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 9 RX 590 + Amazone Cenius 7M grubber
Test framework
Test participants and equipment
Machine
John Deere 9 RX 590
Implement
Amazone Cenius 7M
grubber (heavy cultivator)
Machine owner
Large-scale farm
Operator
Farm machine operator
test operator
Software provider
R-Tuners Kft
7630 Pécs, Iparsziget utca 15.
Methodology
Test method and location
The test began by filling the machine with fuel, then the work and fuel consumption results of the original and the optimized engine control content were compared on the same field.
Balanced segment
A field section with uniform load — best suited for comparison.
Compacted, low-lying part
More water-saturated soil — a test of the machine's torque flexibility.
Cross-worked segment
An area previously worked crosswise, showing varying load.
Results · first third of the area
Comparison of original and optimized software
| Parameter | Original ECU | Optimized ECU |
|---|---|---|
| Engine speed | 1830 rpm | 1670 rpm |
| Gear | 11 | 12 |
| Travel speed | 10.8 km/h | 11.2 km/h |
| Fuel consumption | 14.6 L/ha | 11.0 L/ha |
| Area output | 7.3 ha/h | 7.4 ha/h |
| Engine load | 103% | 88% |
The table shows the measured data for the first, uniformly loaded third of the area.
Key metrics
Fuel consumption (L/ha)
Engine load (%)
−24% specific fuel
Behaviour under load · 2/3 compacted segment
Torque flexibility on heavy soil
Original ECU software
It could pull the implement through the compacted part only by shifting down from 11th gear to 9th. Repeated downshifts, slowdowns.
Optimized ECU software
It did the work in 12th gear, steadily, without downshifting. It holds the selected speed.
Time gain: on the compacted segment, the steady pass without slowdown is significant — the daily hectares worked can be shown via JD Link.
Conclusion
Summary — measurable saving
3.5–4 L/ha
specific fuel saving per hectare
210 litres / day
saving for 60 ha of daily work
10–15 %
engine load reduction during operation
With the optimized engine control content, the John Deere machine runs more steadily, with fewer gear changes — sparing the driveline components while lowering specific fuel consumption and engine load.