5X03 Series & Turbo Or Not

ShookFarm · Aug 15, 2006

My recent purchase of a 5103 has me confused. Documentation in various places indicates it is naturally aspirated. Other locations (such as here: http://salesmanual.deere.com/sales/salesmanual/en_NA/tractors/2006/feature/engine/5000/5003_engine_specs.html?sbu=ag&link=prodcat ) indicate all the 5X03 are turbocharged.

Looking at my engine and owner's manual I do not see info regarding a turbocharger.

Can someone clear this up? Did the dealer sell me something other than a 2006 model? The tractor showed 1.1 hours on the hourmeter the first time I drove it. He said it had been there since March. I had no reason to doubt him, everything seemed on the up and up.

It's about 45 miles away at the moment, but I'm going to tear into it when I get back to the farm.

floridahay · Aug 15, 2006

I can help you out some on this. I just purchased a 5203 about three weeks ago, it is a late 2005 model and is naturally aspirated. I don't know exactly when they started with them but the newer 03 series is turbocharged. My guess is this was done to meet newer emission requirements. From what I have seen the newer turbo models started showing up on dealer lots about two to three months ago in this area. Your area may differ I don't know. I also found out when I purchased my tractor there is now a 5403 with 65 pto horsepower. It is also a turbocharged three cylinder as the 5303 has always been. The tractor that I purchased was the last non turbo 5203 that the dealer had.

ShookFarm · Aug 15, 2006

Interesting............

I called the salesman today and told him the literature on the web site (link above) and current online owner's manual states the 5103 is turbocharged. He asked, is this the literature on a 2007 model? I told him the date in the online owner's manual shows April06 (link: http://manuals.deere.com/omview/OMPY0142_19/ ) and it reports it is turbo'ed.

I guess the biggest question I have is, am I missing anything by not buying the turbocharged engine or did I just save myself some headaches?

My rice farming uncle always commented that his International 1066 required you to keep the engine at high RPM (regarless of gear) to completely consume the fuel. This would help eliminate the likelihood of fouling the turbocharger.

whitearrow · Aug 16, 2006

shookfarm,let me get this straight.you are saying that all of the new 03 series john deere's are going to be turbo charged.i just bought a new 5203 and it is not turbo as far as i know,at least there is no mention of it in my owner's manual.as far as the question of are you missing something by not having a turbo or did you save yourself a h/a.in my opinion you saved yourself a h/a,the way that i look at it is the more that is going on in the engine compartment the more there is to go wrong.and the only thing that you are missing by not having the turbo is a few hp.i wonder if the hp will be the same and they will make it by turbo and not old fasioned grunt of the old diesel engine?i wish that turkflyer would chime in,i bet if anybody knows the answer to this that he does.
whitearrow->>>----------------->

rockyridgefarm · Aug 16, 2006

The new turbos aren't your father's turbos. They give grunt at the low end and are very reliable. That said, it is true that they are putting them on some engines to compensate for losss due to emmissions. Unless you are at high altitudes, it not be a real problem not getting the turbo version. Unless you salesman told you this machine had one, and it doesn't I doubt they were misleading you (they may not even have known that the new machines would be blown)

ShookFarm · Aug 16, 2006

Whitearrow, I have no way of knowing. Unlike Turkflyer, I don't have the "insider" access to know the details of what is being done. All I can tell you is look at the John Deere Ag web site. The sales propaganda lists all, I repeat, ALL of the 5x03 as being turbocharged.

Your question is really the same reason I am questioning it. It certainly appears they will be turbocharged in the latest 5X03 models.

I want to know. Will the 5103 have more HP in the turbo version or will it not change substantially? I'd like to compare what I've got now with what the new one will be.

I, like you, hope someone with the knowledge will weigh in on this one!

floridahay · Aug 16, 2006

From what I have seen the new turbocharged models have about the same horsepower as the older non turbo models. I think that I saw that the 5203 with the turbo is 47 and the one without was 48. The first versions of the 03 series had less horsepower. My owners manual gives the serial number break that the horsepower changed. I think that it was quite a while back that the change occurred. From what I have heard all of the models usually dyno out several more horsepower than the rated numbers.

Turkflyer · Aug 21, 2006

Sorry I'm late. The turbos are for emissions. There won't be any measurable hp changes on each model. Each model is designed to hit a certain power point. The torque and torque reserve likely will not change either. It really won't matter to the owner if his machine has a turbo or not. No additional maintenance. Just keep the filter and intake system sealed. It'll last the life of the tractor.