Comparison Turbo Disadvantage

[ursa]

I am considering pulling the trigger on a 5220CH which is the same as the 4720CH but with turbo to give it 8 more HP. Just wondering if you folks see any disadvantage to the turbo? I have heard mixed messages about fuel efficiency, engine longevity, etc. Any significant downside to paying about 7% more for this model.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I guess turbos are pretty reliable, but expensive to replace. They also sound nice. But if you don't need the HP, I would probably opt for no turbo. The simpler, the better IMO. Our JD 6200 is turbo and drinks fuel like it's free!

My 08 Sierra Turbo 6.6 Sierra has a similar appetite for fuel.

Yet my small non turbo Kubota Wheel Loader almost seems to use no fuel at all. Go figure! A turbo might certainly put a little pep into its step, but I am not sure I would want that, if it reduces hours til a major overhaul required. Slow and steady wins the race as they say.

I also believe there were machines that were either very compact in nature or had insuficient cooling where the turbo models failed due to excessive heat. My thinking is, that sometimes you just can't get extra HP without undesired consequences.

 

[joefromga]

Turbos are better in every way. You don't have to replace them but they can be easily rebuilt for cheap. They are a fan blade on a bearing. They will also give you the same power at altitude. They last for many miles or hours. Remember, all truck tractors have turbos. Most go over a million miles in a lifetime making them more reliable than N/A gas engines.

 

[oldnslo]

Only concern with Turbo's is usually they require a little cool down time if you have been working the engine hard. This helps prevent the oil from being burnt or baked in the turbo bearings. Other than that Turbo's are pretty bullet proof.

Depending on how they are sized they may not give any added upmf until you reach 1800 to 2000 RPM possibly a little more and then they will start to provide the extra boost in power. I know the JD 4640 & 4840 I ran for a while were both dogs below that range and you couldn't pull anything I.e. idling them down at the end of a field. Once they wound up it was a whole different ball game.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have had turbo tractors, one car and non turbo. I think the turbos allow for a smaller engine to do the same HP but they do make the engines run hotter due to more fuel burned and burned cleaner. I believe that the turbo provide additional boost at any RPM but they do take a bit to spool up from Idle so it isn't instantaneous therefore there is some lag time.
As for turbo engines using more fuel, I don't think that is true when you compare HP to equal HP but if you are comparing a particular displacement size to the same displacement with a turbo, of course they (turbo) will use more fuel but produce a lot more power.

I think I prefer having non-turbo especially after the one car that was turbocharged ate the bearings and destroyed the engine. To me it is just one more item that needs special care and I don't need any more special care items.

 

[PapeCAT]

I would definitely opt for the turbo, especially in a branson/cummins engine. I wouldn't imagine turbo coking would ever be much of an issue either on these units unless you have an EGT gauge and ran it full load WOT for hours like in a marine application you wouldn't want to shut it right down. Usually the rule of thumb is to get the EGT down to around 300 degrees F before shut down. The Branson 2800H has a small turbo and it works great. Sounds good too, quieter. turbos are considered a muffler in some states, FYI.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I drive a straight piped turbo diesel truck every day (226k miles) and the wife's Excursion is up to 291k miles, both on what I believe are original turbos. I have just disassembled a turbo with 378k to rebuild for my other truck, and there is no play in it, I likely could have used it as-is. I added a turbo to my mud truck, a GM 6.2L diesel, and plan to add one to my 1.3L yanmar power plant in my JD 3005 at some point.

Can you guess my opinion? *grin*

Get the turbo!

 

[coralhead]

For what I am doing with my tractor the extra money for the turbo did not add up. 48 hp compared to 55 hp in my applications did not matter. I have a 4520R. Having the extra HP to move that cab and A/C around may be a different story though.

 

[Soundguy]

High altitude benefits, emission benefits..a couple different rules and procedures.

I lil them on my diesel trucks.

 

[Omega Woods]

I got the 4520R without the turbo. The tractor is probably too large (if that's possible) for what I need anyway which is why I opted not to get the turbo. I have worked with industrial engines with diesels for my entire adult life. They are all turbocharged. If you're even considering getting the turbo, get it if you can afford it.