Got a viewer letter from Ed stating, "In your opinion and experience , which engine in the 18 to 35hp range is the most reliable and strongest?" The answer is, that I feel the current offering of new tractor engines will last as long as the owners, and all have adequate horsepower for jobs that we do.
Any engine maker can build a lemon. I remember an AGCO-Allis tractor that was sold when I was a factory rep for that company, that slobbered oil out of the exhaust. It even did it after the engine was replaced. That was because the muffler had oil caked up inside from the first engine, and when the exhaust got warm enough, the oil would liquify and spew out the exhaust. A new muffler fixed the problem, and proper break-in of the original engine at the beginning may have prevented it.
I also remember a New Holland TC18 that was used daily on a mini golf course in Branson, Missouri that accumulated over 11,000 hours before needing attention. It was used to haul people around the course and was meticulously maintained, but it shows how long you can expect a diesel engine to last with proper care.
Compact tractor engines usually don't get too many hours on them. Most of my viewers and myself included probably don't use a tractor for over 200 hours a year, and they're not worked extremely hard. The toughest thing my tractor does is brush hog in the summer, and that doesn't wear out an engine.
Most engine makers, to be profitable, must sell a large number of units to spread their cost out. So, the challenge is, to put your engines in everything you can, even, in some cases, your competitor's tractors. And with Tier IV requirements, engine tolerances have to be extremely tight so all of the fuel burns in the cylinders. I'm sure that much of the engine work today is done with robots and is very precise. That's why, in my opinion, unless you experience a very uncommon failure, your new tractor engine today will last as long as you do, with proper care.
In the end, if I was shopping for a tractor, I wouldn't worry about the engine, I think they're all good. Instead, I'd be looking at lift capacity, features, and, how good the local dealer for that brand is. But that's just me. If you disagree, please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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