Power is one of the most vital components truck owners look for in an engine. Raw power may not matter much if you drive a four-door sedan to and from work. However, it is essential if you use your vehicle for hauling and towing. Truck aficionados have trusted Cummins for years, and you’ll understand why after learning what makes Cummins diesel engines so powerful.

Where It All Started

In the heart of the Midwest, Clessie Cummins changed the engine game for the better, producing the first Cummins diesel engines in Columbus, Indiana. After getting elected president of the company, the 30-year-old decided to open up shop at an abandoned cereal mill.

With the success of the Model F, Cummins’s first direct-injection engine design, the business quickly rose to prominence as a pioneer in engine technology. Cummins Engine Co. fueled the expansion of the industrial economy.

The first big break for the company was its relationship with Case Corporation. Cummins powered Case’s tractors and construction equipment, establishing itself as a trusted supplier of powerful and durable engines.

In 1928, Cummins Corporation realized the auto sector was the key to expanding its business. In only a few years, the business produced the precursor to modern diesel engines—a diesel motor developed exclusively for commercial trucks.

Today, Cummins engines power medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Commercial Cummins engines power a variety of machines and tools. The building, mining, drilling, farming, rail, and even military defense industries fall under this category.

The New Industry Standard

You may be wondering why the Cummins engine is so popular for trucks. The 12-valve engine’s legendary status stems from its extraordinary power and torque output.

The Cummins engine is known for its durability, longevity, and indestructibility. You may thank the engine’s origins as a heavy-duty commercial engine for these attributes. Given their widespread application in consumer vehicles, it would take consistent, severe, and prolonged misuse to hinder these engines.

In 1989, a Cummins Turbodiesel engine powered a Ram pickup, and the truck quickly became legendary. The strong engine easily bested those of Ford and GMC, Ram’s main rivals.

Cummins quickly became the industry standard for diesel engines thanks to their endurance. The engine uses cast iron for both its head and block. Large main bearings, a forged steel crankshaft, and connecting rods comprise the machinery. Diesel engines employ a steel timing gear between the crank and cam in place of the timing chain or belt used in gasoline engines. Cummins diesel engines are beasts that refuse to die.

The First Generation

Many choices were available for the “first generation” of Dodge Ram buyers in 1989. The gas-powered V-8 and the diesel-powered 5.9-liter Cummins were viable options, but the sales of Dodge Ram trucks with new engines soared. The 5.9-liter Cummins, paired with a robust five-speed manual or A727 three-speed automatic, was in high demand.

The only diesel engine with direct injection at the time was the 5.9L Cummins. Consumers praised this hoss’s turbocharged Holset H1C engine due to its impressively high torque and low fuel consumption. The original 12V engine had a class-leading 160 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.

The Sequel

Several similarities existed between the 5.9-liter Cummins of 1994 and the engine used from 1989 to 1993. The displacement was identical to the previous version and utilized the connecting rods, blocks, and head.

A few upgrades have made this engine even more desirable and powerful. The most significant and interesting development was the switch from the VE pump to the Bosch P7100 inline injection pump (P-pump).

The ability to generate power and torque on this platform has recently made it popular. With the right amount of airflow and the P7100’s almost infinite feeding capacity, you can expect some serious muscle. This upgrade necessitated the introduction of new parts: fuel injectors, pistons, intercooler, and a new Holset turbocharger.

Bigger & Better

While Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were chasing Roger Maris’s record of 61 home runs in the summer of 1998, Cummins released their new 5.9-liter, 24-valve engines. The engine’s performance and efficiency improved after manufacturers switched to a four-valves-per-cylinder layout. The 5.9-liter’s original 24-valve iteration generated 235 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque with a stick shift, with a slight dip in each for an automatic transmission.

Competition among the three largest truck manufacturers increased when their diesel engines got closer to producing 500 lb-ft of torque. Dodge introduced the 24-valve engine in 2001 that surpassed the elusive 500 lb-ft of torque with the help of a Holset HY35W turbocharger. The 24-valve was here to stay with its 245 hp and 505 lb-ft of torque. A rugged NV5600 six-speed gearbox supported the 5.9-liter Cummins with VP.

Third Time’s a Charm

In 2003, the diesel powerplant experienced revisions that restored the brand’s legendary dependability. The phrase “Third Generation” also emerged around this time to describe the next invention of vehicles.

Power and torque output increased dramatically from prior models with the introduction of high-pressure, common-rail fuel injection. Diesel engines reached slightly over 300 horsepower and 555 lb-ft, respectively.

A big upgrade to this version of the Cummins was a dependable and economical fueling system. The Bosch-built CP3 injection pump found its way into the third-generation 5.9-liter engines. The fuel injectors get their supply from the rail, and the engine could avoid EGR for many years thanks to the modification.

Solenoid-activated injectors, a revised cylinder head, and a reinforced 5.9L engine block were all part of the new fueling approach. The 8-hole (2003–2004) and 5-hole (2004–2007) injectors also contributed to lower emissions. A rocker box on the redesigned cylinder head made room for the injectors, crossover tubes, and more robust intake and exhaust valves.

In the mid-2000s, Cummins supplied its 5.9-liter engine with a choice between two turbocharger configurations. Back in 2003, a Holset HE341CW was in operation. Its wastegate and mechanical control could maintain boost pressures greater than the factory setting.

The Holset HE351CW was standard on engines produced between 2004 and 2007 in order to conform to pollution laws. The electronic wastegate on this turbocharger set it apart from the mechanically regulated HE341CW. The new turbocharger significantly improved performance while decreasing emissions from the 24V Cummins exhaust.

For three decades, Cummins hasn’t settled for mediocrity, which is what makes Cummins diesel engines so powerful. Blessed Performance also doesn’t settle for mediocrity, as our 4.9 Google rating from over 1,000 reviews proves. If you need aftermarket upgrades or an engine overhaul, our goods and prices are right up your alley!