Is the Cummins ISX 600 any good?

[bmoeller]

I don't know much about their history. Might be looking at '99 KW W900L with one.



Thanks for any input.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I hate to say it... but, they're not really all that good.



I've heard that some guys/gals that put a lot of miles on them have to tear the heads off 'em once a year. I've never been able to find out exactly what they are doing to them... so take that with a grain of salt.



The Detroit series 60's have problems and the Cats do as well... but the Cats seem to be pretty good, overall.



Matt

 

[Tcolesanti]

I just came back to California from New york this past weekend and it seems a lot of OTR drivers love the 550 Detroits, they say they run great, get the best mileage and have a butt-ton of power.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

It still seems like the big Cats are the torque kings... with their 2200ft-lb ratings they used to have... I have no idea where they're at now with the emissions rules...



Matt

 

[bmoeller]

Been kinda curious about the ISX. I noticed that probably 90% + of the 9900i International trucks at the local dealer had ISX 475s in them.



We also have a lead on a KW T-800 with a 525hp engine in it. Don't what brand engine yet.



All makes can have a "problem child". My biggest gripe with the Macks that we run is, not enough power. I miss the old BC 400 we had in an old COE KW. That thing could pull. I run with alot of guys that have Detriots. They have been very reliable for them. One in particular in a T-600, is set a 485 hp. , and has almost a mil. on the clock. Has had to do very little to it.

 

[JLinder]

Most of our customers get at least 800k before doing major work to their 60 series motors, if they are good on maintainence. The Cat C12 and ISX motors had a few problems in the start, but it seems the later production motors are have less problems. As a side note, Cummins doesn't have much in the way of ISX parts outisde of the factory. I've run into numerous *fairly common* parts that none of the cummins distributors had in stock. As stated above, everybody has their problem child.



As a side note, the new C15's with the twins are pretty sweet. 55psi right out of the box.

 

[mattymac]

they are all good to start but Cat and Cummins have their injector problems and you have to be a wizard to work on a series 60. Also the series 60 wont take a rebuild as good as the other two, They get more finniky after a rebuild. At least from what Ive heard.

 

[bgilbert]

Never driven the ISX, but I'd still take one over a series 60. Boy W9 600 Cummins probly the 18 speed... SWEET!

 

[bmoeller]

Yep, it is an 18spd. behind it.



Boss' bro-in-law hauls cranes with a tri-axle W9, powered a 475hp. twin-turbo'd C-15. It is going to the shop for some axle seal leaks. He's gonna have it up-rated to 550hp. He said the C-15 can outpull the 500hp N-14 he had in his last W-9.



From looking on Cummins' site, it appears the ISX has replaced the N-14. Is that correct, or did I overlook it?

 

[Grey Wolf]

I think the ISX was the emissions replacement for the old 1150 Cu In "K" series?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

You can still get the 1150cid "K" series engines... just not in an OTR truck.



It's now known as the QSK19. With ratings from 525hp @ 2100RPM (1775 ft-lbs @ 1300RPM)... all the way up to 800hp @ 2100 RPM (2275 ft-lbs @ 1300RPM).



Matt

 

[bgilbert]

I ran a 435hp C-15 for about three years, and the other company trucks I ran with had the 370hp N14, same loads, same gears, trans, and could barely outrun them. Now I ran a 470 n-14 for some time and it was the best pulling truck I ever had. Now a C-16 600 kitty cat thats a different story, as long as its not green under the hood, you're ok in my book. BTW 1150cid- how many liters? Whats the conversion formula? Thx. Edit: they were making ISX's and N14's at the same time. N14's were out of Columbus,IN, ISX's out of Lakewood,NY. They no longer are making the N14, also closed the factory in Columbus(CEP, not CMEP) and moved everything to Lakewood.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The 1150cid K-series engines are 19L



I've also heard that the kitty Cats have more retarding horsepower from some sort of improvements with the Jake brake...



Matt

 

[Grey Wolf]

The owner of a trucking company out here has a "K" in his truck that started out at 750HP but that wasn't enough for him he put a button in it and tweaked it a little here and there and ending up with 1,000HP. One time I asked his wife why he would want more HP and she told me he didn't like to get passed... ... ... .



By the way 61 Cu In times the liter will give you the Cu In's

 

[DBoggs]

I work with a guy that owns two KW W900's with the 600 Cummins, pulling 129,000lb Rocky Mtn. doubles from the oil fields in NE Utah into Salt Lake City every day. This includes many 10-15 percent grades in off road conditions plus the mountain passes on US 40 and I-80. They have had no trouble with the 2002, but the 2000 lost a rod through the oil pan when the motor only had about 160,000 miles. The compressor housing on the turbo also had a problem spinning inside the clamp, even when tight, but that was fixed by just putting a strap on the housing. Since then no problems at all. I know that power wise these engine can pull! They take 129,000lbs up a six percent grade at about 40-45mph, whereas my 550Cat only does it at about 28-30mph.



Duane

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Keep the positive comments about the Signature 600 (and ISX's) coming!



I'm the last one that wants to bad mouth anything Cummins slaps their name on... but, I've heard people having mixed feelings about the DOHC Cummins.



Matt

 

[bmoeller]

I know that power wise these engine can pull! They take 129,000lbs up a six percent grade at about 40-45mph, whereas my 550Cat only does it at about 28-30mph.

COOL!