Hours per gallon with BX?

[dragoneggs]

I just hit 10 hours on my BX25D and it looks like i have a 1/4 to 1/3 tank left. So I am running about 2.5 hours/gallon or .4 gallons/hr. Curious, is this about what you all are finding? I am probably running mostly around 2500rpm. What are your typical rpm's? Do you vary depending on use?

 

[jb62901]

On my BX2360 at 23 hp running at 2600 rpms I use ,6 - .7 gph. When I mow for 4 hrs at a time I'll top it off at 2,5 gals.

 

[Grandad4]

Just remember that fuel tank is a very convoluted shape. Once you get somewhere below 1/2 full, the fuel gauge is only a rough approximation... it's kind of saying there's still enough fuel to slosh around, but don't count on there being a lot left. Considering it's a big hassle to actually run diesels dry, when the gauge on mine starts swinging wildly between E and half full as the tractor is moving, I know it's time to add fuel.

 

[RaydaKub]

Just remember that fuel tank is a very convoluted shape.

Exactly. My gauge reads 1/4 tank, but when I open the cap, it's bone dry down there. That last 1/4 is VERY small. It's more like a depth gauge than a fuel gauge.

 

[gwdixon]

Agree about the odd tank shape. The fuel gauge is not a very reliable fine measuring device.

A much better way to measure fuel consumption is to fill the tank, run it down (not out!), and measure how much it takes to refill.

Another interesting issue is the hour meter. Some tractor's hour meter goes faster with higher RPMs and slows down at idle. This is actually by design. An hour is not really an hour.

Just like any vehicle, hard work will use more fuel. Think of a truck pulling a heavy trailer rather than bobtail.

It really doesn't matter what the fuel consumption is. Most people don't buy tractors with fuel consumption in mind unless it is a major construction company or the like.

Fuel consumption is what it is until someone make a Prius into a tractor.

 

[Danner]

Mowing, my BX2660 consumes .6 gals/hour.

 

[sea2summit]

So little I don't count it as an expense... I usually top it off with a 5 gal tank every time I greese so every 8-10 hours, I don't think it's ever taken a full 5 gals to top off.
Seems like components for services cost more overall per hour than fuel.

 

[Finnster]

On my b, im coming on 20 hrs and have used 10 gals. Lots of heavy use

 

[dodge man]

I'd say mine uses the most when mowing, and of course it depends on how thick the grass is. I've never measured carefully, but I'd say mine uses closer to a gallon an hour when mowing, but when doing FEL and similar, less than 0.5 gallon per hour.

 

[techman]

Normal mowing, etc, figure 0.2-0.3 GPH

paul

 

[WaxMan]

Agree about the odd tank shape. The fuel gauge is not a very reliable fine measuring device.

A much better way to measure fuel consumption is to fill the tank, run it down (not out!), and measure how much it takes to refill.

Another interesting issue is the hour meter. Some tractor's hour meter goes faster with higher RPMs and slows down at idle. This is actually by design. An hour is not really an hour.

Just like any vehicle, hard work will use more fuel. Think of a truck pulling a heavy trailer rather than bobtail.

It really doesn't matter what the fuel consumption is. Most people don't buy tractors with fuel consumption in mind unless it is a major construction company or the like.

Fuel consumption is what it is until someone make a Prius into a tractor.

Is this true about the hours adding up less when idling? I like to let the tractor idle while I'm working around and placing items in the fel etc. But I don't want to add up the hours needlessly .
I never heard this before. I thought as long as 12 volts is reaching the meter it adds up at a steady timed pace equaling 1hr no matter what. ????

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Since alot of early tractors did not have alternators with a tach output like used on the newest hour/tach dashboards, they used a gear driven tach/hour meter driven off a camshaft gear hence the tractormeter that registered run time based on how fast engine was run kind of ligh a spedometer. As time went on the mechanical meter was replaced by a quartz timed hour meter that is straight timed.

David Kb7uns

 

[SPYDERLK]

BX1500 at full power running a generator ~ 1gph

 

[WaxMan]

Since alot of early tractors did not have alternators with a tach output like used on the newest hour/tach dashboards, they used a gear driven tach/hour meter driven off a camshaft gear hence the tractormeter that registered run time based on how fast engine was run kind of ligh a spedometer. As time went on the mechanical meter was replaced by a quartz timed hour meter that is straight timed.

David Kb7uns

Ok that makes sense, my B3030 had a mechanical tach and analog gauge, I assume the L3240 also is mechanical since it has an analog gauge. Anyone know for sure?

On second thought wouldn't you think that it is geared to be an hour whether fast or slow?

 

[gwdixon]

Is this true about the hours adding up less when idling? I like to let the tractor idle while I'm working around and placing items in the fel etc. But I don't want to add up the hours needlessly .
I never heard this before. I thought as long as 12 volts is reaching the meter it adds up at a steady timed pace equaling 1hr no matter what. ????

Check out this thread about hour meters and how they register:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/164597-hour-meter-operation.html

 

[number two]

Ok that makes sense, my B3030 had a mechanical tach and analog gauge, I assume the L3240 also is mechanical since it has an analog gauge. Anyone know for sure?

On second thought wouldn't you think that it is geared to be an hour whether fast or slow?

WaxMan,I think your L3240 has the Intelipanel display which records key-on time vs. actual hours at PTO speed the B3030 shows.

 

[94BULLITT]

I think it is somewhere around .5-.75 gal a hour.

 

[WaxMan]

WaxMan,I think your L3240 has the Intelipanel display which records key-on time vs. actual hours at PTO speed the B3030 shows.

You're right number two, what was I thinking of, the hr meter is on the analog tach on the B3030 , I have an analog tech on the 3240 but thats not where the hr meter is.
Thanks

 

[ryan08]

For those concerned about fuel usage cutting grass, sharpen those blades. I really noticed a difference in the way the engine bogged down in thick grass after a good sharpen/balance. The mower sailed through the thick stuff afterward without the slightest bog. This translates to less fuel usage.

I know Kubota says not to put a real sharp edge on a blade as it damages easier, but I like to keep them sharp and just watch out for large sticks and foreign objects.

Just a thought.