Fuel Consumption At Idle

EMD and GE engine models consume fuel at different rates depending on the model and environmental conditions. Please refer to the charts below to see how much fuel your model engine consumes during idle.

EMD
Locomotive Gallons/Hr
GP/SD7 3.5
GP/SD9 3.5
GP/SD18 3.5
GP20 3.5
GP30 3.5
GP/DD/SD35 5.0
SD/GP38
SD/GP38-2
5.0
SD/GP39
GP39-2
4.0
SD/GP40
SD/GP40-2
5.5
SD/GP40-2* 5.2**
SD45
SD45-2
6.0
GP50
SD50
3.0
SD60 3.0
GP15T
MP15T
2.0
SD70
SD70MAC
3.0

Throttle setting - Idle. For extreme cold, throttle setting may be higher when idling (notch 3) resulting in higher fuel consumption

* Units built after 6/79 have Model 645E3B fuel economy diesel engine.

** Low idle 4.1

Fuel Specific Gravity - .845

Barometric Pressure – 29.92” Hg

Air Intake Temperature – 60°F.

Data source: International Association of Railway Operating Officers

GE
Locomotive Gallons/Hr
UI8B
UI8-7
3.5
U23B&C
B&C23-7
3.5
U30B&C
B&C30-7
3.5
U33B&C 3.5
U36B&C
B&C36-7
3.5
C39-8 5.0
CW40-8
C40-8
5.0
B40-8 4.0
C44-8* 5.5

Throttle setting - Idle. For extreme cold, throttle setting may be higher when idling (notch 3) resulting in higher fuel consumption

*Split Cooling

Data source: International Association of Railway Operating Officers