LP TRACTORS

I was wondering how cost efficient lp tractors are to run today as compared to gas, and if they are basically similar to working on a gas tractor. The one I looked at is pretty good size one, a deere 4020 belonged to wifes grandpa. I put about 150 hours on my old N last summer play farming about 10 acres. Probaby could have got it done in 10 with the deere.

propane is 1.99=per gal.where i live.gas is 2.40
propane is 25% less efficient than gas so 125 x 199 = 2.49 so it is a tradeoff,however a 4020 sucks alot of propane unless you take the deere carb off and replace it with a impco carb.
I wouldnt do it

THX for the input. Looks like they go for quite a bit less than gas and 1/2 what a diesel one goes for.

I"ve always understood one of the primary reasons for running LP etc gaseous fuels was engine longevity...that the gaseous engine lasted 1/2 again to two-three times a gasoline engine because of no washdown of cyl walls, less contamination of lubricating oil, less sludge etc buildup...
As that was balanced by complexity/cost of fuel supply system, at least before computerised injection systems, gasous fuels were used mainly by heavy steady-use users, long haulers, etc.
I"m open to correction/illumination...

Propane has less energy in it as indicated below. But the engines can have much higher compression ratios and be nicely powerful. They will use more fuel but it is cheaper fuel. There is minimum hassle refilling if you have the liquid adapters for transfer. If I had a choice of tractors for small acres, I would put Propane ahead of gasoline and equal to diesel. Jim

lp tractors has more hp than the others if you read you books, but maybe not as much lugging power as a diesiel.

I know one guy that likes LP because he was tired of people stealing his gas.

There were never very many around in my area, only know of one farmer in my area that had one. It was a large moline and the only bad thing he said about it that I heard was in cold weather he had to pull it to start and one front wheel bearing kept going out. He was the first to go no till and the first to go narrow rows in corn (20") and had the LP gas flame cultivator. He is now plowing (haven't seen him using no till for several years now) and up to 30" corn rows now. Other neighbor is now on 20" corn rows.

If gasoline is $3.15 per gallon, and propane is $2.50, you break even.. Around here in NY, gasoline is $3.15 at pump, $2.90 at the farm, and propane is $2.50 per gallon if you buy in bulk, and even higher in small quanities.

Gasoline at $3.15 - 36,200 BTUs of energy
Propane at $2.50 - 33,720 BTUs of energy
Propane at $1.50 - 56,200 BTUs of energy
Diesel at $3.30 - 39,400 BTUs of energy
Farm diesel at $2.75 - 47,200 BTUs of energy

Here's what a 4020 can cost to run:

Making 80-90 horse, cheapest to most costly - best test for efficiency:

$13.35 per hour with propane - 84 horse at $1.50 per gallon

$14.58 per hour with diesel - 86.8 horse and $2.75 per gallon, SR trans

$15.40 per hour with diesel - 83.5 horse and $2.75 per gallon, PS trans

$17.66 per hour with diesel - 86.8 horse and $3.30 per gallon, SR trans

$18.48 per hour with diesel - 83.5 horse and $3.30 per gallon, PS trans

$22.25 per hour with propane - 84 horse at $2.50 per gallon

$25.81 per hour with gasoline - 80 horse and $2.90 per gallon

$28.04 per hour with gasloline - 80 horse at $3.15 per gallon

Making 20-22 horse (like running a brush-hog)

$7.15 per hour with diesel - 22 horse and $2.75 per gallon, SR trans

$7.20 per hour with propane - 22 horse at $1.50 per gallon

$7.70 per hour with diesel - 21 horse and $2.75 per gallon, PS trans

$8.58 per hour with diesel - 22 horse and $3.30 per gallon, SR trans

$9.24 per hour with diesel - 21 horse and $3.30 per gallon, PS trans

$12 per hour with propane - 22 horse at $2.50 per gallon

$12.18 per hour with gasoline - 21 horse and $2.90 per gallon

$13.23 per hour with gasloline - 21 horse at $3.15 per gallon


Here's what a 4020 cost to run overall:

Propane at $2.50 with SynchroRange trans:
94.5 horse 9.2 HHG and 10.2 GPH ($25.50 per hour)
83 horse 10.9 HHG and 9.1 GPH ($22.75 per hour)
43 horse 7 HHG and 6.1 GPH ($15.25 per hour)
22 horse 4.5 HHG and 4.8 GPH ($12 per hour)
Best - 84.2 horse at 9.45 HHG a 8.9 GPM ($22.25 per hour)
50% pull - 48.2 horse /6.8 HHG/7 GPH ($17.50 per hour)

