Cummins N14 Engine Serial Number Location

Cummins on-highway engines consist of the N14 and M11, and the ISX, ISL and the ISM. Cummins engines are painted red from the factory. The engine and model numbers are engraved on a metallic plate located on the driver's side front cover. All Cummins serial numbers are eight numeric digits.

Cummins is an Indiana-based company that manufactures diesel and natural-gas powered engines for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses, RVs and industrial-use vehicles. Identifying whether a Cummins engine is installed in your vehicle takes only a few simple steps.

Step 1

Pop your vehicle's hood and locate the engine. Look for the Cummins logo (it's the letter 'C' with the word 'Cummins' written diagonally across the letter's top left corner).

Step 2

Consult your vehicle's owner's manual to identify whether your vehicle has a Cummins engine. Look for the section regarding engine specifications or parts.

Step 3

Locate your vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This 17-digit number can be found at the top of your vehicle's dashboard on the driver's side, as close to the front window as possible (it is also printed on most vehicle registration cards). If the sixth digit is a '2' or '3,' the vehicle is a Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500. This Dodge model comes with a Cummins engine standard; look at the eighth digit in the VIN sequence to identify exactly what type of Cummins engine is installed.

Step 4

Number

Cummins Engine Serial Number Lookup

Visit the Cummins products home page and click on the link for 'Engines.' Select your type of vehicle from the drop-down menu; you'll be able to choose from on- or off-road vehicles, as well as recreational equipment like boats. Doing this will direct you to a new page with information regarding the types of Cummins engines used in the various vehicle types.

Step 5

Locate the eight-digit serial number on your Cummins engine; it is printed on a dataplate affixed to the engine. The exact location of the dataplate varies depending the model engine, yet it's typically on the top or side of the rocker cover or housing unit. This dataplate will also have the engine's model printed on it.

Research the engine specifications for your model type (found on the dataplate). The Cummins Diesel Specs website is a good place to turn for engine specification information.

Tips

Location
  • Visit the Cummins' 'QuickServe' website to learn more about your specific engine. This website is operated by Cummins', and allows users to download manuals and service guidelines for their specific engine model.
  • Register your Cummins engine with the company to receive product and recall updates. To do so, you will need to provide your name, contact information and engine serial number.

More Articles

There are three major manufacturers of truck engines in the United States--Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar and Cummins. In addition to the major three, Navistar also produces proprietary engines built specifically for its vehicles. All truck engines consist of a model and serial number to help repair shops and truck-parts personnel decide how to best service the truck owner.

Detroit Diesel

The Detroit Diesel on-highway engines consist of the Series 60, the DD13 and the DD15. To [identify a Detroit Diesel](https://itstillruns.com/identify-detroit-diesel-7840995.html) engine, locate the metallic plate on the driver's side of the valve cover. An engine serial number will be present, in addition to a model number. Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines are painted light blue from the factory, and the DD13 and the DD15 engines are painted black. Series 60 serial numbers will begin 06R followed by seven digits. The DD13 and the DD15 consist of 10 numeric digits.

Caterpillar

Cummins Serial Number Location

Caterpillar on-highway engines consist of the 3208, the 3406 and the C series engines. All Caterpillar engines are painted yellow from the factory. Serial numbers consist of a string of alphanumeric code. The serial and model number is located on a metallic plate on the passenger side of the valve cover. If the metallic plate is missing, the engine serial number is stamped on the passenger side of the cylinder block, just behind the exhaust manifold.

Cummins

Cummins on-highway engines consist of the N14 and M11, and the ISX, ISL and the ISM. Cummins engines are painted red from the factory. The engine and model numbers are engraved on a metallic plate located on the driver's side front cover. All Cummins serial numbers are eight numeric digits. If the identification plate is missing, the engine serial number is stamped on the passenger side of the cylinder block, near the rear of the engine.

Navistar

Navistar on-highway engines consist of the DT series. The DT series are painted black from the factory. The engine serial number is located on a metallic plate on the driver's side of the cylinder block at the center of the engine and just below the cylinder head. The serial number will consist of 13 numeric digits. If the plate is missing, the owner will need to find the fuel pump and turbo part numbers located on each part and call their local Navistar dealer to determine the engine type.

Cummins Isx Serial Number Location

Proprietary Engines

Cummins N14 Engine Serial Numbers

Many truck manufacturers used the same model engines in their on-highway vehicles. During the 1980s and 1990s, Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar and Cummins built engines for most of the truck manufacturers in the United States. A Freightliner, Peterbilt or a Navistar may have been built with a Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar or Cummins engine up until the late 1990s. Beginning in the early 2000s, however, engine companies began to produce engines for specific truck manufacturers. Detroit Diesel engines are now used exclusively in Freightliner trucks. Caterpillar and Cummins engines are used by Peterbilt, Kenworth and Freightliner. Navistar engines are still proprietary to International Harvester Trucks.

Cummins Engine Serial Number Location

Good Practice

Cummins N14 Engine Serial Number Location Number

Throughout an engine's life, there is a chance that the engine was repaired or overhauled at some point. As most engine serial numbers used to identify the engine are located on metallic plates; these plates to wear and in some cases become illegible. In other cases, parts such as the valve cover are changed without the repair shop removing the old identification plate and installing it on the new one. It is good practice to locate the serial number that is stamped on the cylinder block to prevent misidentification of the engine.

  • blue truck image by Edyta Anna Grabowska from Fotolia.com

More Articles