tractor engines, (Semi)

I"m a 2 cycle engine person, and don"t know much
about Cummins motors. Looking at truck advertisements...What is an ISX, an ISM, an M11 ?
can anyone here direct me to a chart, or reference
information, an such engines. Also, what about
International, or Navistar, or whatever they"re
called now. Is there any cross reference info on
those?
I don"t want to walk into a dealership and act
like a "Dumb Hick". (which is what I am, on this
subject)

.
SOME info

As far as I know the M11 and the ISM are the same engine only the ISM is a newer version and has more emissions stuff, meaning more trouble and less reliablilty.

The N14 and the ISX are the same engine only the ISX is newer, has the the smog stuff and is less reliable because of it. it's the reason why older trucks have come up in value.

Some of the guys here who are more 'in the know' can give you better info. Jim

In the Cummins the M11 and 855 came before the ISX/ISM engines. Even tho the sizes are similar that's about the only thing that is. The ISX is all new with dual overhead cams and a single head. They are a more complex engine but have proven themselves to be as good or better than the older engines, altho less easy for a novice to work on. My old truck had an ISX set at 435 hp from the factory. I had a diesel guy turn it up to about 600 hp at one point, but had to turn it back down to 550 hp because it would heat up since I hadn't changed the turbo and injectors. When I sold it it had just less than 1 million miles and used no oil and had no major work done. It did need a turbo at the time tho which was $3500.00 from Cummins, but about $1750.00 aftermarket.

I'm more into the equipment side of things than the truck side, but I do know if your looking for a good engine in a semi, go for the Detroit Series 60. It's a 4 cycle, inline 6 and from what I have heard over the years they are good for a million miles plus if you keep them maintained. I've got a Series 50, which is the 4 cylinder, little brother, to the 60, in my service truck. It's currently got over 400,000 miles on it, and still running strong pulling better than 32,000 lbs nearly every day. From what I've heard from the truck mechanics I know they were one of the best engines out there until they were discontinued for the more "environmentally friendly" models.

And they get good fuel mileage.

The Cummins engines in trucks are as follows-the L10 is a 10 liter engine that is mechanical, although there were a very few of the later ones that had Cummins Celect electronics, it is no longer produced new. The M11 is an 11 liter that is basiclly a "hopped up" L10. Most M11 engines were Celect or Celect Plus electronicly controlled. Also no longer available new, discontinued a year or two ago. These were good engines in vocational type applications, transit buses, concrete trucks, etc. Probably a little underpowered in over the road semis. Horsepower in the 280 to 330 range.

The 855 (cubic inch) was the flagship engine from the 70's thru late 80's. 290 to 444 H.P. and big torque numbers. The early one were called "small cam" and the later were called "big cam" due to the size of the cam journals. Good old mechanical engines, no real problems, good for 6 to 700,000 miles, roll in a set of bearings and go again. Also not available new.

The N14 is an electronic version of the 855, 14 liter=855 inches. Rock solid, million mile engine, also not available new but still a lot on the road and highly sought after. HP numbers from say 330 to 525. Big torque numbers up to 1850 ft/lbs.

ISX is a 15 liter full electronic engine, HP up to 600 and 2050 torque. Early ones up 2002 model year no emissions. 2002 to 2006 had EGR. 2007 to 2009 had EGR and exhaust aftertreatment, 2010 to present had the above plus diesel exhaust fluid. The more emissions the less the reliability. If I was in the market an N14 or early ISX would be my choices.

That's Cummins truck engines in a nutshell, hope that gives you something you can use.

The M11 was replaced by the ISX11, the original ISX is now known as the ISX15.
Hard to beat a 444 Big Cam. Run circles around a 400 Celect.

The N14 was a pushrod engine, I believe the ISX is an overhead cam. The pictures I've seen of the ISX look nothing like an N14.