3 cylinder vs 4 cylinder

[RalphVa]

Could use the same discussion about 4 cylinder vs. 5 cylinder cars. Lots of smooth 5 cylinder ones out there.

By same token, arguments could be made about going down from 3 to 2 cylinders, e.g. like the BX 1500. Don't think it was particularly different in vibration than any other.

Re fuel consumption: gas engines with carbs will use 50% more fuel than non turbo diesel engines. We engineers had both kinds of vehicles back in the 80s. Our (mostly) cars with gas engines with carbs had 30 ton-mpg average. Average on our diesels was 45 ton-mpg. This is the mpg that a 1 ton vehicle would get. Could easily prorate by vehicle weight, except it didn't work for a diesel big Ford pickup. It used less fuel by weight.

Prorate tractor fuel usage by hp.

Ralph

 

[Egon]

I know most if not all of the 30 - 40 HP compacts either have a 3 or 4 cylinder. Wouldn't the 4 cylinder be a smoother engine by default? If you had a choice between a 3 or 4 cylinder, which would you choose?

[video]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_balance[/video]

Engine vibration is dependent on much more than the number of cylinders. Cylinder orientation, crankshaft throw alignment and any other rotating component of the engine is involved.

 

[PILOON]

You can add crankshaft balancing counterweights to that.

I drive a Mitsubishi 3 cylinder tractor and as far as can say I never have noticed even the simplest undesirable vibration.

Now I once was near a 2 cylinder Kubota compact tractor and man did that thing shake rattle and roll.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Steiner 430 with the little 3 cyl Kubota is a rough little engine, especially at IDLE. The little 4 cyl Kubota Engine in my little Kubota Wheel Loader is also a bit rough at Idle. I bet, but I don't know, that a Kubota 5 cyl is as smooth as silk at Idle. Might even make a sweet generator running at 1200.