There is a lot of misleading information that is being distributed by other manufacturers regarding the virtues of their diesel technologies and corresponding fuel efficiency. When all the smoke and mirrors are cleared away, it’s clear John Deere has an advantage. But how do you know John Deere isn’t also following a smoke-and-mirrors propaganda campaign? How about some independent testing by the world standard; Nebraska Tractor Test Lab?
Reported by John Deere:
In the fall of 2009, a John Deere 8320R was tested at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab (NTTL), and it broke the John Deere 8430’s fuel economy record as the most fuel-efficient row-crop tractor ever tested in the rated engine speed power take-off (PTO) test. The remaining 2010 8R and 8RT models were recently tested and a second 8R model, the 8295R, set a new fuel-efficiency record of 19.00 hp-hr/gal. in that same rated engine speed PTO test, breaking the 8320R’s record.
These exceptional results clearly prove that John Deere is an established leader in fuel efficiency, providing a solid example that the cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) approach toward meeting emission compliance excels in fuel economy. This solution is also without the hassle and additional expense of a second fluid found in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.
There are numerous tests in a NTTL report that measure a tractor’s fuel efficiency. Through testing, John Deere has found that the following tests most closely represent how large row-crop tractors are utilized:
- Rated engine speed PTO test
- Maximum power at the drawbar test
- 75 percent of pull at reduced engine speed test
- 75 percent of pull at maximum power test
In addition to setting a record in the rated engine speed PTO test, the 8295R also set records as the most fuel-efficient large row-crop tractor ever tested in:
- Maximum power at the drawbar test
- 75 percent of pull at reduced engine speed drawbar test
- 50 percent of pull at reduced engine speed drawbar test
That’s four fuel-efficiency records set by the 8295R that uses only diesel fuel.
To view the complete test results for the model year 2010 8 Family of Tractors, visit NTTL’s Web site at http://tractortestlab.unl.edu/testreports.htm.
Five tests that most closely represent tractor use
To aid in understanding each of these five tests and how they are performed, refer to the chart below. In addition, the chart lists the record holder in each of these NTTL tests as they relate to large row-crop tractor testing.
| Fuel-efficiency records at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab among row-crop tractors | ||||
| NTTL record | Model | Date broken | Description | |
| PTO performance | ||||
| Rated engine speed | 19.0 hp-hr/gal. | John Deere 8295R | May 2010 | This test is performed in park with a PTO load that pulls the engine down to rated engine speed. It is a highly accurate test as it removed many of the variables found in a drawbar test. This is also the test used to verify a tractor’s advertised PTO power. |
| Drawbar performance | ||||
| Maximum power | 16.77 hp-hr/gal. | John Deere 8295R | May 2010 | This test is conducted by pulling a drawbar load at typical field speeds across a concrete track. The load is increased until the engine speed is pulled down to rated rpm. |
| 75 percent of pull at maximum power | 16.56 hp-hr/gal. | John Deere 720 | September 1956 | This test places a drawbar load on the tractor equal to 75 percent of the pull achieved in the maximum power drawbar test. The engine is operated at full throttle. This test is often thought to most closely represent a tractor in a tillage application in which the operator is not shifting up and throttling back. |
| 75 percent of pull at reduced engine speed | 17.87 hp-hr/gal. | John Deere 8295R | May 2010 | This test is performed identically to the 75 percent of a pull at maximum power test, but the tractor is shifted up and throttled back, therefore running at a slower engine speed. |
| 50 percent of pull at reduced engine speed | 16.67 hp-hr/gal. | John Deere 8295R | May 2010 | This test is performed by placing a drawbar load on the tractor equal to half of the pull achieved in the maximum power drawbar test. The tractor is allowed to shift up and throttle back to pull this lighter load. |
Even though the 8295R was not the most fuel-efficient tractor ever tested in the 75 percent of pull at maximum power, it did come within 0.13 hp-hr/gal. of the leader. It did this without the added expense and cost of a second fluid, urea, which competitive tractors with SCR require. Overall, the 8295R had record-breaking fuel economy results in four out of the five tests that most closely represent how large row-crop tractors are used – truly outstanding performance!
The results for the rest of the model year 2010 8 Family of Tractors are similar, offering a complete line of large row-crop wheel and track tractors that minimize customers fluid costs for producing horsepower.
*Nebraska tractor test numbers: 1913, 1967.
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