Knowing what I don't know now, if I had the choice of buying gas or diesel tractor, I'd pick the one that's significantly the quietest, fuel consumption would come in sec. Same if I was buying a new pickup, when ever I walk by a diesel pickup, I can hear it 200ft away, for me, motor noise is good if I was driving a 1962 Ford Thunderbird, but on anything else I want quiet, might have to wait for Dylithium Crystal power.
Is it time for a gasoline engine tractor?
- Thread starter sixdogs
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bigdeano
Platinum Member
My brother and I have a total of 5 gas tractors, no diesels. They work just fine, don't seem to burn a lot of fuel so it's not a factor. I like the quiet and lack of diesel smell. The two 75 year old MMs aren't real quiet, but still quieter than diesels. One of them runs a 6' rear mower on my 5 acres of unused pasture.
A new diesel tractor would have some advantages, like a live pto and hydro drive, but it's not worth the price to change for me. Would like to have a new gas tractor just as much.
A new diesel tractor would have some advantages, like a live pto and hydro drive, but it's not worth the price to change for me. Would like to have a new gas tractor just as much.
Turbys_1700
Elite Member
Yes, that's not an issue here either. Several stations handle off road diesel. I've got a 50 gallon tank with a pump I utilize on the back of my truck to fill with off road diesel.
Is your MTD a push mower or a rider? I was thinking push mowers, I have not seen a push mower in a while that didn't just have an on and off switch. Not saying I am an expert but just showing my point that small gas engines to meet regulations are specially setup to work at rated and not much else. The carburetors are adjusted for rated and not meant to be variable like the old days. Lots of smaller motors now are going EFI just to meet the standards.
I think you misunderstood what I said, current tier 4 regulations break "Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines 19 Kilowatts and Below" down into different levels based on engine size, year, EPA phase, and if it is hand held or not. They also break out things like marine generators. What I was meaning is that a small lawnmower motor doesn't have to meet the same standards that a larger motor you would find in a tractor does.
I would disagree with your life expectancy, I would say gassers have been on a steady climb since day one but in the 60s diesels overtook gas and stayed ahead but have been losing ground to the gas motors.
I don't disagree that gas tractors can do the work, I am merely talking about the differences between gas and diesel engines and why diesel gained favor a long time ago.
In 1990 my father bought an 8200 Heston windrower and got it with a gas engine. It was one of 6 built (or that is what we were told) that year and I think it was the next year that they dropped the gas option. Just not enough demand.
The tanks on those were 20 gallon.
I didn't know you were a Waukesha fan. For those that don't know on the Oliver Waukesha engines, the diesel engines and the gas engines were basically the same motor. So your example of 4.3 to 3.4 further proves that in very similar motors the diesel fuel usage is less in this case.
I will disagree with your refueling comment. When you are working the machine for weeks on end then yes, refueling time is a big deal. That is time you could have the wheels turning trying to make money.
Sure the direct injection high compression engine would put the old Waukesha engine to shame (though it wouldn't do it with the style and hum of the Waukesha) a modern turbo high fuel pressure diesel would put an old engine to shame as well. I was comparing similar era engines, old vs old.
Something else that has not been brought up. When storing gasoline above ground or non protected you can lose a lot of fuel from evaporation. For example the University of North Dakota did a study showing in a non protected 300 gallon tank you could loose 10 gallons a month of gasoline but the diesel rate was small enough it wasn't a concern. Gasoline that was subject to evaporation had an effect on fuel quality where diesel didn't show any difference.
buickanddeere
Super Member
Torque doesn't do work. Force over distance with relation to time is a measure of work. When you say torque, are you referring to torque rise when lugged down during an overload condition ? With a hydrostatic or powershift machine the point is mute.
buickanddeere
Super Member
Whilst gas motors for tractors again are a possibility, if they were practical they would be in semi's and Ford/Dodge/GM would be plastering the TV with ads about their big block, high torque, gas 3/4 ton trucks. There is no law saying you can't rip out the diesel in your Kubota and bolt in a 454 Chevy to get rid of the emmisions krap, have at it.... But I bet the diesel was and is the best choice.... Probably the ' next big thing ' will be battery powered tractors for lower hp machines.. have to plug it in for an hour or so a couple times a day..
because the Semi truck is a HD applications with a duty cycle near full rpm and full power. The CUT, forklift, manlift, car and light truck are light duty application at part throttle and part load. I am being to think that some people don't know the difference ? Or they are so devoted to diesel since the 1950's they don't want to face what the EPA has done to a good engine and will again in 2019 with tier V?
buickanddeere
Super Member
Purchase a few jugs at a time to keep from getting caught with summer diesel in the tank during the winter.
buickanddeere
Super Member
Your story would stand in 1970 with low compression gassers using carbs, point ignition and leaded fuel. Now it's now 2016 with Tier IV . Gassers in 2016 unlike 1970 are high compression, direct injected and use unleaded fuel. Diesels now in 2016 unlike in 1970 are loaded with EGR, delayed injection, glow plugs, turbo, variable waste gate, particulate filter, urea injection, two batteries, gelled fuel an complex/expensive filtration.
buickanddeere
Super Member
No red pumps here at the truck and car gas stations.