Diesel UTV horsepower

[jcummins]

I suspect this is a government EPA thing, but specially why are all the diesel UTV limited in horsepower to around the 24-25 hp range?

They could be a LOT better, if they was engineered differently.

 

[texasjohn]

Why...what do you need to do on 30 odd acres that 25hp can't handle?

More hp would be more expensive, heavier.

I doubt that the EPA is setting limits on hp...you can buy diesel vehicles of various sorts with more hp, including tractors. I suspect market forces are at play rather than the EPA.

 

[DeereMann]

You are correct. EPA nonroad (mobile off highway) compression ignition engine emission regulations are broken up into power bands. The more stringent regulations affect the bands that produce the most engines.

The small engines are not as stringent as EPA recognized they would extinguish the industry if they did so.

Break point between EPA-defined power bands is 25.0 gross bhp.

 

[texasjohn]

So, could be done, but heavier and more expensive?

 

[jcummins]

Why...what do you need to do on 30 odd acres that 25hp can't handle?

More hp would be more expensive, heavier.

I doubt that the EPA is setting limits on hp...you can buy diesel vehicles of various sorts with more hp, including tractors. I suspect market forces are at play rather than the EPA.

Live 1/2 mile off road surrounded by 430+ acres of woods/pasture. There are times i wish the diesel was peppier.

 

[DeereMann]

The EPA does in fact set engine exhaust emissions limits based on engine power bands. Google EPA - it's there.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Live 1/2 mile off road surrounded by 430+ acres of woods/pasture. There are times i wish the diesel was peppier.

640 acres is only 1 mile x 1 mile so at 25 MPH you can get just about anywhere on the property in less than 3 minutes. If you had 75 HP and could go 75 MPH it would be a bit less than 1 minute but lets face it, most landscapes wont accept 75 MPH running so you would really just be paying for HP that is of no value, kinda like the 750 HP cars that can go 250 MPH but where can you do that speed and how fast do you really need to go from 0 to 55 MPH.

Sure there are a few times that I wouldn't mind going 35 instead of 25 but there really isn't any need for more speed and so far, I haven't had any need for more pulling power with my Kubota RTV 900.

 

[jcummins]

640 acres is only 1 mile x 1 mile so at 25 MPH you can get just about anywhere on the property in less than 3 minutes. If you had 75 HP and could go 75 MPH it would be a bit less than 1 minute but lets face it, most landscapes wont accept 75 MPH running so you would really just be paying for HP that is of no value, kinda like the 750 HP cars that can go 250 MPH but where can you do that speed and how fast do you really need to go from 0 to 55 MPH.

Sure there are a few times that I wouldn't mind going 35 instead of 25 but there really isn't any need for more speed and so far, I haven't had any need for more pulling power with my Kubota RTV 900.

Everyone has opinions on this. It's why all shapes and sizes exist. I also have a 450hp Duramax that is 13 years old, and I really got some kicks out of stomping BMW into the ground. Sooooo there's just times the old hotrodder in me likes that. Having said that, 99% of the time, I'm going really slow, because I look at things. There was also sometimes that I was getting horses off my property when the owner came over and could not do it...I used a Teryx 750 then. I kind of think as wild as they was acting, the gator might not have done it....but the 58mph Teryx did.

 

[texasjohn]

I got it.... there are times, very occasionally, when you just wanna go fast.

 

[mike69440]

Re: Diesel UTV horsepower, Thoughts on Teir 4

I spent 6 hours plowing with my L39 this last storm, so I figure Desiel fumes do not bother me.

On my long drive to work with temps near -10 F, I got behind a 6-8 year old modified diesel PU and a big yellow diesel fuel school bus, both not burning well. The smoke and fumes nearly aphixiated me.

I couldn't pass, so i stayed back a few hundred feet. They eventually turned off.

I still had a massive headache and watering eyes when I got to work. GAG!

Point is, these two vehicles made the polution of at least 1,000 Teir 3 tractors and such.

