The John Deere 6068 engine is the six-cylinder, 6.8-litre PowerTech diesel in the 6R mid-frame tractors, the 7R 210, the 7030 series, the 408R sprayer and mid-size wheel loaders. The code reads 6 cylinders, 068 for 6.8 litres. It uses the same bore and stroke as the four-cylinder 4045, and Deere covers both engines in the same component manuals. This page covers specs by variant, machines, oil and service intervals, Nebraska-measured fuel use, and what a calibration can and cannot do.
John Deere 6068 engine specs
| Specification | John Deere 6068 (PowerTech 6.8 L) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 415 cu in (6.8 L) on Deere engine sheets; Nebraska reports list 414 cu in (6,788 cc); some 6R pages list 418 cu in |
| Cylinders | 6, in-line, four-stroke; 2 valves per cylinder (PowerTech E and mechanical versions) or 4 (PowerTech Plus and later) |
| Bore × stroke | 4.17 × 5.00 in (106 × 127 mm) on Deere sheets; Nebraska reports list 4.19 × 5.00 in (106.5 × 127.0 mm) |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated (6068D), turbocharged (6068T) or turbocharged and air-to-air aftercooled (6068H); fixed turbo, variable-geometry turbo (VGT) or a fixed turbo and a VGT in series, by variant |
| Power range | Industrial: 125–300 hp (93–224 kW) by variant and tier. Machines: 145 hp (6R 145) to 256 hp (6R 260); 210 hp on the 7R 210; 280 hp on the 408R sprayer. |
| Engine oil capacity | 5.2–6.9 US gal (19.5–26 L) with filter, depending on the machine |
| Fuel system | Mechanical pump on non-certified engines; earlier electronic engines used Delphi DP201, Bosch VP44 or Stanadyne DE10 electronically controlled pumps; PowerTech E, Plus and all later engines use high-pressure common rail (Deere’s manuals name Denso) |
Variants and emissions tiers
In Interim Tier 4 names, Deere’s three letters described the hardware: P for the PowerTech Plus platform, V for a variable-geometry turbo or S for series turbos, and X for the exhaust filter added in that generation. Final Tier 4 and Stage V names (PVS, PSS) keep the first two letters, but the last letter no longer describes the turbo: the PVS has a single VGT. Ratings below come from Deere engine pages, spec sheets and its industrial engine selection guide.
| Deere name | Example models | Emissions level | Valves and turbo | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerTech 6.8L (M 6.8L in Deere’s guide) | 6068DF150, TF150, TF250, HF150 | Not emissions certified | 2-valve; naturally aspirated or fixed turbo | 125–210 hp (93–157 kW) |
| PowerTech E | 6068HF285 | Tier 3 / Stage IIIA | 2-valve, fixed turbo | 140–200 hp (104–149 kW) |
| PowerTech Plus | 6068HF485 | Tier 3 / Stage IIIA | 4-valve, VGT | 180–275 hp (134–205 kW) |
| PVX | 6068HFC94 | Interim Tier 4 / Stage IIIB | 4-valve, VGT | 185–250 hp (138–187 kW) |
| PSX | 6068HFG95 (generator) | Interim Tier 4 | 4-valve, fixed + VGT in series | 263 hp prime, 290 hp standby |
| PVS | 6068HI550 | Final Tier 4 / Stage V | 4-valve, VGT | 140–251 hp (104–187 kW) |
| PSS | 6068CI550 | Final Tier 4 / Stage V | 4-valve, series turbos | 225–300 hp (168–224 kW) |
| PVL / PSL | 6068HFG05 / 6068HFG06 (generator) | Final Tier 4 | 4-valve, VGT / series turbos | Generator ratings only |
PVS is the 6.8 L name; the 4.5 L has no PVS. We found no 6.8 L PWX, PWL or EWX in Deere’s literature.
Reading the engine plate
The serial reads factory code, 6068, an emissions letter (L = Tier 3, R = Interim Tier 4, U or V = Final Tier 4 / Stage V) and a build number. Nebraska’s 2008 7230 carried PE6068L026110, a Tier 3 engine; the 2018 6195R carried PE6068U060875, a Final Tier 4 engine.
Which machines use the 6068
- 6R (current): 6R 145, 6R 155, 6R 165, 6R 180 and 6R 185 on the 6.8 L with a single VGT; the 6R 260 uses the PowerTech PSS with a VGT and a fixed turbo in series.
- 6R (earlier): 6145R to 6215R Final Tier 4 tractors, such as the 6195R tested in Nebraska, and the 6R 230 and 6R 250, which Deere’s parts guide lists with the 6068 engine.
- 7R: the 7R 210 (6.8 L). The 7R 350 moves up to the 9.0 L.
- 7030 series: the 7230 (a 2-valve common-rail PowerTech E, per Deere’s claim in the Nebraska report) and the 7430; also the 7130 in model years 2007–2009.
