Reinventing the engine
Aug 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Jodie Wehrspann
Third solution
Because of the difficulty and costs involved in meeting the Tier 4 final standards, manufacturers are still looking for an alternative to using both SCR and cooled EGR. Instead, they hope for a new solution to pull them out of the bind.
“There could be a breakthrough in the morning,” O'Shea suggests. “Someone could come up with new technology to achieve Tier 4 final without using cooled EGR and SCR. That's why a lot of people are trying to come up with a new solution right now. Because without it, there will be huge costs.”
Gary Stanek, manager of engine applications and planning with New Holland, sums it up: “The objective is to provide customers with technologies that will meet the requirements of Tier 4 with minimized fuel consumption and optimized performance, without sacrificing reliability or durability. Anything less than that would be unacceptable.”
YOUR NEXT TRACTOR
Will engines drive your next tractor purchase?
If you’re planning to buy a new tractor, knowing how interim Tier 4 emissions regulations will affect engine design can help you decide which tractor to purchase. “Interim Tier 4 standards for engines 174 hp and greater take effect in 2011, and the availability of these products that year might affect what ag customers buy between now and then,” says Doug Laudick, product manager at John Deere Power Systems.
“Different engine manufacturers are going to make different technology choices that will affect such engine attributes as maintenance costs, fuel consumption and other performance characteristics,” he says.
“Ag customers who stay informed about these technologies and their effect on engine performance and maintenance will be better informed to make smart equipment acquisitions.”
Clint Schroer, off-highway communications manager with Cummins, agrees: “While all engine manufacturers will of course meet the new emissions standards, farmers will need to decide which engine manufacturer will offer the most productive and efficient solution.”
So what should buyers do in the meantime? “Existing ag equipment should not be affected by the interim Tier 4 or final Tier 4 emissions regulations,” Laudick says. “The EPA states that only new equipment must be emissions-compliant by the deadlines. However, local regulating authorities might enact different requirements, so ag customers should be aware of those rules to ensure full compliance.”
See the video
Watch a video about how Tier 4 engines work.
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