Gas vs Diesel tractor

This message is a reply to an archived post by saunderl on March 28, 2013 at 11:47:24.
The original subject was "Gas vs Diesel tractor".

Do not worry, you DON'T have know how to work on a
diesel because you WONT have to work on a diesel.

I disagree you will have to work on it sometime. Just because its a diesel dont mean you dont work on it.

I believe the diesel's have won! Can you buy a new gas tractor?

Diesels should go 5000-10000 hours between any engine maintenance, excluding oil changes.

This is a old tractor forum. How many people are talking about diesels here that are new and capable of 10,000 hours into the future with no problems? Not many, I bet. I fix a lot of diesels with injector, pump, glow-plug, cylinderhead, turbo problems - not to mention other normal stuff e.g. that wears out in gas engines too.

Is that what they are teaching now at Ivy Tech?

But diesels Stink. And they're Noisy.

Many many 60s diesels have 10000 hours on them, never been touched.

Yes you can still buy one, not very big, but they are still made.

yeah and most of them should have had new rods and mains at 5000hrs., everyone brags about how many hours their tractor has without being touched and then they have a cow when it comes to overhaul time and they pay for their lack of preventative maintenance

You should really ease up on your hatred of diesels. They have won. You can't buy anything but a diesel in a 40+hp tractor. Just about any tractor/lawnmower over 20hp is available with a diesel. They're just plain better. No two ways about it. For 5000 hours they operate with nothing more than oils and filters. At 5000 hours they may still be perfect, or they may need some work. Between the extra gas and short term maintenance that a gas engine needs, even a pump rebuild and maybe some new bearings, the diesel will be cheaper. This doesn't even factor in the cost of a breakdown. Nay to make things even worse, now even North American cars are available with diesels.

I have nothing against diesels. But you can still get a gas tractor and he said you cant. I wanted to tell him you could. We have all but three diesel tractors all the way from 130hp to 585hp but one thing i dont want diesel is a new pickup. I love the hemis. I wouldnt mind a 91-93 dodge 12v to restore though

Having come up through the ranks and being on the other side because that was all I could afford, Diesel, hands down for pulling power, fuel efficiency, convenience, and lack of maintenance when there is real work to be done.

Gas goes in my P/U truck as it doesn't have to do any work.

Mark

Are we talking pre emission diesels or diesels with urea injection, cooled EGR, particulate filters and 30,000psi injection systems.

As for light passenger vehicles in diesel? Take a look. They are designed and built for markets where diesel fuel is 3/4 the price of gasoline. That isn"t the USA.
Light diesels are sold in the US because the marketing departments have decided that some die hards will pay a premium for a diesel . Make some money in a niche sideline market along side your established line. Or promote the diesel for the exotic aspect.
If diesel really rules in the road. Where are all these diesel cars in the US? Even diesel pickups and SUVs are a small minority.
As for HD road,HD off road and marine propulsion/power system. Then yes the diesel comes out ahead in continuous 80% power rating running 24/7.
Last time I looked . Bubba cutting his lawn or driving to work is not a HD diesel application . Your vehicle is not making 225-300HP continuous on the road. Hence no need for diesel.
btw have you ever looked at the partly loaded fuel efficiency ratings of diesel vs gas?
If diesel is so wonderful in every application.!why are there gas atv"s boats and consumer lawn equipment still in gasoline?
Equipment manufactures are tossing around the idea of cheaper and more reliable direct injection gassers. In place of the $$$ tier IV small diesels.
As for diesel power vs gasoline power ? Compare the .same tractor with the gasoline and natural aspirated diesel versions. Per cubic inch there is little to no difference in power or torque.

Bubba your rant is off topic again. I listed where diesel has proven the fuel of choice FOR ME. Did the same with gasoline. Having had a 4020 propane, will not have another propane powered vehicle, especially one that a person would expect to do some real work.

I don't know about in Canada but in Texas, city busses that run on diesel are a stinking mess if you are behind them. Course you have no idea as to the maintenance/service policies, reliability, fuel efficiency, or fuel cost and frankly I couldn't care less. I don't ride them, nor support them is tax subsidies.

I agree with T. Boone Pickens, natural gas is the way to go on the busses and similar things. Don't know about OTR trucking and don't care as that is none of my concern. I was a member of his team and will be again when he has another point he wants to make. I don't know about Canada, you seem to be preoccupied with the USA and what we are doing down here all the time but in Texas we have plenty of it and most of the gulf coast refineries that refine the dino products.

Mark