The New Cummins Heavy Duty Diesel Engine and the 100,000 Mile Oil Drain Interval

As every truck or car enthusiast knows, autumn is the time when manufacturers begin to showcase their greatest gear for the coming year. While mainstream media focuses on the elections, there are thousands of other journalists who plan their annual trip to Las Vegas to attend the SEMA Show that they might see first-hand the latest and greatest wares in the auto aftermarket.

Sadly, this year's event -- like so many others -- is going to be virtual. 

This does not prevent carmakers and engine builders from finding ways to flex their muscles a little. Even if only virtual, the World Wide Web is the greatest shopping mall in human history. 

Which brings us to the 2021 Cummins HD X12 and X15. The latest versions of Cummins' emissions-compliant on-highway power plants were introduced at a virtual press event on October 13. The information here is from Truckinginfo.com.

The 2021 engine designs "combine new fuel- and cost-saving features with the proven architecture of the X-series platform." What this means is that customers will experience better fuel efficiency across the entire engine lineup "along with more uptime and greater reliability." 

100,000 Miles!

After taking a deep dive through the features and benefits of the new engines, author Jim Park devoted time to the big reveal: a 100,000 mile oil change interval. 

In the 90's, the CEO of GM stated that it was his desire to see cars produced with a 100,000 mile oil change interval. Consumer studies showed that frequent oil changes were the biggest hassle with regard to owning a car. 

So it's intriguing to see Cummins has stepped up to the plate on this one. Their current oil change interval was already 75,000 miles "for trucks getting 7 mpg or better. (In other words, operating efficiently.) Next year, Cummins has extended the drain interval another 10,000 miles, and supports a 100,000 mile change interval when truck owners used the Cummins OilGuard oil analysis program.

To their credit, Cummins does not specify oil selection as long as it meets standards. Champion is offering special pricing right now for their Blue Flame oils, for what it's worth. (Click on photos in righthand column.) 

The article details a number of hardware changes for the 2021 engines, both electronic and hardware. Air handling has been improved as well as other efficiencies so that the engine runs quieter at idle. 

There's plenty more to write home about. You can read the full story here.

 Photos: courtesy Cummins