- Sprayers: the 408R self-propelled sprayer (6.8 L, 280 hp).
- Wheel loaders: 624 P (PowerTech PVS 6068) and 644 P (PowerTech PSS 6068).
To find your own machine’s rating, use the John Deere catalogue.
Maintenance basics: oil capacity and intervals
Deere’s crankcase figures, including the filter:
| Machine | Engine oil with filter |
|---|---|
| 7230 and 7430 (7030 series) | 5.2 US gal (19.5 L) |
| 6R 145–185, 6R 180, 6R 260; earlier 6145R–6215R | 6.2–6.3 US gal (23.5–24 L, by model year; Deere’s tractor pages say 23.5 L, its 6R 145–215 parts guide 24 L) |
| 6R 230 / 6R 250 (2022 on) | 6.3 US gal (24 L) |
| 7R 210 | 6.9 US gal (26 L) |
Oil change intervals depend on the machine and the oil:
- 6R mid-frame Final Tier 4 (6145R–6215R, 6R 145–185): every 750 hours or yearly with Plus-50 II, a John Deere filter and diesel under 15 ppm sulfur; otherwise every 500 hours.
- 6R 230 / 6R 250: every 500 hours or yearly under the same conditions; otherwise every 250 hours.
- 7R 210: every 500 hours.
- 7030 series: every 500 hours under the same three conditions; otherwise every 250 hours.
- Industrial engines: up to 500 hours.
Final Tier 4 and Stage V machines also need emissions system service at the hours in the operator’s manual, which has the final word.
Typical fuel use and how to measure it
Nebraska maximum-power PTO runs (one hour) for 6.8 L tractors:
| Tractor (test, year) | Max PTO power | Fuel use | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7230 (1922, 2008) | 126.9 hp (94.7 kW) | 7.70 gal/h (29.1 L/h) | 16.49 hp-h/gal |
| 7430 IVT (1923, 2008) | 161.2 hp (120.2 kW) | 9.34 gal/h (35.4 L/h) | 17.26 hp-h/gal |
| 6195R (2201, 2018) | 196.2 hp (146.3 kW) | 10.64 gal/h (40.3 L/h) | 18.44 hp-h/gal |
The 6195R’s varying-load test shows what happens to fuel use as the load comes off at full throttle:
- 9.81 gal/h at 171.4 hp;
- 7.38 gal/h at 114.3 hp;
- 6.03 gal/h at 77.1 hp;
- 4.48 gal/h at 39.0 hp;
- 2.71 gal/h with almost no load.
Work per gallon fell from 17.5 hp-h/gal at 171 hp to 8.7 at 39 hp, and below 1 with almost no load, which is why shifting up and throttling back pays on light jobs.
For your own figure, fill to the same mark before and after a day on one job and divide gallons by engine hours; log implement and acres for gallons per acre. Our guide to tractor fuel consumption per hour covers the method.
Economy and power potential
Deere rates the 6.8 L from 125 to 300 hp, and the hardware changes along the way. The 6R 180 and other mid-frame 6Rs run a single VGT, while the 6R 260 and the industrial PSS add a fixed turbo in series for the top ratings. A calibration works within the turbo, cooling and driveline your machine already has.
An Eco Tractor Tune calibration is matched to the engine variant and confirmed on the dyno or with a before-and-after fuel log:
- Eco tuning aims for more usable torque in the working rev range, so you can shift up and throttle back.
- Performance tuning focuses on torque and power for heavier work.
Results depend on the machine and the work. See how we measure them on our tractor dyno tuning page.
Other John Deere engine pages: 4045 (4.5 L), 6090 (9.0 L) and 6135 (13.5 L).
Frequently asked questions
How much horsepower does a John Deere 6068 have?
Industrial ratings run from 125 to 300 hp (93–224 kW) by variant. In machines it ranges from 145 hp on the 6R 145 to 256 hp on the 6R 260, with 210 hp on the 7R 210 and 280 hp on the 408R sprayer.
How much oil does a John Deere 6.8L hold?
Deere lists 5.2–6.9 US gal (19.5–26 L) including the filter: 19.5 L on 7030-series tractors, 23.5–24 L on 6R tractors and 26 L on the 7R 210. Check your operator’s manual.
What tractors have the John Deere 6068 engine?
The 6R 145 to 6R 260 and earlier 6145R–6215R, 6R 230 and 6R 250, the 7R 210 and the 7030-series 7230 and 7430. The 408R sprayer and the 624 P and 644 P loaders use it too.
What is the difference between PowerTech PVS and PSS?
Both are Final Tier 4 / Stage V 6.8 L engines. The PVS has one variable-geometry turbo and covers 140–251 hp; the PSS adds a fixed turbo in series and covers 225–300 hp.
Is the 6068 a six-cylinder 4045?
They share the same bore and stroke on Deere’s sheets, and Deere’s component manuals cover both engines together. Parts still differ by variant, so order by engine serial number.