Comparative fuel consumption test
Specific fuel consumption with optimized engine control software
Agricultural machine — comparison of original and optimized engine control content
Machine type John Deere 8R 340
Test framework
Test participants and equipment
Machine
John Deere 8R 340
Implement
Heavy cultivator
tillage implement
Location
Field test site
Terrain
Slope and incline
ploughed field · 15 km/h target speed
Software provider
R-Tuners Kft
7630 Pécs, Iparsziget utca 15.
Results · slope and incline segment
Comparison of stock and optimized ECU content
| Parameter | Stock ECU | Optimized ECU |
|---|---|---|
| Engine speed · downhill | 1790 rpm | 2050 rpm |
| Engine speed · uphill | 1830 rpm | 1810 rpm |
| Travel speed · downhill | 8.7 km/h | 13.1 km/h |
| Travel speed · uphill | 8.7 km/h | 11.7 km/h |
| Gear · downhill | 12th | 13th |
| Gear · uphill | 11th | 13th |
The table shows the measured data for the downhill and uphill segments; the target working speed is 15 km/h in both cases.
Key metrics
Fuel consumption (L/ha)
Area output (ha/h)
−24% specific fuel
Behaviour under load · incline segment
Torque flexibility under load
Stock ECU content
On the incline it travelled in 11th gear at 1830 rpm and 8.7 km/h — a slower climb up the hill.
Optimized ECU content
On the incline it travelled in 13th gear at 1810 rpm and 11.7 km/h — higher gear, greater speed.
Time gain: on the incline travel speed rose 8.7 → 11.7 km/h and downhill 8.7 → 13.1 km/h — the higher gear and engine speed deliver a meaningful area gain per hour.
Conclusion
Summary — measurable saving
5.1 L/ha
specific fuel saving per hectare
40 litres / shift
saving over an 8-hour working shift
+0.9 ha/h
additional area worked per hour
With the optimized ECU content, the John Deere 8R 340 works 0.9 hectares more per hour while its specific fuel consumption drops by 5.1 litres. Over eight working hours this amounts to roughly 7.2 hectares of extra work and 40 litres of diesel saved.