Rookie diesel question

[rfmr]

I'm still operating on my 1st tank of diesel. Never using diesel before the only thing I'm sure of is if I don't start the tractor the tank should remain full. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I know there are a lot of variables but on average how long does a 5 1/2 gal tank last? I do have a fuel guage and low fuel light but would like to have a feel for hours of useage.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

You have a fairly small tractor so from the start, figure about 1 gallon per hour when running the machine at PTO speed. That is sort of a benchmark you can use as a rough guide to estimate things. As you get more experience with your tractor and the way YOU actually run it, you can adjust that. I've not found the fuel guages to be terribly accurate, so sometimes if you think its been a while since refueling, just open up the cap and look inside. The other thing you may want to do (I try to do this most of the time) is to refill your tractor after each use, that way you typically are just topping off the tank, but you also have the assurance that if you need to get out for a big project you won't have to worry about stopping to refuel.

 

[Highbeam]

Also a full fuel tank is far less efficient at allowing water to condense inside the tank. Like your autos, you should keep the tank full in a perfect world.

I use about a gallon per hour when brush hogging at 2500 rpm in my 30 HP Kioti with a 5' mower. Much less when doing non-pto things. I use 3 5-gallon fuel cans for my weekend warrior needs.

 

[rfmr]

Thank you.

I needed a feel for how long because I've been told the guages are not very reliable and because of the process of restarting it not to run out of fuel.

Fortunately, I'm in the habit of topping off all my gas toys so I'll be doing that with this also as soon as I get some fuel cans. 3 5's sounds about right. Like I do with gas, I plan on putting the additive in the can so I'll always top off with treated fuel.

 

[RalphVa]

Here's a site for figuring fuel consumption: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/farmmgt/05006.pdf It says my 18.5 hp JD should use 0.8 gallon/hr. Over 100 hours or so, it has been pretty consistently using 0.5 gallon/hr, actually just a tad less.

My neighbor's 30 year old 820 uses 1 gallon/hr. It has probably about 35 hp and is more than twice as heavy as my 4010. Think what uses the fuel is weight, not hp. That's true in cars and trucks. However, bigger engines in same weight will use a bit more fuel but only if you rip them around more. If underpowered, they'll use more fuel, too.

Here's a site to find some biodiesel: http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/default.shtm Unfortunately, I can't find any around Charlottesville yet. Using a B5-B20 (5-20% bio) is completely safe and will actually keep your fuel system cleaner than straight dino fuel. In 2006, the sulfur will be coming out of the dino fuel to further clean it up.

Ralph