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O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors

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KYfarm

07-13-2006 08:00:40

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I recently did some internet research on what I would like to someday buy, a new 90 or 95HP cab tractor, even though I seriously dought I ever will be able to and I noticed the following.

New Holland, Massey and Deere all have a 90 PTO HP machine with a 4 cylinder turbos at approx. 270 cubic inches. The 95 PTO HP machines all go to 6 cylinder turbo's from 366 to 414 inches.

Here is my question. Would you get better fuel efficiency from a smaller block turned up to its max with boost or a larger block delivering its mimimum with turbo boost.

Even though I will never be able to buy one of these new, I certainly hope one day to trade-in by JD 2950 on a tractor made in the last few years, so I'm just wondering about the efficiency.
I certainly figure that the 6 cyl. would last longer than a 4 cyl.with max. boost but is there any truth to that?

Just wondering. Thanks.

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RodInNS

07-13-2006 19:37:40

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Re: O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors in reply to KYfarm, 07-13-2006 08:00:40

There's so many variables at play there that it would be really hard to give a straight answer, let alone an answer that you could use as a base. There's 4's that will out work a 6 on less fuel, and there's 6's that will burn less fuel and shame a 4.
It probably depends more on what your intended use would be. I guess if you had a lot of heavy tillage work, or forage harvesting, or some other job that required a lot of torque response, then the 6 would be the way to go. If you had more lighter jobs that require higher outputs at times, and more utility type work generally, then the 4 would probably be more efficient. In terms of thermal efficiency, the 4 should be more efficient. Also, a turbo engine will always have a higher power recovery from it's fuel than a natural engine, and an intercooled engine will be better again.... So, I guess you have to look at what you're doing. For me, the 4 cylinder turbo Ford works good... but at some point I'll need to find a bunch more power for the big jobs. I'm just getting by with the pump turned up... a lot.
As far as efficiency between the colors, I doubt you will find much difference between them at this point. HTH.

Rod

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Blue Buddy

07-13-2006 16:27:53

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Re: O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors in reply to KYfarm, 07-13-2006 08:00:40

part of the reason for going from 4 to 6 at the 90 to 95 HP change is for traction, with the bigger power for tillage work, you need a longer tractor, or a LOT of front ballast, more front ballast means more tire wear on the front, kingpin and spindle issues, and the list goes on as for todays fuel economy, is really complicated right now with all the new engine designs and electronic controls coming out due to the Tier 2 and coming soon Tier 3 emmisions laws, some of the electronic 6's are way better on fuel then the 4's, and some machines are just pigs, kinda like cars and trucks

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buickanddeere

07-13-2006 14:53:10

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Re: O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors in reply to KYfarm, 07-13-2006 08:00:40

It's nothing to even worry about or consider. Just purchase the tractor with the features, functions, dealer service and durability you want. Saving 50 gallons of diesel a year to run a tractor you don't like is no bargin.

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kyhayman

07-13-2006 13:10:58

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Re: O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors in reply to KYfarm, 07-13-2006 08:00:40

Just looking at my own experience, it totally depends on what you are using it for. The fact that something has 90 horsepower is irrelevant, the depth and pitch of the torque curves is the influence on your effective power. In other terms, your 6 cylinder naturally aspirated engines with more cubic inches should have a flatter torque curve under load and more reserve kinetic energy. As opposed to that the turbo charged 4's boost up when you need the horsepower but its a shallow curve, not much reserve. When doing tillage work at max h.p, esp with a moldboard or chisel plow 6 cyl is the way to go. When I was raising tobacco I always kept an old 100 hp Case or IH for just that purpose. Cant beat 6 cylinders for keeping you going in heavy sod. First two years into 100% forage production, I still ran those big 6's. When I went to turbo 4's, annual fuel use dropped 30% (1200 gallons a year saved). With the disc mower, theres some difference, about 15 gallons a day. With the baler though, its huge. Only takes half as much fuel. Best I can figure, the baler is only pulling max hp at almost full, the governor and turbo add fuel and boost as you need it verses the big 6's where theres more baseline there all the time. Your results may vary.

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Cliff Neubauer

07-13-2006 09:45:58

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Re: O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors in reply to KYfarm, 07-13-2006 08:00:40

Doing the same job I doubt there would be much difference in fuel use, if it takes 80hp to do something either engine is going to burn almost exactly the same amount of fuel to create that 80hp. Personally I would go with the six cylinder engine, turbo or not. The six cylinder will run smoother and and generally the tractors using the six cylinder engines are built a little heavier than the smaller four cylinder engines.

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Mark

07-13-2006 09:05:31

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Re: O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors in reply to KYfarm, 07-13-2006 08:00:40

Well, displacement (cubic inches) is the key to power and the more cylinders...the more power impulses per revolution of the crank. I would also tend to think if the larger engine wasn't ran against the wall.....as a smaller engine might be..it would be more efficient. Years ago, GMC had a couple big V6 truck engines....one was 305 cubes and the other 405 as I recall (if I am wrong I will very soon be corrected). Anyway, while that 305 V6 sucked gasoline, the 366 V8 was surprisingly easy in comparison. The 405 V6 was just atrocious..hehehe! They didn't last too long and the big block V8's...the 366 and 427 ruled the day.

I think you can apply this logic to your question on tractor engines.

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Sid

07-13-2006 09:21:16

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Re: O/T - Fuel efficiency, 4cyl vs. 6cyl tractors in reply to Mark , 07-13-2006 09:05:31

I believe that fuel efficincy depends on other factors other than engine size. The tractor must be matched to the right implement for the best efficency

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