Experiences with a Cummins X15 good/bad?

I say this in all honesty
I'd rather take a beating in a prison yard than own a boat anchor X-15.. that truck won't look to cheap when the block has a window in it

 

I’m currently in a 2018 International LT with an X-15 right at 400k, and even with the very long Ryder service intervals, it’s been very good. Still doesn’t use any oil.

 

If you hate your bank account. And you like to constantly troubleshoot engine problems go ahead and get that isx . I would run anything but an isx

 

The Paccar will put the drain on your wallet also.
Around my area Nobody will work on it.
The dealers don't want to do anything major. ( Parts changers )
Price the parts. That should make up your mind for you.

 

Best answer is neither. The paccars are boat anchor wallet drainers in the best case unless you maintain them correctly from day 1...which most dont. And even then they are underpowered garbage well reviled for emissions issues, a locked down computer and extreme parts cost. The blocks themselves however do tend to make it to a million miles without needing a rebuild.

ISX is also crap. They usually dont last past 500-600K without needing a bunch of engine parts and/or a rebuild and even my shop guy says for every paccar that vomits up a crank he is replaceing 5 blown ISX blocks (though for every bad isx emissions system he is doing 15 paccars so eh) and i tend to belive him since he almost always has at least 1 or 2 ISX motors with holes in them in the bone yard. They however are typically far cheaper to get parts for and work on plus you can actully get the #### software for them. They do break down a lot though.

So honestly dealers choice on what set of issues you want. The issue here is both trucks your looking at are high miles, likely high price, judgeing on your post likely banged up and your going to be lucky to get 200K out of either one before your dumping 20-50K on a rebuild or a ton of parts.

Best bet is either save up more and get newer 250kish miles rig. Or go old iron and learn to work on it yourself. Otherwise with us heading towards a recession and likely depression, a huge downturn in freight, massivly inflated truck prices, low parts avalibility and layoffs/strikes already happening and a lot of bottom feeders in a race to negitive rates....not a great time to get in without either a fat as hell "oh ####" account or a rock solid new unit and a rock solid business plan with the skills to unbork your own crap. Going cheap is going to bite both cheeks along with your line and tackle off.

 

For every person saying they’re junk, there’s 10 of them running the roads with no issues. The industry would have long since collapsed if they were all junk.

Me personally, I’ve had 3 X15 trucks, still running 2. We buy them new in the 565/2050 flavor, probably over maintenance them, and trade/sell at that 300k-400k mile range. So after that I can’t speak for them.

All that said, there is some good reason people don’t like them. They don’t last as long as the engines like the 3406 or Series 60. But neither did the 855 Big Cams or the N14. However, unlike the Big Cams and N14, the X15 requires more specialized tools and knowledge of which the latter half Cummins will provide you for free with a CPL number.

 

I think the main problem is when buying them used. You dont know how they been maintened. If at all. Which is probably most likely the case. I have never bought anything new. That is probably the way to go with the new emissions engines. And then maintain it religously.

 

The isx wasn’t great but the x15 has been fantastic in my experience.

At the OP who knows what oil change intervals they did but I do every 25k and haven’t had a single problem with the 10 or so I’ve owned since 2018.

 

I was just talking to a collegue of mine in AB, we both bought 2019 T680's with Paccar's in them. Mine got 25K oil changes and a
Diesel Force cleaning at 250K. His got the factory recommended 75K.

Mine's in great condition (and for sale, lol) at 550K, his shredded the head at about the same mileage and needed a 40K overhaul.

Pay me now or pay me later, I suspect.