3 cyl vs. 4cyl

foreman81 · Feb 18, 2002

I'm not shopping for a utility tractor right now but I am comparing a NH TN75 to a JD 5410-20 to replace my aging JD2130 in a short while. Now I have no issues with any of those brands but I'd like to know the ups and downs of 3 cylinder turbo (TN) vs. a 4 cylinder natural (JD) in terms of durabilty, fuel economy, longevity and maintenance. I compared the two on the Nebraska tractor test lab site to find out out they both have about the same torque (202 vs 204 ft-lbs) but the TN developps it at higher RPMs, could that affect fuel economy and longevety?

Any input you fellas might have from experience or other is appreciated.

paccorti · Feb 18, 2002

The fact that one tractor developes its max torque at a higher RPM then the other tractor does not (by itself) imply more fuel usage. For example, I would expect the turbo engine to have a smaller displacement.

Longevity, I don't know. Turbos (supposedly) are harder on engine oil. If nothing else the normally aspired engine has fewer parts. On the other hand, modern machine and metallurgy has made great strides. Perhaps these are non issues. I let the owners of these tractors speak for themselves.

Peter

poorboy · Feb 18, 2002

I bought a 5410 to replace my aging 400 ford as the main power plant of the place. I to was concerned with the 3-4 cylinder question. I went with the 4 cyl., but also because of weight difference in the tractors. Seems that JD has a sort of light weight tractor in comparision of the horsepower.
Sure can tell the difference in the fuel comsumption though,compared to the 4000, 3 cyl. but no turbo. But a few gallons difference is no big deal with the extra power. Wish I had of gotten the economy pto, but I was too cheap...Sticker shock I guess.

Patrick

JohnMiller3 · Feb 18, 2002

<font color=blue>...Wish I had of gotten the economy pto,...</font color=blue>

That can still be added on now... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

fieldman12 · Feb 19, 2002

Well, either one will do a very good job with about the same results. I purchased a new TN70 last fall with the turbo and have had no problems. We have used tractors on my friend’s farm since the seventies with turbos and have had no problems due to a turbo charger failure. The only thing you need to know about a turbo is let it cool down for several minutes after working tractor really hard to let the turbo cool down. Now about 4-cylinder versus 3-cylinder motor . The 4 will usually be more quite than the three-cylinder motor, but a turbo will quite down a three cylider some. Life expectancy on both motors is basically the same. Usually a 4 cylinder will tend to be a little more powerful from my personal experience on several brands of tractors over the years, than the 3-cylinder tractors. I have a friend with a 5400 that is a 3-cylinder with a turbocharger, that has about 1700 trouble free hours.

JATO_RaT · Feb 19, 2002

It all depends on the engine. Whether its one, three, four, five, six, eight, twelve or sixteen. My 3 cylinder Internatinal chugs right along at 1200RPM running my mower with its 1000 RPM PTO in fourth gear. At 179 cu in. displacement, it has plenty of power for its 7000lb combined weight in 4th gear. To say a 4 cylinder is better then a 3 cylinder or versa is really is not in my opinion, arguable unless we can look at the track history of the engines in question. The 3 cylinder diesels have been out a very long time. My Internatinal 3 cylinder is not only very quiet, but easily as smooth as any 4 cylinder I have used including my counterbalanced Kubota 4 cylinder diesel. I would not hesitate to purchase either tractor provided the engine in question has a good history and who would know better then that then JOHN MILLER the 3rd who right at this very moment can tell you on his vast 7 terrabyte hard drive with 7 search engines all poised and ready to deliver more information then all the TBN board members combined could deliver. Rat...

JohnMiller3 · Feb 19, 2002

<font color=blue>...7 terrabyte hard drive ...</font color=blue>

Rat...

Your ESP is working overtime... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

In fact earlier today, I got a few 80 gig units for some upgrades... the kid's are getting too many MP3's... and my pictures are in a state of disarray... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

{Those 40 g's were only upgraded a few months back.../w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif}