Cummins Powertrains and Their Variations
Founded in 1919, Cummins is a Fortune 500 company that sells Cummins powertrains for a variety of different applications, including heavy-duty trucking. They do not make their own big rigs, and instead you can find Cummins powertrains in a variety of brands, such as in a Freightliner, Peterbilt, Volvo and more.
On their website, Cummins advertises engines ranging back to 2004, but because older engines are less reliable and become obsolete more quickly (Cummins does not even have images for their 2004-2007 engines!), the furthest this article will travel back in time is to 2013. Cummins does not make its own transmissions and instead has partnered with Eaton to supply their transmissions.
Engines
X15 Productivity 2020
The very model of a modern major machine, the X15 Productivity is your only stop for unmitigated performance. There are six variations, ranging in horsepower from 430-605 and peak torque ranging from 1650-2050 pound-feet. The engine retarder comes with 600 horsepower for emergency stops, and the VGT Turbocharger allows for rapid acceleration.
Maintenance depends on use and the materials used (Cummins insists you can get 5,000 more miles without an oil change or fuel filter cleaning if you use Valvoline Premium Blue motor oil). In normal application, you can expect to need to do an oil change and clean the fuel filter every 50,000 miles, clean the diesel particulate filter every 450,000 miles or so, clean the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) filter every 280,000 miles, and adjust the valves every 500,000 miles.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 430-605 hp
- Peak Torque: 1650-2050 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 2000-2100 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 1000 lb-ft
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- System Weight: 3152 lb
- Engine (Dry): 2961 lb
- Aftertreatment System: 191 lb
For more information on the 2020 version of the X15 Productivity, check out its webpage.
X15 Efficiency 2020
As you can imagine, the X15 Efficiency focuses on efficiency. The 2020 Efficiency has 18 flavors, five of which are standard, six of which have an “EX” rating, and seven of which have an “ST” rating.
Cummins has not said what EX stands for, but it is safe to say that it means “extra”, as Cummins says an EX Efficiency gets 1.5% better fuel efficiency than its basic counterpart, which is already advertised as having better fuel economy than the Productivity line of engines.
ST stands for Smart Torque: introduced into Cummins engines in 2007, Smart Torque optimizes gear shifting on more than just current speed, but also on grade, vehicle weight, throttle position, and engine torque, putting your truck in the best gear for whatever situation it is in.
Regardless of whether you get a standard, EX, or ST, they all have the same maintenance intervals, which are very similar to the ones for the 2020 X15 Productivity. 50,000 miles for oil drain and fuel filter cleaning, about 450,000 miles for cleaning the diesel particulate filter, 280,000 miles for the DEF filter, and 500,000 miles for valve adjustments.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 400-500 hp
- Peak Torque: 1450-1850 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 1700 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 1000 lb-ft
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- System Weight: 3152 lb
- Engine (Dry): 2961 lb
- Aftertreatment System: 191 lb
There is more information about the X15 Efficiency 2020 on its webpage.
X12 2018
The X12 provides a new method of being efficient: being lighter. Not only does being 900 pounds lighter than the previously mentioned X15 engines provide greater fuel economy, but it allows your truck to haul more and heavier freight while still being within Department of Transportation regulations.
The X12 has 19 different models. There are 13 standard models, three Smart Torque models, and three “SA” models.
SA stands for SmartAdvantage: when you buy an SA model, it includes not only the next generation of Smart Torque (ST2) but also comes with an Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated manual transmission (which is how SmartAdvantage gets its name, by combining the names of these two features, more information on the Eaton Fuller Advantage in the Powertrains section). The transmission and engine communicate to better determine the torque currently required.
Maintenance intervals are kinder than the heavier X15 counterparts. Oil drain is every 60,000 miles, fuel filter cleaning is every 50,000 (the same at the X15s), DPF ash maintenance occurs about every 450,000 miles (also the same as the X15s), and both the DEF and valvetrain require maintenance every 300,000 miles.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 350-500 hp
- Peak Torque: 1250-1700 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 2000 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 800 lb-ft
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- System Weight: 2241 lb
- Engine (Dry): 2050 lb
- Aftertreatment System: 191 lb
For more details, read the webpage or the brochure.
