Kioti DK4510HS Fuel Economy

Haneyrm · Feb 24, 2018

Just back from mowing 10 acres with my new DK4510HS. Took 6.5 hours with the new tractor. Last time I mowed it, I used a New Holland Workmaster 33 and it took 8 hours.

What really surprised me was the fuel usage. With the Workmaster 33, it took 11 gallons to cut all 10 acres in 8 hours. After I finished today, I dumped a jug of fuel into the DK and it only took 5.5 gallons. I guess it's not working as hard as the Workmaster and only used half the fuel. That surprised me since the DK is much more tractor and has 40% more HP.

Definitely pleased with this machine.

JimR · Feb 24, 2018

I also found the same thing with my NX4510HST compared to my old CC 7275HST. More power equals faster speeds and less cutting time.

majorwager · Mar 1, 2018

Haneyrm,
You should have purchased a kubota, then you would be able to complain about fuel consumption. I like my tractor but fuel economy is not a attribute of the brand.

cat fever · Mar 1, 2018

While I don't have anything to compare with;

I am surprised at how fuel efficient my tractor is. The amount of work I can do on a tank is impressive.

o2batsea · Mar 1, 2018

What are we mowing in February?

ritcheyvs · Mar 1, 2018

With a Diesel, fuel consumption is mainly a function of horsepower delivered, not maximum horsepower available. Beyond that injection timing and fuel atomization have a major effect efficient operation (along with clean air filters). This is a major advantage of the electronic common-rail designs where injection timing is computer controlled and very high pressure produces superior atomization.

Haneyrm · Mar 1, 2018

o2batsea said:
What are we mowing in February?

It’s 85 degrees here in February and the grass never stops growing.

majorwager · Mar 2, 2018

Ritcheyvs,.
Curious about your premise. Diesels do not use cylinder deactivation software. So all cylinders receive fuel constantly. Agree the greater the load, the fuel consumption does increase, but by engine speed default. Most tractor tasks require higher rpm's, be it PTO work or loader function or hauling. So it is your position that the amount of fuel injected in the cylinders varies, when the rpm' s remain constant? Then mowing at 2000 rpm will consume more fuel than simple transport at same engine speed? Agree electronic engine apparatus produces more efficient fuel ignition, but consumption is based as much upon engine speed as the actual work load. Over the road engines keep striving to reduce operating rpm while keeping tachometer in highest torque band. Same with larger AG engines. Why else the proliferation of economy PTO options/settings?

ritcheyvs · Mar 2, 2018

"So it is your position that the amount of fuel injected in the cylinders varies, when the rpm' s remain constant?"

Absolutely. The power lever (call it a throttle if you must) position commands the engine to try to maintain the RPM commanded by the lever position. There is a centrifugal governor that regulates the amount of injected fuel (by moving the IP rack) to maintain the commanded RPM. At no load, very little fuel needs to be burped into each cylinder to overcome friction, windage, and other parasitic loads (like the fan, water pump, oil pump, etc.). Diesels have no actual throttle so the engine does not need to work to suck air past a throttle butterfly. At idle, Diesel manifold pressure is near atmospheric (not -29 inches like a gas engine).

The same things happen in the new computer-controlled engines except the computer simulates the mechanical governor and injection pump functions.

majorwager · Mar 3, 2018

So the diesel engine stalls when the load exceeds the horsepower, without regard for the amount of fuel injected in the cylinders. A condition that cannot be overcome by the governor. A scenario shared w/ a spark ignition combustion engine.