Do I Want a Tractor with a Turbocharger?

Got a viewer letter from Hugh, who is considering a 40-50 hp tractor and is trying to decide if he wants one with a turbocharger or not. He lives in the south and is concerned about the heat that a turbo builds and wonders if it'll affect the longevity and maintenance cost for the engine.

I'm sure not an expert on engine technology, but my perception is that today's turbochargers don't add any to the maintenance issues of a tractor. Especially on small tractors, turbo's make the engine more efficient and add extra horsepower, and seem to be really reliable. If you're buying a tractor and need the extra horsepower for running a bush hog, get the turbo. Sometimes, though, there's no difference in the lift capacity of a 40 horsepower non-turbo tractor and, say a 50 hp turbo tractor. If you're looking mainly at lift capacity and don't need the horsepower, definitely, buy the cheaper tractor and save the money. If you live in high elevations, turbos are a must. Normally aspirated engines don't do well in the mountains.

Older turbochargers required a lot more maintenance. They required oil, pumped from the engine, for lubrication. If you hauled a tractor with a front-facing exhaust down the highway, the turbo could be spinning from the wind coming down the pipe. Without lubrication, it could burn up. That's why you see truckers tape over tractor exhaust pipes when hauling tractors.

Today's turbo's usually have sealed bearings. They can spin without the tractor running and not damage anything. My perception is that they're very well made and usually last as long as the tractor without extra maintenance. I wouldn't be a bit concerned about owning a tractor with one.

Turbochargers work by using exhaust gasses to pressurize intake gasses, which increases horsepower and fuel economy. Because there's exhaust going through them and rapidly moving parts, they do build heat. That may be more of a concern in areas where it gets hotter than it does where I live. If you've had experiences with turbocharged tractors, and live in the south, please put it in the comments below. Unless there's a radical difference in turbo longevity in hotter areas, I have no problem with a turbocharged tractor.

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[tomoaktree]

Turbocharged engines have been around a long time. All large tractors and combines have engines with a turbo on them. Turbochargers don't require any maintenance, however, as with any engine that has a turbo, it is more critical after a turbocharged engine has been run from moderate to heavy loading that it be allowed to idle for several minutes to allow the turbocharge to cool down prior to shutting it down.

[hughhead]

Well gosh, I'm blushing. Thanks y'all! I'm the Hugh who asked, and I learned a lot from the video and the comments. Never knew about covering the exhaust (key for me trailering it around) and the cooling down step. Thanks Mike and to all who commented! There's going to be something shiny with a turbo in the shed soon!

[jamescausey]

I live in South Carolina and work on turbocharged machines every day
Usually the turbo is the least of your worries

[brandoncrimmins]

20 year diesel mechanic here. And I have worked at a Kubota/New Holland dealer for the last year. Great video as usual Mike! Although I am gonna push back just a little on one thing…

Tractors today are always underpowered as well as FAR TOO LIGHT. So I’m always going to shoot for more HP if it’s available and in budget. Primarily because everything I need a tractor to do is HP related, cutting, tilling, snow blowing and other ground engaging things like a Harley Rake. I also use Stump Grinders, Chippers and brooms too. So I’m always looking for more HP and thanks to the inept folks at the EPA, Tractors have not been able to grow in HP ranges… But that’s a topic for another day.

As far as turbos go… You’re 100% right. They require no additional maintenance and in an equipment application. Turbo lag is a non issue. Unlike in an on-road application. So as long as you’re buying a quality machine. The turbo should probably last the life of the product.

[mattjt]

Currently in the process of buying my first tractor, I live at 7000’ elevation and getting one with a turbo was a must for me, we have had turbocharged cars and trucks and ones without here, and not having one you really can tell the difference.

[markbuetow]

À turbocharger on a diesel engine is like having ice in your cocktail, they are the perfect compliment.

[critical-thought]

I run my 55hp turbo Yanmar in weather well below freezing all the way to 100°+. The tractor is used hard but well maintained. If I ever have to buy again, turbo will be mandatory.

[leecarroll]

Hello Mike,
Having worked all over the world maintaining equipment it's my experience that turbos are a win win, be it a tractor, generator, bull dozer, tank, Heavy haul tractor. If Cat and Cummins do it usually a pretty good indicator that it works. Yes it's free HP and yields more low end grunt. As you stated prev a turbo will last the life of the engine or more. Pro tip: upon completion of mission allow engine to idle for a little bit to lube and cool down sufficiently. This will add life to turbo and common sense.

