Southern Ontario: ECU Optimization of a John Deere S670 Combine for the Harvest Season
Smart software upgrades so the combine is ready before harvest begins
At the end of September, our team visited a farm in Southern Ontario to prepare a John Deere S670 combine for the upcoming harvest. The machine was already set up for corn and soybean work, and the goal was clear: improve engine response and efficiency with a targeted, software-based ECU optimization before the combine rolled into the field.
The John Deere S670, powered by a 9.0-litre PowerTech engine, is a very common choice on Canadian farms. It offers strong capacity, but like any modern machine, its performance can be further refined through careful calibration. Using operating data and the owner’s feedback from previous seasons, we adjusted the engine’s behavior under load, focusing on torque in the working RPM range and fuel use during long harvesting days. All of this was carried out without any mechanical modifications – only safe, fully reversible software calibration.
What we did:
- ECU readout and performance analysis directly on the farm
- Torque curve optimization for better pulling power under load
- Fine adjustments to injection timing and turbo pressure
- Software-only calibration, fully reversible and within safe limits
After the optimization, the S670 delivered a noticeably smoother and stronger performance. The combine now holds its RPMs more consistently in tough crop, responds quicker when the hydro handle is pushed, and burns less fuel during steady harvesting. For the operator, that means easier control, fewer slowdowns in heavy areas, and more hectares covered per day on the same amount of fuel.
This project is a good example of how you can boost harvest efficiency before the season even starts. With AgroEcoPower Canada, farmers gain extra torque, improved fuel economy, and more stable engine behavior – so when the crop is ready, the combine is ready too.
