656 Gas Usage - Nebraska Test Results

MrIH was nice enough to post the actual fuel consumption rates from the Nebraska Tractor Test results.

Model ----- 100% ----- - 50%
gallons of fuel used per hour

Gas Hydro ---- 6.383 ----- 5.228
Dsl Hydro ---- 5.380 ----- 3.935
Gas Gear ----- 5.182 ----- 3.712
Dsl Gear ----- 4.173 ----- 2.583

MrIH mentioned that the Hydros were set at 2,300 rpm vs. 1,800 rpm for the gear drive so that explains part of the extra consumption for the Hydro. Looks like the Gas uses about 1 gallon per hour more than the Diesel and everyone was right on the Gas Hydro, it eats the fuel like nobodys buisness but the Diesel Hydro is close behind and actually uses more than the Gas Gear drive!!

The difference between the gas and diesel seems to stay about the same at the reduced power. Using the unrounded numbers the Gas uses 1.009 gph more at 100% and 1.129 gph more at 50% - The diesel gets a little more efficient at the lighter load but not alot more than the gas.

At $2.50 per gallon the gas gear drive version will cost about $275 more to run per year than the diesel gear drive per every 100 hours of operation on fuel costs.

Thought I would share the actual test results that MrIH provided.

Nathan

The 656 diesel will probably run 10,000 hours without a tuneup, whereas the gasser will require major tuneup every 500 hours. I would venture to guess when diesel is running at 1.25 gallon per hour, the gasser will be burning 4 gallons on same work. Nebraska tested these tractors two or three days when new. I put many thousands of hours on them.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Anything over 50 horse in a gas configuration belongs in a parade or under a loader, not out in the field, 'cause you'll be walking by 4pm if you don't fuel up at noon.

I don't care what anyone says, I've been there, done that and those gassers guzzle fuel like a drunken sailor puts away beer. Plus the fact, they just simply do not have the luggin' ability (torque rise) of a diesel.

This is just my view, ya understand; but, gassers are like those little utility gizmos. They are okay fer mowin' the grass; just not much of a tractor when it comes to puttin' 'em down in the dirt.

Allan

Actually, depending how you look at them the thing that no one would have really thought is that there is more of a difference between the gear drive and the hydros than there is between the gas and diesel! At 100% it is only about 1.2 gph more on the gas and diesel but at 50% the Hydro uses 1.5 gph more than the gear drive for both Gas and Diesel.

Pretty interesting. Pretty much the numbers really back up all those who have posted how much of a gas hog the Gas Hydro is.

A 656 hydro gasser was what I was looking for when I found my M. I wanted a gas because I keep gas here. I keep diesel too, but only clear. I also wanted gas because I can start it more easily anytime of year. I've used one with a loader many times and it's the cats meow. Add the 3 pt and you have a guy that doesn't really need a tractor dream!

Jay