(To view the digital edition version and share with a colleague or customer, click here.)
As you’ve waited for the economy to turn, your wheel loaders have aged, and now those machines are perhaps two generations behind what’s currently in dealer order books. Buying a low-hour used machine – if you can find one at a decent price – is always an option. But the improvements in the newest generation go beyond new paint. As one manufacturer says, “It’s an exciting time for wheel loaders.”
Here are some reasons it may be time to bite the bullet and step up to a new loader in the 4-to-<6 cubic yard reference bucket size:
Tier 4 Interim engine
You’ll pay a higher price for new loaders and the primary culprit is the engine. These engines generally require large diesel particulate filters, low-ash oil and ultra-low sulfur diesel (see sidebar). But they also come with advanced electronics that allow a host of refinements in air flow rate, fuel injection, combustion and aftertreatment functions. These, in turn, optimize performance, reduce emissions and fuel consumption and provide advanced diagnostic capability. (Note: some machines in this size category are still transitioning to Tier 4 Interim engines.)
“Today’s wheel loaders are burning 8 to 10 percent less fuel than seven years ago, which has been primarily achieved through electronic controls, drivetrains and hydraulics,” says Rob Marringa, brand marketing manager, Case Construction Equipment.
Idling also has gained attention in the past five years. Cat’s Engine Idle Management System, for example, kicks in when an operator applies a parking brake, reducing the idle rpm even further. The new JCB 457 has both a low idle feature and an engine shutdown mode, which starts after a pre-determined idle period.
