Increased fuel prices promise to chew at already tightening producer margins. Engineers at Alberta Agriculture’s AgTech Centre in Lethbridge say farmers can increase their tractor’s fuel efficiency by considering five areas affecting fuel consumption.
“Fuel efficiency varies depending on the type of equipment, travel speed and numerous other factors,” said Reed Turner, AgTech Centre engineer.
“One of the crucial factors is tire pressure. A recent study conducted at the centre shows correct tire pressure significantly reduces fuel consumption and time in the field.
“Reduced power delivery, decreased traction, uneven tread wear and soil rutting result when tires are over-inflated.”
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Under-inflated tires increase sidewall wear and raise the risk of sidebuckling and rim slip.
“Tires should be inflated to the lowest correct level for a particular load as outlined in the manufacturer’s tire inflation tables. By using the correct tire inflation pressure for the load, a little more of the tire sits on the ground, significantly increasing the power delivery efficiency and decreasing fuel consumption,” said Turner.
Another way to save on fuel is to put off buying new tires for another year if the old ones are structurally sound and can still do the job. Long lugs are great for squeezing out the mud in wet conditions, but under good traction conditions, longer lugs use more energy than short ones.
Turner recommends radials over bias-ply tires, as studies by AgTech Centre and others show radials improve traction by six percent. Using duals and triples under normal field conditions can decrease efficiency.
“For ideal tractor efficiency, match the tractor’s power to the load being pulled,” he said.
When a load requires less than 70 percent of the tractor’s power, a farmer can save fuel by shifting to a higher gear and slowing engine r.p.m. to maintain the desired speed.
This practice is sometimes called gear up, throttle back. In this mode, the engine is loaded correctly, bringing it back to the spot where fuel is used most efficiently.
Ballasting the tractor for fuel efficiency is also important.
“Most farmers reach the upper limits of their tractor’s power only 15 to 20 percent of the time, making it essential to weight the tractor for typical conditions instead of maximum needs.”
Farmers usually ballast their tractor for the worst case scenario – two weeks of heavy fieldwork. But it’s more efficient to ballast for the typical loads pulled the rest of the year.
Over-ballasted tractors will probably feel sluggish. They use fuel inefficiently and might have premature drive-train problems. An under-ballasted tractor wears tire tread faster while never delivering full power to the drawbar.
Turner also recommended matching the fuel to the season.
“Winter fuel is blended lighter, delivering less energy per litre, so it shouldn’t be used in the summer.”
For more information or to get the April edition of the AgTech Innovator that outlines other tips for saving fuel, contact the AgTech Centre at 403-329-1212 or fax: 403-328-5562.
