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Study confirms technique saves tractor fuel
The expenses for tractor fuel can add up quickly during farm field work.
According to a study conducted at Iowa State University (ISU), fuel savings of 20 percent or more can be achieved by using the “shift up, throttle back” technique. Extension ag engineer Mark Hanna says the strategy is especially helpful when the field operation doesn’t require all of the tractor’s engine power.
“This ‘shift up, throttle back’ strategy is a particularly good one if you find yourself operating that tractor typically up near rated engine speed most of the time,” Hanna says. “For a lot of tractors, that’s up around 2200 rpm or so.
“If you’re consistently up there, you probably are overdoing it for some of those field operations and this would be a good strategy to consider.”
A new publication from ISU Extension and Outreach illustrates the results of a tractor fuel case study in northeast Iowa. It’s available to download from the ISU Extension Online Store.
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