JD2038r Fuel consumption

[SI2305]

Hello all,

I am writing this post as a long-term part of my ongoing review of my new JD2038r I purchased this spring. One aspect I truly loved about my old JD2305 was it fuel consumption. I kept a detailed record of how much fuel I used and the time on the hour-meter when I fueled and over almost 10 fill-ups I consistently registered about 2/3 gallon diesel per hour. I always thought this was a quite respectable number considering my older riding mower (JD L-120) used exactly 1 ga/hr and naturally was now where nearly as powerful/capable. After trading up to the 2038r I was really wondering what my new fuel consumption would be and I finally got a reliable figure of about .85 ga/hr, almost all of this while running at high RPM's while bush-hogging. I thought this was a pretty respectable number considering how much bigger the 2038r is over the 2305. In fact, on the rare times that I filled the old 2305 just after completing my complete mow of the full 5 acres of tall grass (naturally at high RPM) I found that its fuel consumption could spike to almost .75 ga/hr. Break it down and I am getting a lot more productivity from a small increase in fuel consumption--the old 2305 would take about 3 hours of running time at .75 ga/hr or up to 2.25 gallons to mow a large portion of grass at the front of our property. The 2038r, mowing the same acreage consumes .85 ga/hr for a mere 1 hour (and I mean eexactly 1 hr as read on the hour meter) for a puny .85 gallons to do the same work. I always thought that the old 2305 really sipped the fuel, but the 2038r is the real fuel saver over time.

I am not trying to brag, I just thought that this would be an interesting comparison of the two tractors capabilities.

Best Wishes

SI2305 (old handle, new tractor)
2018 JD2038r, Loader, 6' rotary cutter

 

[jsb2b]

I went from a 2006 2305 with a 62C belly mower to a 2018 2025R with a 60D belly mower and have noticed that the 2025R sips less fuel and cuts way better and faster at the same RPMs. I think the newer Yanmar engines are more efficient.

 

[SI2305]

jsb2b,

You might be right about the engines themselves being more efficient. I think in my case though I have a tractor that is better sized to the job--the 2305 was really too small to be rough cutting 5 acres of very tall grass. It could be done, but it took too much time to be efficient. The current setup is much better suited to task than the older one.

I get pretty particular about these things when I first start out on them. Since I am fueling via 5 gallon plastic cans, whenever I go to the gas station to get more diesel, I ALWAYS fill up exactly 4.5 gallons (so it won't spill in our van--really wish I still had the old pickup!). I then note the hour on the hour meter at the time of fill up. After that, I do the math and repeat. I probably had 10 fillings on the old 2305 that were pretty consistent. The biggest variable was (not surprising) whether I was mowing or just doing general loader work. If I was mowing, I tended to run the tractor to near the rated RPM's whereas if I was doing loader work, I ran at 1/2-2/3 that level.

It all worked out pretty consistent with the mowing coming in closer to 3/4 ga/hr and general work at about 2/3 ga/hr.

I will keep at this for some time and it will be interesting to see if there is any variance according to the task.

SI2305

 

[searcyfarms]

I just went from a 2006 2210 to a new 2038R we not have 8.8 hours on it and the fuel gauge is about 2/3 full still, all mowing and we ran it at 2000 rpm - when I say we, it had 2.5 hours on it when I got it with a full tank - My wife ran it for 1 hour I ran it for 3 and my daughter ran it the other 2.8 - I have to say the girls love it...........the deck adjustment and the ride is 10x better than the 2210, that was one thing we all disliked about the 2210, it was rough riding I don't know why, my 2wd ford GT75 rode better too. The only complain so far is the back up safety feature - We all dislike holding the button before backing up or shutting the pto off/on all the time when mowing - need to do a little more training for the girls on the sloped drainage areas of the yard how to mow each side and not strattle them etc....a few scalped spots but all in all loving it - we mowed yard and some 2 foot pasture growth - im just guessing but im thinking around 1 gallon/hour working but again just ballparking - id say your .85 is probably spot on - im impressed as you - my 72" MMM I don't even notice the engine speed change when in taller stuff like the 2210/62 Inch mower did - and obviously the 2210 did smoke in a pull - i really liked it mowing my road ditch as well - it did great and i can now strattle the worst part and then slow cut the sides of it so get it all w/out weed eating any of it now!!!! I will miss the narrower deck in two spots in my yard but other than that its a true win over the 2210 - my girls really like it so i can focus on other things while they mow the majority of things - i have plenty of other older things to work on/fix HA!!!