I read that odd number of pistons balance better in inline diesels. Other than that is there any reason to avoid the V1505-E2-D2 4 cylinder engines that came in the B3030 and other tractors up to 2012 or so?
4 cylinder vs 3 cylinder engines
- Thread starter Dunbar
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What you read is inaccurate.
It is not true that inline diesel engines with an odd number of cylinders "balance" better than such engines with an even number of cylinders.
SDT
85Hokie
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Good comments on both :
http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/tractor-brands/kubota/kubota-tractors.html
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No reason to avoid any Kubota engine, they all run exceptionally well. 
I have several three and 4 cylinder models and I really don't notice a difference in any of them.
I have several three and 4 cylinder models and I really don't notice a difference in any of them.
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When GM came out with an In-line-5 in the new Chevy Trailerblazers years ago, I remember hearing/seeing same thing, and that was a gasoline engine. Had some impressive HP #'s as I recall, and think the I-4 and I-5 were replacements for the good old 4.3l v6.
True or not, don't know. Maybe they were justifying it not having 6, which was a mainstay for decades!
Probably would opt for a 4 cyl if looking for a little more displacement/HP, otherwise there are many, many, many 3's in the world......
I probably wouldn't pick one over the other solely due to # of cylinders.
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85Hokie
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RCW
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No, gas.....I'm sure it was an I-5....I think....hmmm...
Now I need to do some "googling" to make sure I wasn't telling stories! [emoji33]
PS - - Whew....I was close, but mixed up models - SUV had I-6 in 2002, Colorado/Canyon had I-4 or I-5 starting 2004. Also references the smoothest engine is an inline 6.
"It was not until 2004 that the Atlas 4- and 5-cylinder engines would come into play. For 2004, Chevrolet and GMC rolled out redesigned compact pickups, both of which would be powered exclusively by Atlas engines.
The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon were offered with the 2.8-liter four (Vortec 2800) as the base engine, with the 3.5-liter five (Vortec 3500) as the optional mill. The big six would not be offered in these trucks."
http://blog.consumerguide.com/forgotten-5-cylinder-engine/
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85Hokie
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Some respondents above are not fully understanding the concepts in play here. An ODD number of cylinders in an INLINE engine has better PRIMARY balance than an even number of pistons.
A THREE cylinder inline engine has PERFECT primary balance. This is one reason a THREE cylinder engine is desirable.
A FOUR cylinder inline engine requires a fancy counter-rotating 'balancing shaft' to even approach the balance what a three-cylinder can achieve intrinsically. This balancing-shaft adds weight, friction and and size which a 3-cylinder does not even need.
The 'secret' here is the # of degrees rotation on each throw of the crankshaft.
HINT: Inline 4-cylinder has TWO pistons up whilst TWO pistons are DOWN. This has a lot of weight being tossed around which causes the crankcase to flex.... Inline 3-cylinder has each of the crankshaft throws at 120 degrees. (NONE of the pistons are moving in parallel with the others.)
The reasons WHY engine-designers choose more than 3 cylinder is most often to meet the desired power-output. Trying to get more than about 650cc displacement per cylinder brings with it undesirable emmissions and heat-removal issues. (specific heat calculations)
We could get into opposed pistons and the wonderful balance, size, and weight benefits they offer... but that goes beyond the scope of this discussion.
A THREE cylinder inline engine has PERFECT primary balance. This is one reason a THREE cylinder engine is desirable.
A FOUR cylinder inline engine requires a fancy counter-rotating 'balancing shaft' to even approach the balance what a three-cylinder can achieve intrinsically. This balancing-shaft adds weight, friction and and size which a 3-cylinder does not even need.
The 'secret' here is the # of degrees rotation on each throw of the crankshaft.
HINT: Inline 4-cylinder has TWO pistons up whilst TWO pistons are DOWN. This has a lot of weight being tossed around which causes the crankcase to flex.... Inline 3-cylinder has each of the crankshaft throws at 120 degrees. (NONE of the pistons are moving in parallel with the others.)
The reasons WHY engine-designers choose more than 3 cylinder is most often to meet the desired power-output. Trying to get more than about 650cc displacement per cylinder brings with it undesirable emmissions and heat-removal issues. (specific heat calculations)
We could get into opposed pistons and the wonderful balance, size, and weight benefits they offer... but that goes beyond the scope of this discussion.
