New Dodge Ram looks sooo good So Cummins is the best diesel engine for the pick-up truck?
Well, Cummins has been around for many many years powering the "big" trucks that make this country survive. They are probably the most used and most well known for this. Clessie Cummins introduced his first diesel engine into the marketplace in 1919. He invented the mechanically actuated, fuel injector, he is also credited with the invention of the compression brake. (otherwise known as the jake brake) He is also known as the "father" of the truck engine. His model H engine designed for trucks, first hauled a 3 1/2 ton load from coast to coast for $11.38 of fuel in the middle of the depression and next setting the world endurance record for any vehicle, driving 14,600 miles around the indy 500 track. The truck averaged 43.4 mph at a cost of 1/2 a cent of fuel per mile and only one refuel was required at the 10,000 mile point.
Something that is definately not widely known, is he enterd the first diesel powered car in the Indianapolis 500. In 1931 Cummins entered the Indianapolis 500 with a self-built (3,389 pound, 361 cubic-inch) four cylinder, three-valve, 85 horsepower, Model U marine diesel that he installed into Model A Duesenberg. The Cummins averaged 86 miles per hour and completed the race on 1 tank of fuel, without any pit stops!
Didn't mean to get on such a spill, but I think this is just some info that could help in the selection process. My dad and 2 of my uncles used their Dodge duallies pulling 3 car trailers, sometimes hauling up to 36,000 lbs cross country, and still managing better than 15 mpg. I mean thousands and thousands of commercial trucks can't be wrong, and the pick up truck engines are built along the same principal as the big ones, so........ I vote Cummins!