Newer E-TVCS engine worth the cost and waiting for?

[Raised on a Deere]

Any body have any opinions or likes and dislikes between the current L3800 diesel engine technology and the new E-TVCS engines. I was a bit taken aback when I came out from under my rock and began shopping for a tractor after 25 years of paying attention to other things. The Ford Dexta kept running and running. I can still get a L3800 with the old current engine or wait for the $1500 more expensive newer engine. I would not want to do that just for pollution control. If the engine is more efficient or quieter I could go with the extra cost.

 

[jeff9366]

I would move FAST on the older, Tier 3 compliant, L3800. Make sure you get a factory fresh one, not one that has been sitting in some dealers lot, outside, for three years.

I waited too long. Model L3540 I wanted was gone. L3560 is $6000 more.

 

[Wayne64SS]

Only reason I'm buying the MX5100 now is so I can beat Tier IV. DPF and EGR are horse **** and are ruining diesels. You don't want that garbage anywhere near your tractor.

 

[Bota4me]

Only reason I'm buying the MX5100 now is so I can beat Tier IV. DPF and EGR are horse **** and are ruining diesels. You don't want that garbage anywhere near your tractor.

Lol, tell us how you really feel! Laughing

 

[johnnyvol]

Only reason I'm buying the MX5100 now is so I can beat Tier IV. DPF and EGR are horse **** and are ruining diesels. You don't want that garbage anywhere near your tractor.

Lol, tell us how you really feel! Laughing

Or better yet, tell us why you don't want "that garbage". Do you have any real experience with the Tier 4 or are you just regurgitating what you've read on the Internet?

 

[Wayne64SS]

No diesel experience here at all bud. Internet hot shot here.

 

[MHarryE]

Is pollution control really that bad? I have a L5740 with lots of smoke, always the diesel odor, sooted air cleaner because the exhaust is right under the air intake, and have set off the smoke alarm on start-up. I also have a new M135GX. No soot, no odor, and my lungs don't feel like I spend my time around 3 pack a day smokers. I only have 114 hours so I can't tell you about longevity. Fuel economy - how to compare? It seems about comparable in gallons per acre plowing in comparison with our Tier 2 JD7720. It has better fuel economy chopping hay when compared to my BIL's IH 1486 but that is an old tractor. The L5740 is a real pig on fuel but then again it is our only hydro and where it sucks down fuel is in high load applications. After buying it and finding out how much fuel it used I researched the engine data comparing the engine it used compared to the JD direct injected engine I didn't buy due to price JD found that at full power the JD used 20% less fuel. The closest DI Kubota engine comparable to the one in my L5740 is 10% more fuel efficient. Still the fuel economy difference is not going to significantly effect my pocketbook. I sure wish it didn't stink up the place though. Last month I checked and Kubota still doesn't have complete engine data on their engine web site to compare the new engines against the old.

 

[Raised on a Deere]

I am not anti pollution control. But some pollution controls historically have been pretty lame. My 2003 dodge Cummins however burns clean and doesn't have a catalytic converter and it is much quieter than my 94 Dodge Cummins and just as fuel efficient if not a bit more. Later iterations have hurt fuel efficiency and are very costly to maintain. Just do not know what has been going on in the tractor world. Thanks for the replies.

 

[MHarryE]

Today I was working with a mechanic friend who maintains a truck fleet. He says a problem he has is drivers idling excessively which creates deposits on the injector for the DPF. He says they limp the truck into him saying it needs to regen and won't. He cleans the injector tip and away they go. I can see that being a problem. For example yesterday I was driving by a construction site with 12 bottom dumpers lined up with hot asphalt waiting their turn to dump so the windrow elevator on the paver could pick it up and lay it down. Those trucks will sit there idling for a lengthy period and if it comes time for a regen, they could be screwed. I've been lucky in that I lived through the design, test and production implementation of Tiers 1, 2, and 3. I also got to start out Tier 4 interim before retiring but have been back on a consulting basis so I have a pretty good idea what to look out for since our system was much the same as Kubota's. Last night when my tractor regened I was more concerned about the massive hydraulic leak I has earlier day, a leak within a few inches of the exhaust system. Did I clean up the oil or was I going to set myself on fire? Made it okay but am queasy about my funky loader hose multi-coupler being so close to the hot exhaust.

 

[BGigHarbor]

I really wanted an lxx40 model because I don't like where the FEL and such hoses are routed (exposed) on the lxx60. But by the time I was ready to buy it was too late to get an lxx40 of any size -- sold out.

So I am buying an l5460 and I'll hope K worked things out well enough with the dpf and all the physical ramfications (some due to the fuel tank being moved).

In theory (except for forward hose routings which I got to say I hate) the lxx60 is a nicer tractor esp with the larger cab. Time will tell, and I am one of the guinea pigs.