Propane at $1.50 with SynchroRange trans:
94.5 horse 9.2 HHG and 10.2 GPH ($15.30 per hour)
83 horse 10.9 HHG and 9.1 GPH ($13.65 per hour)
43 horse 7 HHG and 6.1 GPH ($9.15 per hour)
22 horse 4.5 HHG and 4.8 GPH ($7.20 per hour)
Best - 84.2 horse at 9.45 HHG a 8.9 GPM ($13.35 per hour)
50% pull - 48.2 horse /6.8 HHG/7 GPH ($10.50 per hour)

Gasoline at $3.15 and Powershift trans:
88 horse at 10.5 HHG and 8.3 GPH ($26.30 per hour)
78 horse 9.6 HHG and 8 GPH ($25.20 per hour)
41 horse 7.6 HHG and 5.2 GPH ($16.38 per hour)
21 horse 4.8 HHG and 4.2 GPH ($13.23 per hour)
Best - 80 horse at 11 HHG a 8.9 GPM ($28.04 per hour)
50% pull - 41.8 horse /6.85 HHG/6.1 GPH ($19.22 per hour)

Gasoline (farm) at $2.90 and Powershift trans:
88 horse at 10.5 HHG and 8.3 GPH ($24.07per hour)
78 horse 9.6 HHG and 8 GPH ($23.20 per hour)
41 horse 7.6 HHG and 5.2 GPH ($15.08 per hour)
21 horse 4.8 HHG and 4.2 GPH ($12.18 per hour)
Best - 80 horse at 11 HHG a 8.9 GPM ($25.81 per hour)
50% pull - 41.8 horse /6.85 HHG/6.1 GPH ($17.69 per hour)

Diesel at $3.30 and Powershift trans:
91.1 horse 14.2 HHG and 6.4 GPH ($21.12 per hour)
83.5 horse 14.9 HHG and 5.6 GPH ($18.48 per hour)
41 horse 10.9 HHG and 3.7 GPH ($12.21 per hour)
21 horse 7.3 HHG and 2.8 GPH ($9.24 per hour)
Best - 83.5 horse at 14.89 HHG and 5.6 GPM ($18.48 per hour)
50% pull - 43.7 horse /10.18 HHG/4.3 GPH ($14.19 per hour)

Diesel (farm) at $2.75 and Powershift trans:
91.1 horse 14.2 HHG and 6.4 GPH ($17.60 per hour)
83.5 horse 14.9 HHG and 5.6 GPH ($15.40 per hour)
41 horse 10.9 HHG and 3.7 GPH ($10.18 per hour)
21 horse 7.3 HHG and 2.8 GPH ($7.70 per hour)
Best - 83.5 horse at 14.89 HHG a 5.6 GPM ($15.40 per hour)
50% pull - 43.7 horse /10.18 HHG/4.3 GPH ($11.83 per hour)

Diesel at $3.30 and SynchroRange trans:
94.8 horse 15.8 HHG and 6 GPM ($19.80)
84 horse 15.5 HHG and 5.8 GPH ($19.14 per hour)
41 horse 12.2 HHG and 3.5 GPH ($11.55 per hour)
22 horse 8.1 HHG and 2.6 GPH ($8.58 per hour)
Best - 86.8 horse at 16.4 HHG a 5.3 GPM ($17.66 per hour)
50% pull - 47.7 horse /11.4 HHG/4.18 GPH ($13.80 per hour)

Diesel (farm) at $2.75 and SynchroRange trans:
94.8 horse 15.8 HHG and 6 GPM ($16.50)
84 horse 15.5 HHG and 5.8 GPH ($15.95 per hour)
41 horse 12.2 HHG and 3.5 GPH ($9.63 per hour)
22 horse 8.1 HHG and 2.6 GPH ($7.15 per hour)
Best - 86.8 horse at 16.4 HHG a 5.3 GPM ($14.58 per hour)
50% pull - 47.7 horse /11.4 HHG/4.18 GPH ($11.50 per hour)

My 2 brothers and I all really like the LP tractors. Can't steal it easy. Cranks well hot or cold. Easy battery load vs diesel. You can buy them for less money, seems not many folks like them much. And when you tear into the engine it is clean as new. I am in north Mississippi so every other older tractor was LP so there are plenty around but that may not be the case other places. That 4020 LP would probably be a good one for you. Paul in Mississippi

If you are only using them on the home farm they are no problem. Transporting fuel to another farm can be a problem. The cost of the lp tank, liquid valve and hose with the fill valve can be quite expensive. The guys running the LP trucks usually dont like to run around filling farm tractors.

If you are only using them on the home farm they are no problem. Transporting fuel to another farm can be a problem. The cost of the lp tank, liquid valve and hose with the fill valve can be quite expensive. The guys running the LP trucks usually dont like to run around filling farm tractors.