International Trucks Engine Variations
International is a subsidiary of Navistar International, a holding company founded in 1902 as International Harvester Company and based in the United States. International primarily makes trucks, but aside from sourcing some of their engines from Cummins, International also makes some of its engines in-house. They currently manufacture two engines, one for heavy-duty and severe-duty trucks, the other for medium-duty commercial vehicles.
International A26
The A26 is a diesel engine for heavier trucks that need to haul large loads. The A26 engine is built to cover all aspects of the best engines, peaking in efficiency, performance, comfort, reliability, and durability.
In terms of efficiency, the A26 has a displacement of 12.4 liters, making its weight comparable to the other 12 liter engines on the market, over 500 pounds lighter than 15-liter engines. This reduced weight allows the vehicle to haul more freight without fear of being fined by the DOT for going over weight regulation limits. Compared to its predecessor, the 2017 N13, the A26 is 5% more fuel-efficient and 50 pounds lighter, saving the driver/fleet owner on fuel expenses. The secret is in the engine’s Variable Geometry Turbocharger, which allows it to optimize fuel injection for any altitude, load, or speed. The 2500 bar High-Pressure Common Rail also helps to maximize fuel injection pressure to minimize fuel consumption and emissions.
This is not to say that the lightweight A26 is a lightweight, by any stretch of the imagination. The eight variations of the A26 range in horsepower from 370-475 at 1700 RPM. When the truck needs to go uphill, the engine brings 1350-1700 pound-feet of torque at 1000 RPM, depending on the engine variation.
Driver comfort might seem like a superfluous concern in regards to how good of a value an engine is, but International has a policy they call DriverFirst, where the driver experience is just as important a metric as torque or fuel-efficiency. International advertises the A26 with a crankcase that is isolated from the oil pan via a rubber gasket specially designed to absorb vibration, which not only reduced the bumpiness the driver feels, but also muffles noise from the engine.
The International A26 comes with best-in-class maintenance intervals. The oil, oil filter, and fuel filter require changing/cleaning only every 70,000 miles (pending International Truck approval). The Diesel Particulate Filter needs cleaning every 600,000 miles, provided that you get a fuel efficiency exceeding 6.5 miles per gallon. The DEF filter needs replacing every 300,000 miles, and every 300,000 miles the coolant either needs to have added to it life extender (if it has not yet been extended), or replacing (if it previously had its life extended). Finally, the valve lash needs adjusting for the first 120,000 miles and 300,000 miles, then every 300,000 miles after that.
Perhaps where the A26 shines the strongest is in its long term survivability. International requires all of its engine types to have 90% of its manufactured engines to last at least 1,200,000 miles before needing an engine overhaul. This means that when you purchase an A26, there is a very good chance you will be able to use it for a very long time. International stands behind its engines so strongly, they provide a nearly unbeatable warranty of 2 year, unlimited miles. They also offer an optional extended warranty for 7 years/700,000 miles. Rudolf Diesel would be proud of how far his initial invention of the diesel engine has come.
Specifications
- Horsepower: 370-475
- Torque (pound-feet): 1350-1700
- Engine Type: Diesel, 4-Cycle
- Configuration: Inline 6-Cylinder
- Displacement (liters): 12.4
- Bore and Stroke (inches): 4.96 x 6.54
- Compression Ratio: 18.5:1
- Aspiration: Variable Geometry Turbocharger with Charge Air Cooler
- Combustion System: 2500 bar High-Pressure Common Rail
- Engine Lubrication (liters): 40
- Total Engine Weight (dry): 2299 Pounds
- Valves: 4 Valves Per Cylinder, Single Overhead Camshaft
- B10 Design Life (miles): 1,200,000
- Warranty: 2 Years/Unlimited Miles
- Extended Warranty: 7 Years/700,000 Miles
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If you want to learn more about the International A26 engine, check out its information brochure.
International 6.6
Information regarding the International 6.6 is sparse. International’s website does not have a dedicated page nor brochure for it. Based on information found on the website, it is an engine built for their CV series of medium-duty trucks.
When it comes to medium-duty trucks, the 6.6 appears to be enough to get most jobs done. It has up to 350 horsepower at 2700 revolutions per minute, 700 pound-feet of torque at 1600 RPM, and a governed speed of 2900 RPM.
Based on the features the CV advertises for its truck regarding the engine, the 6.6 can have an engine mounted air compressor to compress air for interior heating and air conditioning, as well as stronger cooling for the commercial truck in which it is installed. All models of the 6.6 comes with diesel exhaust brakes to help stop a commercial vehicle in the case of an emergency. Additionally, all 6.6 engines come with remote start via a key fob to help deter theft while the engine warms. For those sub-zero Wisconsin winters, the 6.6 can be purchased with an installed 120V/800-watt block heater, to keep both the engine and driver warm and working effectively.
Based on information from the A26, the 6.6 has a B10 of 1,200,000 miles, meaning there is a 90% chance the engine will run 1.2 million miles without suffering a major breakdown to warrant a complete engine overhaul. The engine comes with a fairly basic warranty of 5 years, 100,000 miles.
Specifications
- Horsepower: 350
- Torque (pound-feet): 700
- Engine Type: Diesel, 4-Cycle
- Displacement (liters): 6.6
- B10 Design Life (miles): 1,200,000
- Warranty: 5 Years/100,000 Miles
Most of this information was pulled from the CV Series webpage.
Conclusion
While International is a leading manufacturer of trucks and commercial vehicles, their engine lineup is very sparse. Usually, International trucks will have Cummins engines if they do not have an engine from International themselves. In our article regarding Cummins engines, we covered the X15, an engine from Cummins that appears in International’s heavy-trucks, but since Cummins manufactures them rather than International, it is beyond the scope of this article.
The A26 by all metrics appears to be a very quality engine, with a heavy focus on all aspects of driving, even those that other engine manufacturers may overlook such as noise generation. Unfortunately, the information on specifications for the International 6.6 is fragmented across their website, and what information is there is limited. If you plan to use an International 6.6 in a Box Truck or other commercial vehicle, it makes sense to ask the dealership for more detailed specifications regarding the 6.6.
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