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85Hokie
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the ol' Subaru and Volkswagen and Porsche boxer engine!!!
got one - wish that was a diesel too!
Yes but the expanded scope is actually more interesting than the OP. My OP has been answered that the 4 banger are just as good as 3 banger when we are talking Orange tractors reliability etc. So I got what I needed but I had a 5 cylinder inline turbo-diesel Mercedes and now have 2 inline 6 cylinder land cruisers whose engine is based on the venerable Chevy 256, I think, engine. Toyota had a long run with this 'tractor' engine in the Land Cruiser until it could not keep up with soccer moms, even though it works just fine in Afghanistan. I started wrenching on horizontally opposed air cooled VW engines. Still have my first car, a 1970 convertible beetle. It is 1.9 liter stroked bored with twin 2bbl Weber 44mm carbs, goes 80 mph in 3rd.
But now I know I'm good with the earlier 4 banger Kubota engines in addition to the new triples.
Actually, Subaru DOES sell an opposed-4 diesel in some countries. I can only imagine the low center of gravity and SMOOOOTH balance this engine offers in an automobile along with the legendary AWD.the ol' Subaru and Volkswagen and Porsche boxer engine!!!
got one - wish that was a diesel too!
The main reason other automakers do not offer opposed-4 engines is the COST of manufacturing TWO cylinder heads for each engine and all the associated moving parts to actuate the valves. (inline 4 has a single head)
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RCW
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Now ifn I could have got that CHEVY in a diesel....I would have loved a 3 banger, 4 , 5 or 6 BANGER.
Great info - thank you for posting
Chevy hasn’t offered a diesel in anything but trucks in my memory.
Thought about that stuff while searching....jeezus I don’t like to post a false comment.......
I think I was at dealership to pick up a new truck.....
I was literally standing in front of one of those newfangled Trailblazers when the salesman was talking about the I-5. We popped the hood on it because I wanted to see the inline engine. must have been the I-6.
Guess that what got me confused 15 years later ....
Sucks to get older......
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Reaching way back in my Woodstock memory bank (or whats left) I thought Ford in the early 80's had a 3 cyl Escort diesel. It got 60 mpg but as with all diesels it wasn't a big seller.
The diesel engine took a big set back when GM put diesel engines in the Cadillac. They took the gas 350 and had a major problem with gelled fuel and broken crankshafts.
It was a time when folks did not understand the diesel engine, it's fuel, or maintenance requirements.
It was a few years before they took hold in pickup tracks. Ford bought the IH diesel which was proven in tractors, and it got people back in the mood!
It was a time when folks did not understand the diesel engine, it's fuel, or maintenance requirements.
It was a few years before they took hold in pickup tracks. Ford bought the IH diesel which was proven in tractors, and it got people back in the mood!
My mom's car was a 1980 300SD Turbodiesel Mercedes with the inline 5 cylinder. It was no speed demon but did fine in traffic and would get phenomenal mileage when exceeding the speed limit on the highway. I drove it for a few years before giving it away. The engine still pulled strong but since it had a vacuum pump the engineers ran every system off of it. Vacuum AC/Heat controller, door locks etc. The little plastic fittings throughout the body deteriorated and leaked, not worth my time chasing down.
All my Toyota Land Cruiser buddies have been clamoring for years for the dealers to import the diesels selling everywhere else in the world, including Canada. The dealers get mad about it because higher ups already decreed that lazy Americans don't have the patience for finding the right pump or waiting on a glow plug. Now the rules are different on imports, or they just got old enough, but folks are importing and registering diesel FJ40's from South America and the Middle East. Some are swapping in the crate 4 cylinder Cummins but it takes modification expertise.
All my Toyota Land Cruiser buddies have been clamoring for years for the dealers to import the diesels selling everywhere else in the world, including Canada. The dealers get mad about it because higher ups already decreed that lazy Americans don't have the patience for finding the right pump or waiting on a glow plug. Now the rules are different on imports, or they just got old enough, but folks are importing and registering diesel FJ40's from South America and the Middle East. Some are swapping in the crate 4 cylinder Cummins but it takes modification expertise.