Cummins L Series engine
Encyclopedia
The Cummins ISL is a straight-six diesel engine
designed and produced by Cummins
. It displaces
8.9 litre, and began production in 1998. The engine was based on its 8.3 litre predecessor, the Cummins C8.3 engine.
In late 2003, Cummins
announced that they would revise the engine to sport a High-Pressure Common-Rail
(HPCR) system to help with emissions and also a variable geometry turbocharger
system to help with the performance on this engine.
The Cummins ISL also has a sister engine which is based on the existing ISL 8.9 litre cylinder block
which runs on compressed natural gas
(CNG). Cummins reintroduced this engine as the L Gas Plus engine, which has a power
rating of 320 hp (238 kW), and it is for 60 feet (18.3 m) (18 m) articulated bus
.
A few thousand units of this engine are now operating in a wide variety of applications. A further development of this engine is known as the ISL G and features stoichiometric
combustion
(in lieu of lean burn
) as well as EGR for reduced combustion temperatures.
Firetruck/Motorhome/Truck
double decker buses), displaced 10 litre, was slightly larger, and had been replaced by the M11
entirely in 1994, although the natural gas
version, known as the L10G, had hung on until the spring of 1998.
The ISL nomenclature was born out of the fact that after the original L10 had been dropped, there was no engine series to bridge the gap between the C8.3/ISC and the M11/ISM. Thus Cummins marketed the ISL starting in 1999.
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
designed and produced by Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
. It displaces
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
8.9 litre, and began production in 1998. The engine was based on its 8.3 litre predecessor, the Cummins C8.3 engine.
In late 2003, Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
announced that they would revise the engine to sport a High-Pressure Common-Rail
Common rail
Common rail direct fuel injection is a modern variant of direct fuel injection system for petrol and diesel engines.On diesel engines, it features a high-pressure fuel rail feeding individual solenoid valves, as opposed to low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors...
(HPCR) system to help with emissions and also a variable geometry turbocharger
Variable geometry turbocharger
Variable-geometry turbochargers are a family of turbochargers, usually designed to allow the effective aspect ratio of the turbo to be altered as conditions change. This is done because optimum aspect ratio at low engine speeds is very different from that at high engine speeds...
system to help with the performance on this engine.
The Cummins ISL also has a sister engine which is based on the existing ISL 8.9 litre cylinder block
Cylinder block
A cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
which runs on compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
(CNG). Cummins reintroduced this engine as the L Gas Plus engine, which has a power
Power (physics)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
rating of 320 hp (238 kW), and it is for 60 feet (18.3 m) (18 m) articulated bus
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
.
A few thousand units of this engine are now operating in a wide variety of applications. A further development of this engine is known as the ISL G and features stoichiometric
Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the relative quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions. In a balanced chemical reaction, the relations among quantities of reactants and products typically form a ratio of whole numbers...
combustion
Combustion
Combustion or burning is the sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species. The release of heat can result in the production of light in the form of either glowing or a flame...
(in lieu of lean burn
Lean burn
Lean burn refers to the use of lean mixtures in an internal combustion engine. The air-fuel ratios can be as high as 65:1, so the mixture has considerably less fuel in comparison to the stoichiometric combustion ratio ....
) as well as EGR for reduced combustion temperatures.
Applications
- BusBusA bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
- Motor coachCoach (vehicle)A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
- Motor homeRecreational vehicleRecreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
- Fire truckFire apparatusA fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
- Hybrid electric busHybrid electric busA hybrid electric bus combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a diesel-electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid diesel-electric buses....
- Refuse collection truck
- Port drayage truck
Popular power ratings
Urban bus- 730 lbfft @ 1300 rpm, 250 hp electronically governed at 2,200 rpm
- 900 lbfft @ 1300 rpm, 280 hp (209 kW) electronically governed at 2,200 rpm
- 1100 lbfft @ 1300 rpm, 330 hp (246 kW) electronically governed at 2,200 rpm
Firetruck/Motorhome/Truck
- 1050 lbfft @ 1,300 rpm, 310 hp (231 kW) electronically governed at 2,100 rpm
- 1150 lbfft @ 1,300 rpm, 330 hp (246 kW) electronically governed at 2,100 rpm
- 1200 lbfft @ 1,300 rpm, 400 hp (298 kW) electronically governed at 2,200 rpm
ISL vs. L10
The ISL is not to be confused with the older L10 series, which Cummins had produced and sold from 1982 to early 1998. The old L10 series, which like the current ISL, had seen use in the applications listed above (plus, early DennisDennis Specialist Vehicles
Dennis Specialist Vehicles is a major British coachbuilder and manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles based in Guildford, England...
double decker buses), displaced 10 litre, was slightly larger, and had been replaced by the M11
Cummins M Series engine
The Cummins M Series engine is a straight six diesel engine designed and produced by Cummins. It displaces . Introduced as the M11 in 1994, it was built on the previous L10 engine .In 1996, Cummins added electronic controls to improve efficiency...
entirely in 1994, although the natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
version, known as the L10G, had hung on until the spring of 1998.
The ISL nomenclature was born out of the fact that after the original L10 had been dropped, there was no engine series to bridge the gap between the C8.3/ISC and the M11/ISM. Thus Cummins marketed the ISL starting in 1999.