[jerrygilliam]

I bought an LS XR4145HC in 2018. The XR41xx series came in 35 - 55hp models. The only difference in each hp rating was the turbo size and ECM tuning. My 45hp has to work a bit harder than a 55hp would, but this helps keep the DPF clear. The turbo doesn't add anything to maintenance unless it fails. The owners manual reccomends allowing the engine to idle at 1000rpm for a few minutes, after first start of the day, and after hard use before shutting down. The idea is to keep oil flowing through the turbo bearings during initial warm up, and for cooling down after hard use, before shutting. On average my fuel consumption is about 3/4 gal./hr under heavy use. When I compare that to the fuel consumption on the non turbo 25hp tractor I used to own, that used a 1/2 gal/hr, the increase in fuel consumption is negligible compared to the increased performance. Non turbo is ok but turbo makes "ok" so much better.

[urbanstd]

A few years back I was looking to purchase a tractor in the 45hp to 60hp range. I ended up buying a Kubota L4760. In my research prior to purchase I placed a premium on Hydraulic system and FEL capability. I also placed a premium on reliability, longevity and reducing potential down time on my tractor.

In my case, I am not operating at high altitude and I do not operate large PTO driven 3 point implements. A Turbo charger adds risks but not rewards.

I love that my engine, Frame size, hydraulic system and loader capacity are the same as higher output engines with turbo chargers.

My naturally aspirated engine has the same block and internal components of higher displacement turbo charged models. Non-turbocharged should deliver better economy and greatly reduced risks of failure (No turbo oil supply, no oil return, no risk of turbo oil seal failure, simplified exhaust and emissions as well as reduced ECM tuning tweaks to balance power output vs. emission.

My Cooling systems engine coolant, engine oil, and hydraulic cooling are the same as the higher output turbo-charged models but my HST model will run much cooler that the equivalent turbo-charged models.

So far the tractor suits my needs and I have had no problems.

[bobpurs]

Mike I agree with you. I’m in the north and newest tractor I have is a turbo and I see no added maintenance to having a turbo. I bale hay and have hills, pull wagons etc., so I think a turbo benefits me. I would not be afraid to buy a turbo or non turbo here if it has the hp and Pto hp I needed.

[dwalke]

I’ve had both. I recently went from an older Deere with a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder to a newer Deere with a turboed 3 cylinder. The 4 cylinder had a little more low end torque, but when the turboed engine is pulled down, it seems to recover quickly. I put up hay with this tractor, including baling, and I’ve had no issues with heat, in East TN. Personally, I would get the turbo, it shouldn’t add any wear to the engine, and it will make the engine more efficient when you get it in a hard pull.

[javabean]

20 years ago, turbos were sometimes sketchy. Now they're nothing to worry about. You can have a smaller displacement engine with a turbo, that will use less fuel with no load or light load, than a larger displacement engine putting out the same horsepower. Under full load, the smaller displacement turbo engine will use about the same amount of fuel as the larger displacement normally aspirated engine, but to be honest most folks aren't using their tractors under full load as much as they think they are.

[brianpechan]

I’ve been around a lot of equipment in the 60-200+ hp range. Never saw a turbo go out in less than 6000-8000 hours. Just don’t rev them up right away when cold or shut them off right away after working them real hard and getting them super hot.

[Willy]

Been dealing with turbo powered engines for close to twenty years and have not had any issues. I follow a strict cool down and run synthetic oil.

[mikelynch]

Mike, I think you’re right about the maintenance question. There really isn’t any added maintenance with a turbo. I have to take issue with your comment that a turbo gives you free horsepower. I don’t think it’s free. The turbo allows an engine to put out more horsepower without increasing the engine size. The rated hp of the tractor includes the hp added by the turbo. So, between two tractors with the same engine but one has a turbo, you might choose the one with the turbo mainly because of the hp, not because it has a turbo. And you pay for that higher hp. So, I’m thinking it’s not really ‘free’ hp.

[andrewslagle]

As an AG mechanic and farmer do not worry about the turbo equipped units .Just change the oil as recomended with the approved oil like any other unit and you will be fine.If you do not need the HP why pay for it just a thought!

[johnmedlin]

I have a Massey Ferguson 1740M, and the power plant is a 3 cylinder Shibaura turbocharged intercooled diesel engine with exhaust gas recirculation and diesel oxidation catalyst, no DPF. It is a strong engine for its size (40HP). Not sure if that is good or bad, but it works for what I do with it like maintaining our property.

[mty]

As far as new turbos having sealed bearings, I don't know if this is correct. While I've ever seen the insides of a turbo on a newer tractor, I have my doubts a sealed bearing would hold up to the heat and rpms a turbo operates at.

[tacarms]

I live in Southern Middle Tennessee and have an older John Deere 3 cylinder turbo tractor. The only extra thing I do differently from a non-turbo tractor is: 1) I cover the exhaust in transport (as you mentioned) and 2) I let it idle, to let the oil cool the turbo, before shutting it down. I've never have any issues with it. Although I have seen the price of a rebuild and it is scary. Luckily, I've never needed that.