Oil & Fuel TC45DA Fuel Consumption

[HOUNDSTOOTH]

I previously had a 97 NH 1720. I have noticed that the 45da gulps up alot more fuel. I'm not fussin' about it. I just wander if it's the more horses or the a/c causing it. I could mow my place 3.5 times on a full tank with the 1720. Now, I'm getting a little more than one mow. The 1720 had 8.5 gal tank. The 45 has 13 gal. I thought maybe the 4.5 gal difference would equal it out. I was wrong! haha
Any comments?

 

[jinman]

I think I average a little over 0.8 gal/hr with my TC45D when RC mowing with my 5' cutter, and maybe 0.9 to 1.0 gal/hr when doing heavy loader work. I can't imagine why you would use that much fuel even with the air conditioner. How many hours of mowing are you doing? The size of your mower and the height of your grass might have something to do with it. I'm assuming you are talking about finish mowing, right?

 

[HOUNDSTOOTH]

Hey Jim,
Yes I'm finish mowing with a 6' rhino. The grass aint that tall this time of year. It's still growing slow. I've only cut three times this year. I have 10 acres. I'm mowing aroung 6 of them. It takes around 6 hrs to cut all of it. So far, I've put 28 hrs on the tractor. The land is flat with few trees.

 

[hazmat]

Seems like high consumption. My TC18 gets about 1/2 gallon per hour - though the air conditioning is limited to how much breeze there is on a given day

You should trade that 6' mower in for a 10-15 foot batwing. That should cut the amount of time spent.

 

[jimmysisson]

Wow, is it ever green in Georgia! We won't see that for a couple weeks yet, and it's only just now time to mow the lawn first time.
I have a 2120, similar size to your rig, though no AC. I'd say mowing with a 5' beater rotary in tough grass I go about 8 hours on 6-7 gallons, less when the lot's dried out in the fall. I have to run about 1500-1700 rpm to make a good cut, and could probably use a 6' mower with the same fuel consumption. It doesn't take that much rpm to make enough power, I have plenty, just need the tip speed for good results. Hard to believe the AC would take much fuel to run, with the engine spinning that fast.
Jim

 

[joes_427_vette]

My former TC 45 DA was no fuel queen either. Working harder tasks requires more fuel. My TC 55 has 10 more hp and runs I would guess 25% cheaper. Don't have to listen to the hydro pump whine either.

 

[jinman]

Hey Jim,
Yes I'm finish mowing with a 6' rhino. The grass aint that tall this time of year. It's still growing slow. I've only cut three times this year. I have 10 acres. I'm mowing aroung 6 of them. It takes around 6 hrs to cut all of it. So far, I've put 28 hrs on the tractor. The land is flat with few trees.

That's a very nice lookin' place, Houndstooth. I really don't know what to tell you because you are using about 2 gallons per hour and that seems a little high to me for the mowing task. I can only guess that you will have to keep some data over the next few months on consumption with and without the AC and also doing different jobs. Of course, you mostly mow, so it may be awhile before you can collect that kind of data. What range are you using? High-Turtle? High-Rabbit? The range could have a little to do with it, but on flat ground, you'd think the mower and ac would have the most effect.

 

[FULLPULL]

My old 02 tc40d used alot of fuel when it was new and got alot better as it broke in .My tc55 is following the same pattern it like's the fuel now and i hope it get's better.

 

[HOUNDSTOOTH]

Hazmat, I have thought of buying a batwing. It is something I may do in the future. For now I'll have to slug it out with the 6'er.

Jimmysission, Yeah I'm happy to see things coming up and gettin warm.

Joesvette, I know what you mean about the hydro. I'm getting use to it now. Or it's gettin' quieter. I'm not sure.

Jim, Thanks! I run in hight-turtle. Last time I mowed it got pretty cool in there so I shut off the a/c for a while. It wasn't enough to tell how the fuel was doin'. haha It's funny to say "it got cold" while I was mowing. haha

Thanks for the reply's guys. I will have to keep up with the "data", to see just exactly how she's doin'.

 

[kossetx]

Not to hijack the thread, but how do you just go buy a batwing to finish faster? Wouldn't it requre much more HP. Just curious.