ISX12N 2018
The ISX12N is the latest series engines to run on all three types of natural gas: compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and renewable natural gas (RNG). This means less pollution and cheaper fuel by the gallon than with a diesel engine (which tends to be cheaper per gallon than midgrade and premium gasoline engines). Natural gas fueling stations are rarer than diesel but are catching on to become more and more popular.
Maintenance, however, is a lot more complicated than with the regular diesel engine. Oil changes happen every 25,000 miles and require specific versions of oil made for natural gas engines. Fuel filters are also replaced at 25,000. Spark plugs are replaced every 50,000 miles, coolant filter needs cleaning every 75,000 miles, overhead set needs adjusting at the first 1,000 hours and every 3,000 hours of driving thereafter. A cooling system flush and engine brake adjustment are due at 300,000 miles. At 500,000 miles, the engine needs its closed crankcase ventilation filter replaced as well as an ignition coil extension.
There is only one model of the ISX12N 2018, so purchase does not require extensive research on particular variations that may or may not suit your needs.
Specifications
- NOx Emission: 0.02 g/bhp-hr. (90% below EPA)
- Maximum Horsepower: 400 hp
- Peak Torque: 1450 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 2100 RPM
- Type: 4-cycle, spark-ignited, in-line 6 cylinder, turbocharged, CAC
- Engine Displacement (liters): 11.9
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- Operating Cycles: 4
- Net Weight (dry): 2650 lb
- Fuel Type: CNG/LNG/Biomethane
- Aftertreatment: Three-Way Catalyst
- Base Warranty: 2 Years, 250,000 Miles
Curious about this natural gas engine? Read the brochure to learn more.
X15 Performance 2017
The Performance is the 2017 version of the more powerful models of Productivity. The maintenance intervals are all the same, so let’s just dive into the specs of the nine different versions.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 485-605 hp
- Peak Torque: 1650-2050 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 2000 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 1000 lb-ft
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- System Weight: 3152 lb
- Engine (Dry): 2961 lb
- Aftertreatment System: 191 lb
While lower horsepower Productivity engines integrate the hardware set of Efficiency, the only notable difference between the Performance and the stronger variations of Productivity is the age of the engine. Check out the webpage for the X15 Performance 2017 and compare the specifications.
X15 Efficiency 2017
Part of the X15 efficiency series engines, in a brighter shade of red than its 2020 counterparts. It has 20 total variations: 8 standard, 6 SA, and 6 ST.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 400-500 hp
- Peak Torque: 1450-1850 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 1800-2000 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 1000 lb-ft
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- System Weight: 3152 lb
- Engine (Dry): 2961 lb
- Aftertreatment System: 191 lb
The 2017 engines are nearly identical to their 2020 counterparts. See the brochure for more details.
ISX15 2013
Back in 2013, engines were not split into Efficiency, Performance, or Productivity. Because of the engine types fit into one immediate family, it is not surprising that the ISX15 2013 has the most variations of all the Cummins engines we have looked at thus far. With 17 standard, 11 SmartTorque, seven SmartTorque2 (the next generation of SmartTorque), and four vocational models (which have higher torque in the lower gear ranges), that makes a total of 39 different engine versions!
The ISX15 2013 has extended coverage plans for up to 7 years or 500,000 miles, but today that is not helpful. As the engine is inherently older than previous Cummins engines we’ve covered, purchase at your own risk.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 400-600 hp
- Peak Torque: 1450-2050 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 1800-2000 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 1000 lb-ft
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- System Weight: 3204 lb
- Engine (Dry): 2964 lb
- Aftertreatment System: 240 lb
More knowledge is over at the ISX15 2013’s webpage, including over a dozen different brochures in a small handful of languages.
ISX12 2013
Working in all forms of commercial vehicles, the ISX12 2013 is an older model of the smaller engine.
There are 20 variations: eight normal, four SmartTorque, and eight Vocational. Like the ISX15 2013, the extended coverage warranty has expired, so purchasing one of these used will require you to do your research in regards to the individual engine’s particular history to make sure you are not purchasing an engine that will need an overhaul or replacement soon.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 310-425 hp
- Peak Torque: 1150-1650 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 2100 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 800 lb-ft
- Number of Cylinders: 6
- System Weight: 2880 lb
- Engine (Dry): 2640 lb
- Aftertreatment System: 240 lb
Read up upon all things ISX12 2013 at its webpage.
