DEF Tractors and Frequency of Use

[Towaliga]

Im going back and forth between sizes of tractor. 90+ HP has DEF. My sales rep said that tractors without DEF would probably be a better for me as I only put around 100 hrs a year on my tractor, and only get up to my property about every other month in the Spring and Summer. Im there every month in the Fall and Winter. When I looked up DEF issues with sitting, what am seeing is "1 year", which would not be an issue......

Thoughts?

 

[Paystar]

Having owned big trucks, SCR with DEF is better than DPF only. Less issues, but still a horrible unreliable system.

Tractors seem? to be doing better. And our Cat loaders and excavators with SCR/DEF have been almost trouble free. Way better than my on road trucks.
BUT...I have had codes for poor DEF quality.

You are correct that DEF only has about a one year shelf life, and any moisture or temperatures above 30*C will cause it to degrade. So will direct sunlight on stored DEF.
And of coarse it freezes at minus 11*C.

If your tractor will be sitting lots, I would try and avoid it.

 

[deserteagle71]

Since you use it so little I'd recommend finding an older tractor without all the pollution control crap on it. Cheaper to both buy and to maintain for the long term.

 

[Jrasband]

If your hardly going to use the tractor why do you need such a large one? Seems like a 75 hp tractor without DEF would suit you better

 

[Towaliga]

If your hardly going to use the tractor why do you need such a large one? Seems like a 75 hp tractor without DEF would suit you better

Im going to be using it more moving forward. We did some clearcutting a couple of years ago, and now that we replanted, I'm going to carve out some strategic food plots, and it will double the amount of acreage I have to plant every year, and also now that I will have a FEL, I'll be able to take on projects I wasn't able to in the past. The main potential issue is not running the tractor for 30 days at a time at certain times of the year

 

[Drstrangeglove]

I cycle tractor def to the pickup about every 2 months

 

[oosik]

In 2009 I wanted to upgrade my tractor. I had a 1982 Ford 1700 that I had purchased new in 1982.

I was undecided. Should I purchase a new Tier 3 or wait for the new Tier 4. The tractor salesman did me a REAL solid. Convinced me to purchase Tier 3 and not wait for the Tier 4.

I thank him - every time I climb up on my 2009 Kubota M6040.

 

[5030]

In my view, the ONLY thing DEF is good for is fertilizing my hay fields. Much cheaper than 46 granulated but you do need a spray rig to apply it. I apply it at 5 gallons of DEF to 250 gallons of water.

 

[wolc123]

Since you use it so little I'd recommend finding an older tractor without all the pollution control crap on it. Cheaper to both buy and to maintain for the long term.

This is what I would do. All of the OEM’s are pouring most of their engineering talent into electric power these days. Far better to buy something from the days when diesel power was their primary focus.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

The main potential issue is not running the tractor for 30 days at a time at certain times of the year

If it helps, my Ram 3500 can sit for up to nine months with no problems.

But when it is used, the entire nine gallon tank is sometimes used up. At this particular point, about half of the DEF in it is probably two years old.

 

[MHarryE]

With season for my first DEF equipped tractor without a problem, a pleasure to work around with no odor, no soot, no problems. Then total reversal. Granted rarely used in our country November to May but May 5, start of busy season in the frozen North, and the problem from last September was not repaired by the dealer, so a $200,000 lawn ornament. If you can get by under 75 HP, do it. DPF tractors and track loaders have unnoticeable operation as mine have auto regened during operation and if I don’t look at the dash, I don’t know it’s happened. Def pump out of warranty same cost as a used 120 HP tractor. My large DEF equipped tractor only has 1300 hours but 2021 had 420 hours while 2022 only 160 hours due to downtime.

 

[Drstrangeglove]

My problem is, it wants to regen about 10 minutes before I shut it down. I want a button to force a regen.

 

[4570Man]

I have a skid steer and mini x that have DPFs. From what I’ve seen the larger equipment that takes DEF gives considerably more problems. I’d buy a 74 hp tractor unless you absolutely can’t work with that.

 

[5030]

Just bought a full 300 gallon tote of outdated DEF for cheap. I'll use it for fertilizer just like I always do. Don't care if it's out of date, the urea content remains unchanged. Still smells like cat pee...

 

[5030]

Buddy just had his DEF pump fail on his out of warranty F350 diesel. Cost him a grand to replace it. Wowzer.

 

[5030]

In 2009 I wanted to upgrade my tractor. I had a 1982 Ford 1700 that I had purchased new in 1982.

I was undecided. Should I purchase a new Tier 3 or wait for the new Tier 4. The tractor salesman did me a REAL solid. Convinced me to purchase Tier 3 and not wait for the Tier 4.

I thank him - every time I climb up on my 2009 Kubota M6040.

Why both of my M9000's are pre 4. No emissions junk to fail. Even have crankcase draft tubes. I'll never own anything post 4 and that includes my diesel pickup truck. It appears to me that the more complex they get, the more frequent the failures are and the more costly those failures are as well.

Additionally, they retain their value because owners are getting wise to the failure rate and their inability to repair them, themselves.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I started lookin for a new cabbed tractor, I thought I wanted something in the 90 hp range so I could pull a 15 foot batwing and eventually a round baler. The more I looked, the more I read about DEF issues. Most people never have a problem, but a lot of people do, and when it happens, it can be really expensive. I also didn't want to have something that I was nervous about, or needing additional maintenance.

Over time, I adjusted my search to the biggest tractor that didn't have DEF. The two I liked the best where Case/New Holland and Massey Ferguson. Comparing them, the Massey Ferguson 4707 really stood out with a lot more features, more weight, and better financing then the others.

I probably could of gotten away with a 15 foot batwing, especially after I had everything mowed and it was just maintaining my place, but I went with the 12 foot batwing to be safe and know that I would have plenty of power. The 4707 pulls it through grass and brush that's over the hood. The smaller decks float over the ground for a very nice finish, and it sticks out past my wheels far enough to get to the edge of my pond without my tires getting wet.

I've had it for a year and a half now, and I like it more today then the day I got it. Nothing better then a few hours getting things done in it. Especially on a super hot/humid day, or when it's cold and nasty out!!!

 

[Paystar]

That's what I am wondering Eddy, how are the Massey 4707 and Case IH Farmall 75's making out with just the diesel oxidation catalysts and no DPF or regens?
My friend just bought a Farmall 75A and he loves it, but still to new to see how it is going to be reliable.

 

[WM75Guy]

I think for me DOC will be a non-issue. My 2019 WM75 has DOC, same as the 75A. No problems with it but I only have 160 hours on it. There is not even a mention in the operator's manual about emissions or how to operate it with DOC.

 

[EddieWalker]

That's what I am wondering Eddy, how are the Massey 4707 and Case IH Farmall 75's making out with just the diesel oxidation catalysts and no DPF or regens?
My friend just bought a Farmall 75A and he loves it, but still to new to see how it is going to be reliable.

I keep reading about people with smaller tractors that Regen. As far as I know, my 70 hp Massey 4707 does not Regen. Why would a 40 hp tractor have to Regen? I could be wrong, I've only had it since June of 2022 with anything smog related happening. I just fuel it up, clean my filters, check my fluids and then put it to work.