits in any way, I just thought it might be interesting to get everyone's preferences. I don't think there really is a right or wrong answer 100% of the time. Just what folk do...

 

[4570Man]

I fire it up for every little thing that needs done. I hardly ever run more than a couple hours at a time.

 

[grsthegreat]

Whats the difference from running tractor for 30 minutes and taking the f350 diesel down the block to the store?

Wont hurt a thing.

I have 275,000 mi on the dodge and 58,000 on the ford. I hop in them to drive to the neighbors many times every week.

 

[kebo]

My thing is that I live about 60 miles from where I keep my tractor at, so I normally just get to use it on Saturdays. Tomorrow I'll be cutting the grass at my parents house, about an hour long job. I seldom use it for more than a couple hours at a time though.

 

[HEC]

I figure my tractors will long out last me so I will fire one up with what ever chore I have to do , that's what I bought them for . When mowing fields it is usually 2 or 3 hrs. at a time , doing snow removal 1 to 2 hrs. , garden work maybe half hr., for anything else it can be for any amount of time needed . If it only takes 5 mins. after a little warm up so be it .

 

[RaydaKub]

I wish I had more jobs to be done that would give me the excuse to run it longer. But I've mounted the mower, dropped the FEL and mowed my entire lawn in 35 minutes flat (rain was coming). I try to make it last for an hour, but 3/4 acre with a 5 foot mower, I'd almost have to do it in reverse to stretch it much longer.

Edit: today I started it long enough to mount the FEL and fetch the grill back into the garage. It was supposed to be raining all day and I've got burgers and dogs to do for over 20 people. And it hasn't rained a drop since I did it 3 hours ago.