New Heavy Duty Cummins ISX12 Engine

Posted on February 14, 2012 by admin

With 12% better fuel economy in construction and other work trucks, and 5% improvement in regional applications, the new heavy duty Cummins engine comes compete with a new name: the ISX12.

The heavy duty Cummins ISX 12 has not changed physically since it was introduced in 2010. The engine design is based on the ISX15 big-bore engine, along with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). The new numerical designation is easier to read, similar to the ISX15 and ISL9 Cummins products.

Full production of the Cummins ISX12 engine beings in March 2012.

The vocational ratings of the ISX12 run from 320 to 425 horsepower, with torque outputs of 1,150 to 1,650.  On-highway ratings of the heavy duty Cummins ISX 12 have a horsepower range of 310 to 425, and a Smart Torque rating of 1,250 / 1,350 to 1,450 /1,650. The SmartTorque ratings unleash higher torque in the top gears so drivers can climb hills with less downshifts.

Integrated rear-engine power take-off (REPTO) and front-engine power take-off (FEPTO) drives are available, along with a choice of hydraulic drive options.

Cummins ISX12 Engine

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Centerville Man Owns Indestructible Army Jeep

Posted on February 11, 2012 by admin

Introducing Gerard Belanger, a Centerville, Michigan, man who drives what he calls a “jeep on steroids”.

Belanger found the diesel truck on GovernmentLiquidation.com, an Arizona web company which auctions off Army surplus equipment. Almost anything can be found on the site, with the exception of guns and weapons.

Belanger ended up spending only $2,000 on his indestructable truck. The truck is an M-818 diesel from 1970, with less than 20,000 miles on it at the time of purchase. Mechanically, the truck was like new, says a writer of the Leelanau News.

After a 6 month background check, the 5-ton diesel truck belonged to Belanger.

The truck has no luxuries, including no radio. This doesn’t bother Belanger one bit.

“If you drive this thing into the brush and scratch it up, you just get out the spray can and paint it. There’s no gloss or fancy stuff on it,” says Belanger.

Belanger, a builder by trade, uses his renovated diesel jeep for plowing snow during the winter months. This supplemental winter income is a neccessity to many construction workers in Leelanau County.

Belanger hired a hauler to transport the truck from the Air Force Base in Dayton to his cousin Kirk’s auto clinic in Wyadnotte. The independent hauler spent 4 hours searching for the truck amid rows and rows of twin trucks. The only indication of difference between the trucks were the serial numbers.

From the shop in Wyadnotte, Belanger drove to his truck to his daughter’s home in Grand Rapids, then to his home in Centerville.

The entire trip took 300 miles, and 64 gallons of diesel fuel.

Belanger recalled the trip, “The truck topped out at 55 mph, but with three-foot tires it drew respect from even patience-challenged drivers.”

Gerard Belanger Army Jeep Centerville

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Study on Effects of Diesel Engine Exhaust

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin

A study on the effects of diesel engine exhaust on a large group of individuals has been delayed due to the requests of industry and government officials.

The study examines 12,000 miners who have been exposed to diesel fumes, paying specific attention to the presence or lack of presence of lung cancer in the miners.  The study, performed by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is an 11.5 million dollar project.

If a link is found between the diesel engine fumes and cancer, there will be serious consequences.

A study from Environmental Health Perspectives in 2004 found increased lung cancer death rates in U.S. railroad workers.

And though miners are the only ones getting studied, people who live near ports, rail ways, and highways experience similar fumes. Diesel exhaust is said to be laced with benzene, arsenic, and formaldehyde, all carcinogens.

The industry group and House committee asked to look over the study data before it went public. U.S. District Judge Richard Haik agreed upon the right of the 2 groups to review the study information before it was published. The judge even went so far as to hold the Department of Health and Human Services in contempt for not handing over all of the information.

At this point, no information on the study or papers that were written based on the study can be seen. If the legal dispute does not get resolved, publication of the study could be postponed indefinitely.

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Diesel Exhaust Fluid Prices Drop in the US

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin

The average Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) price dropped by one cent at the pump between the months of December and January.

Of course, this news comes after DEF gained three cents during each of the previous 2 months.

With the December-January price drop, the price of Diesel Exhaust Fluid at the U.S. pump is at $2.75. This is according to the DEF Tracker.

The price of Canadian DEF remains unchanged at CAD$0.80/L.

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EcoDual Bi-Fuel Conversion Systems for Cummins

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin

One provider of bi-fuel conversion systems for diesel trucks, known as EcoDual, LLC, has begun installing its products on some older Cummins ISX engines. EcoDual is a leading provider of dual fuel conversion systems for heavy duty diesel trucks.

Now that it has gained approval by the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the EcoDual conversion kit will be added to 2004-2009 Cummins pickup trucks. This technology allows these diesel engines to convert their systems to operate on 85% natural gas. The technology also allows the diesel trucks to maintain full torque and power with no loss of MPG.

If the truck runs out of natural gas, it will automatically switch operation to only diesel fuel.

Of course, this EcoDual bi-fuel conversion to diesel fuel and natural fuel will mean tremendous savings on fuel costs. At the present, the 15L Cummins ISX engine runs in over 1 million trucks.

The market for natural gas trucks is constantly expanding. Now that the regulations for natural gas engines have been streamlined by the EPA, businesses in America can roll out their existent cost-effective technology solutions.

One category of the “Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Engine Conversions” (CAFC) rule only related to heavy duty engines that are older, or “Outside Useful Life” (OUL). This refers to all heavy duty diesels with over 22,000 hours of operation, 10 years, or 435,000 miles. It was through this rule that EcoDual, LLC, managed to meet compliance with the EPA.

A spokesperson for EcoDual, LLC, even believes that the dual fuel system costs can be made up within one year of operation. This is external from government incentives of any kind.

By next year, EcoDual is said to be releasing systems for newer trucks as well.

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