Kubota Tier 4 Engines

[TheDevilYouLove]

So far I am very happy with the Tier IV engine in my L3901. I hope it lasts a very long time!

 

[buickanddeere]

I'm not shocked at all. In fact, I've wanted to start a thread about that very topic. I'm going to do it right now and see what everyone thinks.

Be ready to take some flak. There are those who believe a Diesel engine has always been and always be the lowest cost and most reliable engine in every ICE application in this world.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Be ready to take some flak. There are those who believe a Diesel engine has always been and always be the lowest cost and most reliable engine in every ICE application in this world.

And your point is? There really is a reason that all industrial engines are diesel.

 

[buickanddeere]

And your point is? There really is a reason that all industrial engines are diesel.

All? Industry used spark ignition engines in fork lifts, man lifts, generators , pumps, small off road vehicles, landscaping equipment etc. Is that "all" ? Is forklift operation a low demand application?

 

[Kubotafan]

I don't think too many would argue that in most cases a diesel engine is superior to gas. That is why many vehicles cost considerably more with a diesel engine. It might be debatable if it is always cost saving to spend the extra on a diesel engine over gas.

 

[buickanddeere]

And your point is? There really is a reason that all industrial engines are diesel.

If all industrial engines are diesel why does Kubota sell spark ignition engines for industrial applications ?

 

[buickanddeere]

I don't think too many would argue that in most cases a diesel engine is superior to gas. That is why many vehicles cost considerably more with a diesel engine. It might be debatable if it is always cost saving to spend the extra on a diesel engine over gas.

A significant factor around the world outside of the US and Canada. Is that gasoline is considered a luxury product and is taxed 20,30 even 40% more costly per Liter than diesel. Well of course manufactures are going to build and sell diesel everything when the owner can save $20 to $75 per tank of fuel in a passenger vehicle or small tractor .
Since particulate filters were mandated in North America diesel fuel cost 10-30% more per gallon. The current price of diesel being lower is due to supply exceeding demand and high quality crude oil being cheaper than the past decade .
The higher priced diesel with the complex and $$$ emissions systems costs more than gasoline in small light duty applications .

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

The subject keeps popping up on this thread, and I have to throw my two cents in as well. I do believe that the huge proliferation of models and frequent changes by manufacturers is all about preventing another "8n situation" from occurring. Parts sales is a legalized crime as long as they can keep the tractors different enough so that no 3rd party can jump in and mass produce parts. Case in point, literally is CNH where Case and NH have identical tractors with parts made just different enough to not be interchangeable. There is not now, nor was there ever, a need for manufacturers to make 10-12 different models of small tractors at a time. It gives them the APPEARANCE of offering product diversity while assuring that they control the parts stream in the future, and can END it when they so decide.

This is Soooooooooooooo not correct. Most of the CNH stuff is interchangeable between Case and NH. Our vendors generally try hard to not create new parts because stocking infrequently used parts is extremely expensive on their end and low turns leads to stale unsellable inventory. What your suggesting would be suicide for a dealership parts dept and our vendors.

If there is anything that drives the cost of parts is the trend towards these companies outsourcing the production of the parts (or entire product lines) rather than building stuff themselves.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

As good as Kubota is I don't understand why they could not come up with a different solution than DPF and UREA to these engines. Mahindra and New Holland achieve Tier 4 Final Standards with just a a catalytic converter. New Holland in the Workmaster tractors achieve the standards in the 50, 60 and 70 HP range. How reliable they will be long term who knows. Less initial start up issues compared to regen engines thus far in my experience.

Kubota does build DOC based engines, however the tractor division chooses not to use them. I don't know this for a fact, but my educated guess is there are longevity concerns. DOC engines need to run much hotter than DPF engines to clean up the exhaust. In the short term, no one knows is this is a real concern. Time will tell.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Kubota does build DOC based engines, however the tractor division chooses not to use them. I don't know this for a fact, but my educated guess is there are longevity concerns. DOC engines need to run much hotter than DPF engines to clean up the exhaust. In the short term, no one knows is this is a real concern. Time will tell.

That makes sense Messick. I would think that if New Holland and Mahindra had spent countless thousands of hours testing and designing those engines that hopefully longevity issues would be addressed. Until those units are out in the market for a while we really will not know for sure. Right now I can tell you that my Workmaster has been 100% trouble free for the first 22 hours. That includes about 10 hard hours of bush hogging in the 90 plus degree heat in an area that had not been mowed in a year and a half. Had to stop a couple of times to clean out the radiator to keep the engine cool. Tough sledding with a Brown 472 but the New Holland and Fiat engine ran great.