Fuel Efficiency

[Roy Najecki]

Has anyone done a comparison of the fuel efficiency of the various Kohler engines under typical operating conditions, ie mower deck engaged with engine at full throttle? I've got the choice of using a 149, 1450, 682 (KT17 engine), or 782 (Magnum engine) to mow the lawn. I thought it would interesting to put a quart of gas in each Cub Cadet and see how long it runs while sitting on the paved driveway (to eliminate the variability of lawn height/grass resistance) with the mower deck engaged. But perhaps somebody has already done this test?

[DeltaCub]

Farmall Fred did this repower...Here is the link; https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...ad.php?t=43432

Read post 134 on pg 14

[olds45512]

I use less gas mowing with a single but I can mow alot faster with a twin so it's worth the extra money to me.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Roy Najecki

Has anyone done a comparison of the fuel efficiency of the various Kohler engines under typical operating conditions, ie mower deck engaged with engine at full throttle? I've got the choice of using a 149, 1450, 682 (KT17 engine), or 782 (Magnum engine) to mow the lawn. I thought it would interesting to put a quart of gas in each Cub Cadet and see how long it runs while sitting on the paved driveway (to eliminate the variability of lawn height/grass resistance) with the mower deck engaged. But perhaps somebody has already done this test?

All the old single cylinder K series are better on fuel than any Mag or twin. The V twin, (CH Kohlers) are better than the Mag's and KT's.... but still burn more. They are after all, larger engines, and two cylinders.

You can't make a comparison by putting a quart in them and letting them idle. That wont' prove much if anything. You have to load them. Even then, the larger the load, the more fuel it burns. A snowblower pulls harder than a mower deck ever will. I can mow in heavy grass with a Mag 18 for about 5 hours. That's a bit less than a gallon an hour. I can only blow heavy snow for about 3 hours. Burns it much faster. Over a gallon an hour.

All in all.... come on. Are you really so tight you are looking to save a few bucks on fuel to cut your grass? It's not going to make that much of a difference. Like Tim said, what is made up in fuel savings is lost in time taken. I have more time than money.... but like Tim, I like to get done with that chore and move on.

[john hall]

Toss out a curveball. With a hydro you can push the ground speed to that fine line between enough HP and the deck still doing a good job. Good ol 3 speed and well, you just putter around in 2nd gear wishing you had a little more speed.

Speaking of fuel efficiency, buddy of mine has a Deere that runs out of fuel about 15 minutes before he can get the yard cut.

[Frank1541]

Not that it is one of your options. But I did find a big difference between the Magnum 18 and the EFI command. I think the EFI used close to half the fuel.
I saw little or no difference between a KT17 and the Magnum.

[cooperino]

I really can't believe they still make these things lol. Or that people still buy them but here they are..

The magical magnet fuel savers!!! Bolt them on and get twice that fuel mileage lol.!

[olds45512]

Originally Posted by cooperino

I really can't believe they still make these things lol. Or that people still buy them but here they are..

The magical magnet fuel savers!!! Bolt them on and get twice that fuel mileage lol.!

I had a video on YouTube where I made a Cub run on water but the government took it down.

[DieselDoctor]

My outboards run on water all the time!