To Turbo or Not to Turbo

[keegs]

So what are your thoughts on turbos? Some tractors have them, some don't. What are the pros and cons of having a turbo? Is it all about more horsepower in a smaller engine?

 

[KWentling]

It also restores HP lost as altitude increases.

Kim

 

[JerryK]

If you run a turbo in a dusty enviroment you will probably be cleaning the prefilter/changing the air filters a little more often than a natural aspirated motor.

 

[DT86]

If you run a turbo in a dusty enviroment you will probably be cleaning the prefilter/changing the air filters a little more often than a natural aspirated motor.

I highly doubt that.

 

[JerryK]

I highly doubt that.

The turbo trys to stuff pressurized air into the cylinders... so it adds a little more air to to each one vs. a normal motor. That little extra air has to be filtered. So, more air thru the filter equalls dirtier filters....

 

[sixdogs]

I used to avoid turbos on the misguided belief they were harder on an engine than a naturally aspirsted engine all by itself. That was then and this is now and I have two turbos tractors and like it that way. When i need the extra boost of power, the turbo provides it. It runs quieter as well.

 

[dschuffert]

I have had turbos on my diesel engines for the last 20 plus years. Both in my trucks and my farm equipment. I never had an issue with a turbo. They do make a noticeable difference in power versus a naturally aspirated engine.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

A non turbo engine looses roughly 2% of it's power for every 1000 feet in elevation. I believe that with a turbo the power comes on a bit earlier than a naturally aspirated engine also. You really don't even notice any power loss with a turbo engine until you go over 10,000 feet in elevation. I personally haven't even noticed any power loss up as high as 12,000 feet, a little harder to start and it just smoked some was all. We have 4 trucks and 2 tractors with turbos, zero problems.

There is no good reason to shy away from a tractor with a turbo, I actually prefer to have a turbo myself.

Just my :2cents:

 

[Redneck in training]

Turbocharged engines have lower specific fuel consumption (fuel/HP) because the turbo-compressor recovers energy from the exhaust gasses and use it to charge the cylinders of the engine with air. If you examine gas velocity and temperature downstream versus upstream of the turbo-expander (the driver of the turbo-compressor) you will see that both values are significantly lower because of the energy recovered. Therefore the engine runs quieter. All new diesels are turbocharged to meet current and/or upcoming emission regulations.

 

[Jim Dodgins]

My 3316 has a turbo and I can hear it kick in when I make more demand on my tractor. I have not had a problem with it and it dose give the 3316 a little extra power when it needs it.