Air Cooled Diesel vs Air Cooled Gas

[ZJ_HR]

Roy,

5.000 to 10.000 hrs is possible in genset use, like previous poster mentioned, in ideal conditions: run 24/7, at constant rpm, horizontal etc. And engine for genset is dimensioned over 20% more powerfull than generator is.

500 to 1000 hrs in walkbehind is pretty long life span, when you accept working conditions: tilting, often starting, often overloading, run under max torque rpm etc.

BTW, people who inensive use them, on our slopy part of country, prefer diesels, as non sensitive to slopes, and more convinient because of oil pump lubricating.
They usually overhaul engines after roll over, when engine seizes /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif and allmost never because of hours.

But I'll correct my numbers: 1.000 - 1.500 hrs for sure /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TimberXX]

i estimate putting on 130 hours a year... from what i learned that is the average hr/ yr for a sub compact. I would choose diesel because of the long term durability (def cheaper than gas) but your saying that it wont last as long without being used 24/7 is this cuz its air cooled?

 

[ZJ_HR]

No, I didn't want to say that.
5000 to 10000 hrs is life of ag tractor engine.

I told that engine coupled to generator (compared to equal engine in walkbehind) will last longer, due to stabil working conditions:
- no termal stress (one start and stabil temperature)
- less and small overloads, compare to tractor regime
- no different kind of lubricating conditions as genset is working horizontally, or whole time on equal position
- equal relation is for liquid or air cooled diesel engines

As you plan to work 100 or so hours a year, what are high hours on walkbehind, it will last over 1500 hrs, for sure.
That is over 10 y of use, what is acceptable.

Problem is that small machines doesn't have hour meters, and nobody knowh how many hours they run before their end.

BCS rotary mowers for parks (equipped with Lombardini LDA450 engines) are used over 100 hrs/y for sure here. Operators are usually noneducated and careless guys, and machines anyway run year after year.

So, my conclusion is: buy diesel, use it, take care of it, and forget when you bought it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[RickO]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hard to say, but this motors will probably last 500-1000hrs.
)</font>

That sounds kind of low. I just sold a JD 318 Gas w/ 1,700 hours on it and it ran like a top. Used a little oil under heavy mowing but it has a lot of life in it.

 

[Bugsy]

The pros and cons of diesel vs. gasoline for the most part are obvious. Diesel=efficient, gas=quiet

As for an air-cooled engine (diesel or gas), most are designed to run an average of 1500 hrs. That 1500 also includes the occasional "animal" use and maintenance.

No engine manufacturer suggests a "normal" use of 24/7 on a an air-cooled engine. Their weak point is heat. So why would we use air-cooled engines?

The answer is weight and size. Certain applications just do not warrant the added weight of a cooling system and its components.

Proper care of air-cooled engines includes:
1. Regular oil transfusions
2. Regular and CONSISTENT cool-off periods.

In choosing which type (diesel or gas), consider the following:
1. Are there any extreme slopes? No = Gas Yes = Diesel
2. What fuel type is easily available, and even likely to be in the "can" at the house.
3. Application (gensets are "static" non-moving so diesel would be okay and allow capitalization on efficiency. Tillers can also benefit from the added weight of a diesel. A "push mower" benefits more from a lighter weight gas unit, if there are not any steep grades)
4. Repair and parts availability. (Gas probably wins here)

After all of that, it is the pleasure or preference of the user.

Both gas and diesel are meant and designed to last the same amount of time. Longevity is not a reason to buy or avoid. If oil is changed often and cool-offs are consistent, either type will give YEARS of service, and more tan exceed the usual average of 1500 hrs.

I hope this helps.

 

[ZJ_HR]

Rick,
I mentioned this hours for walkbehind tractors.
Any CUT or mower is working in better conditions (continuous run for longer time), and motor will last longer for sure.
A friend had Lombardini 10-12HP diesel on boat. It lasted for over 10 years, still runs, and is replaced with (more powerfull - only reason for change) Chineese junk motor.

Somebody of members here have diesel walkbehinds, so, their experience will explain how are they satisfied with them.

 

[RalphVa]

This isn't totally relevant to this thread.

Do you realize that those little model airplane engines are 2 cyle, air-cooled diesels?

Ralph

 

[ZJ_HR]

Ok Ralph,
Maybe comparison with boat was bad, but I just want to say that equal air cooled engine to ones on walk-behind, can do high hours in some conditions.

Yes, I know for model airplanes, but never saw that small motors "in live". I know that some of them have kind of "hot ball" in head - called "spark"

 

[RalphVa]

Those "hot balls" on the airplane engines are just the diesel glow plugs, like on our tractors and cars.

Ralph

 

[1962]

here's my 2 cents worth. i have a lombardini vertical shaft one cylinder air cooled diesel. i has out lived it's former application,and is about ready to be applied to a new project. with proper care, these things are tough. it's hard to compare these small diesels to gas. the torque is fantastic. like what was stated in the prior posts,they work real well on steep inclines. i put a china air cooled one cylinder diesel (yanmar clone)into a wheel horse tractor,and i love it. i also put a vibration hour meter on it when i installed the engine new. the other single cylinder (ruggerini) is on the 8 k generator, and another 4.5 hp china (yanmar clone) is ready to go on the snow blower. if i was purchasing the bcs tractor i would spend the xtra coin for the diesel.