Should you convert your mower fleet to diesel?

When you think of diesel engines, do you picture a growling, sooty, old semi-truck roaring down the highway? Do you equate diesel with smelly, smoky fumes and just plain dirty fuel? Or maybe diesel seems complicated—your crews are used to filling up at the gasoline pump, and why change now?

Unfortunately, these misconceptions about clean diesel mower engines prevent some fleet managers and landscape professionals from making a switch to a durable alternative that reduces fuel consumption, requires less maintenance over the life of the equipment, and operates with a high level of comfort and rigor required for long days in the field. 

From environmental benefits to operational excellence—more power, greater efficiency and high quality of cut — clean-burning Grasshopper® diesel mowers deliver many benefits. Let’s walk through the advantages so you can make the best decision for your fleet. 

Meet your emissions goals

In today’s heightened environmental regulatory landscape, many local and state governments enact ozone action days, restricting the use of combustion engines such as gasoline-burning mowers and hand-held equipment. However, clean-burning diesel mowers with spark-ignition engines fall within acceptable emissions parameters, so diesel fleets can keep running and generating revenue. 

Even if you operate in a region that does not currently have ozone action days or emissions regulations in place, taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint is a priority for many operators. Converting a mower fleet to diesel is a responsible choice.

Diesel demystified: Did you know that the elimination of sulfur and other impurities in diesel fuel makes it significantly cleaner than in the past? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), because of technological advances and stricter guidelines, clean diesel is one of the cleanest burning fuels available. Grasshopper takes it a step further with EPA Tier 4 Final-compliant, fuel-efficient engines.

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A clean alternative to battery power

The commercial-grade battery-powered lawn equipment market has advanced in recent years, and there are machines available that can manage smaller properties. However, converting to battery mowers requires a thoughtful strategy that accounts for run time, power capabilities, en-route charging, battery replacement and return on investment (ROI). We expect the battery market to expand as equipment manufacturers including Grasshopper continue strategic research and development efforts, along with ongoing testing. 

For now, municipalities and commercial landscape companies have a very real and practical need for reduced-emissions mowers and equipment. Dependable power and durability is also critical. Clean diesel fulfills both demands while providing convenient, cost-effective power and performance.

Diesel demystified: High-torque power is necessary for conditions such as mowing tall grass, wet turf, vacuum collection, mulching, and for maintaining industrial parks or roadside medians. Clean diesel delivers plenty of horsepower without gasoline emissions, increasing mowing efficiency so you can get tough jobs done faster and more responsibly. As for ROI, diesel models deliver a payback during the first year of ownership. Find out the true cost of ownership and check out our fuel calculator and start adding up the savings.

Less service, more engine life

Aside from lower emissions and fuel savings, clean-burning diesel Grasshopper mowers with 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled engines require less maintenance than comparable gasoline-powered engines. Often, MaxTorque™ diesel engines provide twice the service life of an air-cooled, V-twin engine. Also, diesel models have no spark plugs or plug wires to replace. Overall, burning cleaner fuel decreases the frequency of maintenance tasks such as changing filters and oil, freeing up your team to focus on productivity in the field. 

Diesel demystified: When gradually converting a mower fleet from gasoline to diesel, some operators and fleet managers are concerned about crew members accidentally filling a diesel tank with gasoline. Awareness and training is the key. We also suggest keeping diesel- and gas-powered equipment on separate trailers until the whole fleet has turned over to diesel. 

Dependable, clean power with less burn

Downtime translates to revenue loss when you’re managing a fleet or running a landscape operation. Consider the hard-working equipment across industries that is powered by clean diesel to reduce emissions and power through demanding tasks: tractors, construction equipment, buses and heavy trucks. 

Diesel demystified: With the fuel savings and additional revenue potential, a Grasshopper MaxTorque™ diesel mower increases productivity (and profitability), while easing the stress on the environment. 

Interested in more clean fuel insight and helpful mowing tips from the Grasshopper pros? Check out our library of how-to videos, or sign up for our newsletter. Thinking about a new mower? Our team can help you choose the best model for your needs. Check out our clean diesel FAQs to learn more.