Fuel consumtion

[eddieirvine]

I have an L3940 it seems to be using more fuel than it was, same fuel i have always used BP Diesel. Any idea how to check how much fuel i am using? I have some ideas but not sure what it should be using, just general digging and mowing with rear finishing mower ?

 

[dragoneggs]

I have an L3940 it seems to be using more fuel than it was, same fuel i have always used BP Diesel. Any idea how to check how much fuel i am using? I have some ideas but not sure what it should be using, just general digging and mowing with rear finishing mower ?

Do you think it is significantly more? Is it running rough? Smoke? How concerned are you?

 

[4570Man]

Fill the tank up, run the tractor for a while and then measure how much fuel it takes to fill it back up. That’s pretty straightforward. Then divide that amount by the time you ran it.

 

[dragoneggs]

Fill the tank up, run the tractor for a while and then measure how much fuel it takes to fill it back up. That’s pretty straightforward. Then divide that amount by the time you ran it.

Yes, easy to figure gal per hour. But not sure how you are going to figure if you are burning more now than you 'used to' unless you already have that measurement.

 

[4570Man]

Yes, easy to figure gal per hour. But not sure how you are going to figure if you are burning more now than you 'used to' unless you already have that measurement.

I don’t know what to tell you there, but he asked how to figure out how much fuel he was using.

 

[dragoneggs]

I don’t know what to tell you there, but he asked how to figure out how much fuel he was using.

Roger that... just wondering what the OP plans to do with that info.

 

[4570Man]

Roger that... just wondering what the OP plans to do with that info.

I wondered the same thing. Comparing to someone else’s tractor isn’t very useful since the work load makes a big difference.

 

[jeff9366]

I have an L3560. The L3560 intellipanel has an extremely accurate fuel use readout. Doesn't your L3940 have the same intellipanel fuel readout?

My three cylinder L3560 uses 1/2 gallon per hour with all non-PTO implements.

Your four cylinder Tier 3 or Tier 4 interim emissions tractor will use a little more diesel, perhaps 7/10s gallon per hour with non-PTO implements. (??)

I have an L3940. I'm not sure how much fuel it should be using. Just general digging and mowing with rear finishing mower.

I expect operating your Finish Mower off the PTO uses more fuel than "general digging". Has the proportion of time you are using the Finish Mower increased of late?


How long has it been since you checked tractor tire pressures all around?

Is your parking brake disengaged?

Park your tractor over newspaper for several hours and observe if newspaper stains show you have a slow fuel leak.
A loose or improperly mated fuel filter would be likely source of slow fuel leak. Decayed or deformed fuel lines and/or connection fittings another possible leak source.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

If you are burning B20 usage will be higher then if you were burning B5.

Have a BX2230 with a 60 inch deck and it will burn over 1/2 gallon mowing an area where the G2160 with the same 60 inch deck will burn only 1/3 gallon.

Lots of variables so be sure you are comparing the same task.

David

 

[RjCorazza]

As long as you check the items already mentioned (b20, leaks, smoke) I wouldn’t worry about it. I suspect comparing current fuel use with past (not precisely known) fuel use will not help.
My previous tractor was going through a lot of fuel during a blizzard several years ago that I attributed to the high engine load blowing 36” of snow... wrong. A fuel line had been rubbing on the frame, resulting in a leak of perhaps 1 drop every several seconds.