BX tractors - efficiency specs available?

AxleHub · Oct 11, 2011

Is there a source for efficiency measurements on the BX.tractors? Some describe the 18, 23, and 26 hp models as "sippers" and that the diesel motors will be greatly less than comparable gas engined products. But I can't find any numbers on those claims. For mowing grassreverse. does a BX25 or a BX2360 more efficient than a Bx1860? Or just the reverse because its a smaller engine?

Can all of them run on biodiesel?

I would assume they do these kinds of tests before making claims.

Why would this be important? Competitve bidding on non profit purchasing, local, state, and government purchasing. In many cases today, initial cost is only part of the decisions - while operating costs and "savings justifications" are a bigger issue than a decade ago.

Anybody know where that info can be found on the BX product line?

OrangeRidge · Oct 11, 2011

Kubota Engine Division

Select Supermini , and read the fuel graph on the spec sheet

MessickFarmEqu · Oct 11, 2011

B10 is okay in the BX's. Our experience has been that Bio is okay in most everything as long as it does not have common rail fuel injection.

bp fick · Oct 11, 2011

This is merely testimonial evidence. I had a BX with 18 hp, 722 c.c. diesel. I could run it 90 minutes to cut the grass and it would consume just less a gallon. I could run an 18 hp B&S gas powered lawn tractor that same 90 minutes and consume almost two gallons of gasoline, cutting the same grass. I found the ratio to approach 2 to 1.

Whatever the charts say, my real world experience is that the diesel in the BX is indeed a sipper as compared to a similar hp gasoline engine. The difference in power and torque between the two was night and day as well.

I now have a D1005 c.c. diesel in the B2320, same engine as BX2660. If anything, it is equally as fuel efficient at the same tasks.

radioman · Oct 11, 2011

I think you need to look at it a different point of view. When I had a BS 12 or 18 hp engine, in the same tall grass at WOT it would bog down. Now with the BX, its hardly bogs down, just a different tune of engine. Its all about torque.

If you compare this with trucks, any truck with same engine, but different gear ratio, the higher torque tranny can pull more wieght with less boggin down, but at a expense of fuel. Not so with the BX. Same rated HP, the BX will win hands down in BOTH power and fuel.

Now you wonder how can that be? I'll let you decide.

slowzuki · Oct 11, 2011

You are looking for the brake specific fuel consumption, ie how much fuel per hp hour. Diesel is about 30% more efficient than the same size gas motor. Mowing a wider swath with a larger motor also is more efficient if you're comparing to a ride on.

keyman1808 · Oct 11, 2011

I burned nearly 2 gallons of gas with my 18HP Kawasaki everytime I mowed verses less than a gallon with my BX24. However with the BX I run a 60" deck where before it was a 48" deck. Pretty much same quality of cut. So it runs a bigger deck with less fuel and less time. Save all the way around. I will never go back to a gas engine again.

dodge man · Oct 11, 2011

My experience is similar. I was mowing with a 25 hp gas motor on a 54" deck and now am mowing with 23hp diesel with a 60" deck. I'd say I used about 1.5 gallons of gas to mow my yard, and now maybe 1 gallon of diesel. I think I figured at one time, I might actually save $100 a year on fuel, but then there is all the other stuff I use the tractor for, which burns that $100, but it does save my back.

I have been burning biodiesel the entire time I've owned my tractor. I don't know what percentage, since the pumps just say 5%-20%, but I bet its either B5 or B10. I have plugged a couple of filters on mine, but other than that, it runs fine.

LBrown59 · Oct 11, 2011

AxleHub said:
Is there a source for efficiency measurements on the BX.tractors? Some describe the 18, 23, and 26 hp models as "sippers" and that the diesel motors will be greatly less than comparable gas engined products. But I can't find any numbers on those claims. For mowing grassreverse. does a BX25 or a BX2360 more efficient than a Bx1860? Or just the reverse because its a smaller engine?

Can all of them run on biodiesel?

I would assume they do these kinds of tests before making claims.

Why would this be important? Competitve bidding on non profit purchasing, local, state, and government purchasing. In many cases today, initial cost is only part of the decisions - while operating costs and "savings justifications" are a bigger issue than a decade ago.

Anybody know where that info can be found on the BX product line?

There is a world of difference between the gas engines and the Diesel engines when it comes to fuel efficiency .
I had a 23 hp Gas Garden tractor I needed to fill the tank at least once every time I mowed.
I now mow with a 22 HP Diesel BX23 and fill the tank after every third or fourth time of mowing.
The BX Diesels are fuel sippers compared to the Gasoline gas hogs.