Get stuff like that straightened out, and we would not need Teir 4.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I am happy with my 30 hp tractor , when I want real hp , I fire up my 62 corvette with its little 425 hp . It doesnt have a gas pedal , it has an accelerator .

 

[Gary Fowler]

Re: Diesel UTV horsepower, Thoughts on Teir 4

I spent 6 hours plowing with my L39 this last storm, so I figure Desiel fumes do not bother me.

On my long drive to work with temps near -10 F, I got behind a 6-8 year old modified diesel PU and a big yellow diesel fuel school bus, both not burning well. The smoke and fumes nearly aphixiated me.

I couldn't pass, so i stayed back a few hundred feet. They eventually turned off.

I still had a massive headache and watering eyes when I got to work. GAG!

Point is, these two vehicles made the polution of at least 1,000 Teir 3 tractors and such.

Get stuff like that straightened out, and we would not need Teir 4.

I hear you. When on a job in Peru, we had to have all our engines tested (at quite an expense I may add and all of them were brand spanking new) and if we dropped a drop of oil off a dipstick when checking the oil, we had to do an Environmental Impact Assessment plus scoop up the sand where it may have fallen, containerize it etc. Yet local trucks could go down the road belching out blue smoke at the rate of about a gallon per mile with no problems.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Live 1/2 mile off road surrounded by 430+ acres of woods/pasture. There are times i wish the diesel was peppier.

Was told by my dealer that the Kubota RTV 1100 I have was limited to 25MPH because above that speed it is no longer classed as a SMV and different government safety rules kick in.

David Kb7uns

 

[Boeing]

Was told by my dealer that the Kubota RTV 1100 I have was limited to 25MPH because above that speed it is no longer classed as a SMV and different government safety rules kick in.

David Kb7uns

PLEASE, back to the ORIGINAL question......HOW can we get more power out of our Kubota Diesels? (I have the D-1100) It is fine on level ground but going up my hills it drops to 11MPH EMPTY with my 170 lb butt on board.

 

[ArlyA]

If your RTV has hydrostatic tranny in it, then they just can't go fast. If its a CVT, those do have the ability. Transmission wise anyway..

 

[DieselBound]

^^^ This!

I've got a 2016 Polaris Brutus. It's slower than molasses; but, I didn't buy it for racing. It'll haul something like 2k lbs (total cargo), and tow 2k lbs: not sure it can do both at the same time! Right tool for my jobs. Land is flat, but is pretty uneven (except my driveway): I wouldn't want to try going fast with ANY vehicle! The HST makes it easy for my wife to operate. I think that top-end is about 32mph, though mine's not adjusted properly such that it can achieve that speed (perhaps 25mph): and, really, I've run it flat out on the local road and I wouldn't want to be running any faster as it really feels bouncy.

Don't want to lose precious cargo (she's a big girl now and more often rides on the passenger seat; I have her on leash, tethered, and will hold on to her if things get dicey):

 

[Hay Dude]

The Bobcat UTV is hydrostatic and is claimed to go 30.

 

[ovrszd]

I've read some online threads about adding a turbo to the Kubota RTVs. Memory says there's even a kit you can buy.

 

[DieselBound]

If the engine's a direct injection then a turbo will help, otherwise (it's an IDI) and it'll be a lot of cost for very little gain: engine in mine's a Yanmar (24hp?) IDI; I know of someone who put a turbo on theirs and power increase was nowhere near cost justified- very little power gain. I'd advise caution about increased power to the HST. Freaking parts on these things are stupid expensive.

 

[90cummins]

Adding a turbo to a DI or IDI will not by itself increase hp.
The fuel rate needs to be increased also.
I added a turbo to my Ford 1720 tractor which is IDI and turned up the fuel and engine rpm I can say with no exaggeration that the HP increased perhaps 50%.
The performance & capabilities were vastly improved.
On my engine there are external adjustments for the fuel rate and max rpm.
Not sure where or how your kubota can be adjusted but some research should help you in your search for more HP.
90cummins