ISX12 G 2013
This engine is an older version of the ISX12N 2018. The natural gas engines Cummins provides underwent a rebranding: whereas the N stands for “Natural” the G here stands for “Gas”. It does not take much to figure out this engine also runs entirely on natural gas as opposed to diesel.
It has nine variations, five for line haul trucks, and four for refuse trucks.
Specifications
- Advertised Horsepower: 320-400 hp
- Peak Torque: 1150-1450 lb-ft
- Governed Speed: 2100 RPM
- Clutch Engagement Torque: 700 lb-ft
- Type: 4-cycle, spark-ignited, in-line 6 cylinder, turbocharged, CAC
- Engine Displacement (liters): 11.9
- Bore and Stroke (inches): 5.11 x 5.91
- Operating Cycles: 4
- Oil System Capacity (gallons): 12
- Coolant capacity (gallons): 26.5
- System Voltage: 12V
- Net Weight (Dry): 2650 lbs
- Fuel Type: CNG/LNG/RNG
- Aftertreatment: Three-Way Catalyst
Learn more about natural gas engines by checking out the ISX12 G 2013’s brochure.
Powertrains
Just as how Cummins does not build their own trucks, Cummins does powertrains differently from the competition. Instead of building transmissions in-house, they have partnered with Eaton to supply their powertrains’ transmissions.
Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-Speed Automatic
The Fuller Advantage Automated comes with three variations: S-Ratio, B-Ratio, and C-Ratio. S-Ratio is the best transmission for standard linehaul, but the C-Ratio is Eaton’s recommended transmission for severe duty tasks such as logging, mining, and oil field work. The B-Ratio transmission is in between, and Eaton suggests it be used for transit coaches and other buses.
Whichever of the three transmissions you get for your powertrain, you can be sure that it has a Precision Lubrication System to eliminate the need for almost eight quarts of oil. They also all have GearLogic, a technological system that maximizes fuel efficiency based on inclines and declines of the truck.
Maintenance is fairly straightforward. Every 2,500 miles, inspect the lubricant level and the transmission for anything that might seem off. Every 500,000 or 5 years, change the oil and the filters.
The warranty is 5 years, 750,000 miles for the transmission, and 3 years, unlimited miles for the oil-to-water heat exchangers if the system has one. The warranties become void if not using a “Roadranger approved lubricant”, so watch out for that.
Specifications
- Torque: 1450-1650 pound-feet
- Oil Capacity: 8 quarts
- Length: 31.8 inches
- Weight: 850 pounds
- Gear Ratios: 0.73-18.18
For more information, check out Eaton’s transmission guide.
Eaton Endurant Automated
A relatively new series of transmissions from Eaton making their way into Cummins powertrains, Endurant has two variations: B-Ratio and C-Ratio. The C-Ratio can carry a larger gross combination weight by a margin of 30,000 pounds, and Eaton considers it better for recreational vehicles.
One of Eaton’s main selling points for the Endurant is how easy it is to repair and replace parts of the transmission. They advertise that the input shaft wear sleeve is quickly replaceable compared to competitors’ transmissions and that the Linear Clutch Actuator is similarly accessible.
The warranty for an Endurant is the same for an Advantage: 5 years or 750,000 miles for the transmission, and 3 years with unlimited miles for the oil-to-water heat exchangers if the system has it. These warranties are void if not using a “Roadranger approved lubricant”, so watch out for that. Additionally, there is a 3 year, 350,000-mile warranty for the clutch.
Specifications
- Torque: 1450-1850 pound-feet
- Oil Capacity: 8 quarts
- Length: 37.9 inches
- Weight: 657-660 pounds
- Gear Ratios: 0.77-16.92
For more information, check out the Endurant’s webpage.
Conclusion
Cummins still markets its semi-truck engines stretching back to 2007, but to purchase such an old engine is sure to arise in more problems than any purchase costs can justify. As such, we highly suggest not going any further back than 2013, and if that, to research the individual engine before purchasing it.
Cummins engines have tons of differences between them. From Efficiency to Performance, from SmartTorque to EX, there is sure to be an engine that is a perfect fit for your trucking operations, if you do the proper research!
When combined with an Eaton transmission, you are bound to get the best bang for your buck as the two of them interact to form a powertrain that can suit your needs. With so many great perks to owning one of these powertrains, it is hardly a surprise that Cummins’ direct competitors also offer them in their trucks.
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