Can a V10 be asked to run about 15 mph and 3000-4500 rpm for extended periods of time (possibly most of the day) under a hard load? What do you think its fuel consumption would be compared to a diesel? Would it have troubles with cooling? This application would be running an ag sprayer on a 550 chassis with a 500-600 gallon tank and 60' booms plus 11-24 tires. I wouldn't be asking these questions if I felt the 6.0 was a reliable, long life engine.

Thanks in advance
Kelly

 

I think you are questioning the continuous duty cycle life at the high horsepower output. Automotive output is always higher than continuous duty cycle.

I'd expect a shortened life at a continuous high (362 hp) load setting. Maybe Ford has a lower HP curve for a continuous duty situation such as you are talking about you could use to design your sprayer loads around. You'd have to ask a Ford rep that.

 

6.0 most definately

 

"6.0 most definately"

Why?

 

I swear by my V10 but I would lean towards the diesel in this case. I am not a fan of the 6.0 diesel but for what you say you will be doing with it, the diesel may be the better choice. The diesels are made and designed for longer, harder lives than the V10's. I have absolutely no experience with your situation and the V10 could probably do it but if it were me, I would go with the diesel.

 

How much power does the sprayer take?

As for "long life", the diesel ain't going to sit at 3500-4000RPMs all day no matter what.

The V10 will take it. Cooling wise, it might be a toss-up, especially at 15MPH. But the fan'll be spinning at 3500RPM, so that's a good thing...

Why such high rpm's? 3500RPM is right at the torque peak, or close, which is a good thing.

 

kelro,

Tell us more. What's the significance of the 3500-4000 rpm's? Like Art said, you'll never get a diesel to spin at 4000 rpm's for any length of time. If this is the rotation speed that your sprayer requires, I say you have no choice but to look at a V10. Yes, I think cooling might be a problem but that's with any engine you choose. The diesel's gonna make a bunch of heat too. I'd look into an electric fan setup either way. Give us some more info and let us know what you choose.

Dave

 

I put the rpm requirement in there because of my current setup is a 1990 F350 with a IDI 7.3 turbo engine stuffed in there with some air and exhaust mods. I run in first gear, high side on 4wd and run 2500-3000 rpms at roughly 15-19 mph. If the fields are soft it takes most of what the 7.3 has to offer and runs hotter than 7.3s should be run. I just figured to get to the power band the V10 might have to run higher rpms. It also depends on the overall gear ratios of the axles on a 550 and the 6 speed. I have 4.10 gears and 38.5" tires on the current setup which works great when I get to rolling but getting started some times is a problem. My current fuel mileage is around 3 mpg but on a per acre basis, it is about 10 oz of fuel per acre which is good as fancy hydrostat machines run around a 16 oz per acre.
Thanks for the discussion so far
Kelly

 

Based on what I've seen being used for other spray rigs, I'd think about stepping up to an F650 to get the CAT or Cummins diesel and Allison transmission.

 

Kelly

The diesel power plant is going to do that job slightly better then the Gas

First you need to configure the tow vehicle for the conditions and speeds

This means fatter "balloon" or flotation designed tires

It means 4x4 mode

and it means getting the right differential gears

Your 7.3L probably had 3.73:1 gears and your forward gear selection to get to 15-19 MPH while at near max RPM was not the right way to do the field spraying

You needed to play with the hi 4x4 and low 4x4 ranges and find the right gear that would have had the motor running slightly higher then the middle of the RPM spread and not at or near max RPM....you may also have needed to adjust tire diameter to get the motor in it's most efficient "sweet spot" to accomplish this


I know you are trying for a dual use tow vehicle but I have to say for the record (and I am sure you already know this) that a real tractor, John Deer etc is much better suited for this task IMO

Yes the 3v V10 with a MANUAL trans , 4.30:1 gears, and correct tire diameter will do this all day long.... I would stay away from the auto trany for only one reason...heat load at 15 MPH will make the motor and auto trans combination run on the hot side.... especially on a long field with wind at your back.

 

Sounds like a job for a farm tractor.

 

A tractor is considerably slower and will use more fuel per acre. Plus it will spray at half the speed and ride rougher doing it. The pickup sprayer has more parts available at cheaper prices, too. I have used both.

 

lets not forget that this motor is used for iragation pumps and gen sets all over and they run at a hard load and not fail.

 

I thought about the industrial V10s, but they are heavily de-tuned and run on either propane or CNG. So you're looking at having to fab up some kind of fuel tank in addition to all of the other plumbing for the sprayer. Plus I'm not sure how easy it would be to get the industrial engine to run in a truck that is street-legal. Of course, I'm assuming the spray rig is going to be driven from field to field and not transported on a semi trailer.

kelro-
Are you looking to replace the engine in an existing truck or buying a new truck and transferring all of the spray equipment over?

If it's a new truck, I'd still recommend the F650/750 with a medium-duty diesel. There will be some added initial costs but I think it'd work better and last longer. Maybe even shop around at some of the other medium-duty brands like Freightliner.

 

[QUOTE=NoMo]I thought about the industrial V10s, but they are heavily de-tuned and run on either propane or CNG. So you're looking at having to fab up some kind of fuel tank in addition to all of the other plumbing for the sprayer. Plus I'm not sure how easy it would be to get the industrial engine to run in a truck that is street-legal. Of course, I'm assuming the spray rig is going to be driven from field to field and not transported on a semi trailer.

kelro-
Are you looking to replace the engine in an existing truck or buying a new truck and transferring all of the spray equipment over?


I was just thinking a couple of years down the road or on a commercial basis now. From a practical standpoint, you can't afford to put a V10 into an older truck. Neither could one afford to put a 95-97 7.3 diesel in place of the idi turbo I have now.

You do bring up a good point with the propane powered V10. I could run propane which I think is cheaper on a BTU basis than any fuel right now. In my state, this vehicle is not tagged nor taxed and is considered a farm tractor for all practical purposes. I run dyed diesel fuel in it. Yes, it does travel on a highway but only to get the next field. If i were to run a newer vehicle, I would have to get rid of the cat due to the high chances of it igniting straw.