When it comes to identifying the key potential areas for really significant savings in fuel costs the first and perhaps most obvious candidate for reducing consumption is the engine itself.
The engines driving today’s modern self-propelled agricultural machinery are complex and powerful but by no means immune to performance issues which can result in power loss, reduced torque and wasted diesel.
Arranging to have the engines of high-cost kit such as tractors, combines and forage harvesters thoroughly tested by hooking them up to a dynamometer (dyno), can pay real dividends by (a) saving you many thousands of pounds on your fuel bill, (b) maintaining a machine’s rated power output, and (c) protecting the value of your investment.
Dynamometer testing shifts maintenance from guesswork to precise, data-driven optimisation and helps to save fuel by simulating real-world working loads in a controlled environment to pinpoint engine inefficiencies, diagnose hidden mechanical drag, and map optimal operating ranges. Below we outline some of the ways in which dynamometer testing can identify key areas for urgent attention.
During a dyno test the Lynx or dealer technician will monitor the machine’s exact fuel delivery and consumption across its entire performance curve. This process uncovers hidden faults that cause an engine to over-consume fuel. These can include worn or clogged fuel injectors that are delivering poor spray patterns, incorrect fuel pump calibration or pressure drops and restricted air intake or turbocharger malfunctions which can disrupt the air-to-fuel ratio resulting in incomplete combustion and wasted diesel.
Every engine has a specific RPM range where it produces peak torque with the highest thermal efficiency.
To optimise usage, technicians use the dyno to map out these exact curves. This allows operators of tractors, for example, to adopt fuel-saving techniques such as Gear-Up, Throttle-Down (GUTD).
By running the machine in a higher gear at a lower engine RPM, the tractor can pull the same load while cutting fuel consumption by as much as 30%.
Whilst a tractor or combine might generate plenty of power inside the engine block, internal friction can cause that energy to erode before it reaches the wheels or the harvesting header. By comparing engine output to PTO or wheel output, a dyno helps diagnose mechanical drag caused by binding transmissions, failing bearings, or misaligned drivetrains. Eliminating this drag ensures that every drop of burned diesel translates directly into productive field-work.
Modern agricultural machinery engines equipped with Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) must periodically burn off trapped soot. In regular field conditions, light-duty tasks might not get the engine hot enough, forcing the tractor to inject raw diesel directly into the exhaust stream to artificially heat-up the system. This equates to a huge waste of fuel. A PTO dynamometer can place a high, sustained load on the tractor to naturally raise exhaust temperatures to 250 – 600°C. This triggers a controlled, intentional DPF burn-off, preventing automated fuel-heavy field regenerations later on.
If a tractor is underpowered for the implement it is pulling (or a combine is struggling against its header size), the engine will constantly lug and run at peak fuel consumption. Conversely, an oversized machine running light loads is inherently inefficient. Dyno testing yields a certified performance report detailing exactly how much horsepower and torque the machine actually produces, allowing you to match machinery with the right-sized implements for optimised field efficiency.
You’ll find more information about the Lynx range of Eggers dynamometers and supporting software here. Alternatively, complete the Enquiry Form here, or call us on 01327 843215.
Lynx Engineering is the UK importer for a wide range of machinery brands, distributed through our nationwide dealer network.
