Natural gas engines are becoming more popular as a viable alternative to help reduce heavy-duty trucking emissions. The recent announcement of the Cummins 15 X15N, a natural gas engine with more heavy-duty capability, was highly praised. While 12-liter natural gas engines are popular for school buses, municipal transport, and regional fleets, they couldn’t meet the demands of heavy-duty or long-haul trucking. But Cummins 15 L natural gas engine will be able to, and it fills a hole in the market for heavy-duty truckers.

While a new 15L natural gas engine coming to the market is exciting for truckers, fleet and maintenance managers may feel a little worried. Natural gas engines have different lubrication needs, so if your fleet has a mix of diesel and natural gas trucks, you must keep different oil types on hand. These needs can lead to additional lubricant expenses and different maintenance schedules and procedures for a fleet to manage. For some fleets, the effort may be too much, and they may decide to forgo adding natural gas vehicles to their fleet out of convenience.

The new Cummins 15-liter engine is not on the market yet, but businesses are excited to invest in this technology to help meet the new 2027 emissions targets. However, they are concerned about significant issues that both heavy-duty trucks face. These issues make it harder for the industry to meet the upcoming emissions standards, leading to more maintenance and lubrication costs. Let’s explore a few of the main ones.

  • Fuel economy: With rising fuel prices and higher emissions standards coming, improved fuel economy is a top concern for most fleet managers. But improving fuel economy is not as simple as throwing a switch. It’s a complex process that must consider engine performance, maintenance, design, and even how truckers drive the vehicle. For example, did you know that tire inflation can reduce your fuel economy? According to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, a vehicle with underinflated tires by just 10 psi can lead to a 0.5%- 1% increase in fuel consumption. A slight drop in tire pressure can add up to a significant drop in fuel economy for heavy-duty trucks that drive long routes. Tire pressure is just one factor that can hinder a truck’s overall fuel economy, but it shows how essential it is for truckers and fleet managers to consider every little detail of how their fleet operates to improve fuel economy.
  • Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs): DPF filters have been a necessary evil on heavy-duty trucks since 2007. They reduce emissions by filtering out the soot the engine produces, and they can be very effective. But they require significant maintenance, starting with ‘regen’ cycles when the engine is run at a significantly high temperature to burn off the collected soot in the fitler. The regen process eats up significant fuel and adds additional on-the-road tasks for drivers to complete, as they must park the truck and let it idle. DPF filters also require regular cleaning and maintenance, which puts the truck out of commission for some time. DPF filters and their maintenance needs are one of the reasons the trucking industry is so excited about the new Cummins 15 L natural gas engine, as they do not require DPF after-treatment systems.

These are two of the most significant issues facing the heavy-duty trucking industry right now, and switching to natural gas engines in the future can solve both of these issues. NGV engines can get better fuel economy, and they don’t have pesky DPF filters. But even though NGV engines have some significant bonuses for the trucking industry, they have lubrication needs that must be met. Luckily, Chevron has the answer for this too!

The Delo® 600 ADF engine oil is approved for NGV engines.
Cummins has just approved the Delo® 600 ADF 10W-30 and 15W-40 engine oils for their natural gas engines. As the industry leader in natural gas engines, Cummins has rigorous standards for lubricant products. To be approved, the oil must be field tested for two years in Cummins engines, and after that testing is complete, they tear down the engine and inspect it. This inspection looks at how well the oil lubricated the system, prevented damage, and helped the engine run more efficiently. The Delo® 600 ADF oil was put through this extensive process and passed, earning the Cummins CES 20092 approval.

The benefits of the Delo® 600 ADF engine oil.
Here are a few reasons why the Delo® 600 ADF engine oil passed the Cummins certification process for natural gas engines and why it’s a great fit for fleets with both NGV and diesel engine trucks. This ultra-ash oil is a high-performance synthetic blend recommended for Tier IV Final, API CK-4 service categories, and mobile compressed natural gas engines. Some of the benefits include:

  • Extended emission control system intervals: With this oil, you can go further between DPF filter maintenance and 2x other oils, reducing maintenance costs and equipment downtime for diesel trucks. You do not need to worry about DPF filter issues for natural gas engines, as they do not have one.
  • Less ash build-up: As an ultra-low ash oil, this product reduces ash build-up in the DPF filter, which leads to better fuel economy and less regeneration.
  • Improved deposit control: During the Cummins approval process, one of the requirements was to take apart the engine after using the Delo® 600 ADF oil and checking the deposit formation level. This oil offers superior protection against deposit formation in pistons, turbochargers, and other engine components. It has superior oxidation performance, so the engine stays cleaner longer and runs better in both NGV and diesel engines.
  • These are just a few benefits of the Delo® 600 ADF engine oil. There are many more, but the most significant advantage is that it works for diesel and natural gas engines. So, using this oil makes it much easier for businesses to begin investing in natural gas engines because they don’t have to account for separate lubrication needs or maintenance schedules for their diesel and NGV engines.

As a fuel and lubrication distributor, we’re excited about the new Cummins 15 L NGV engine. NGV engines are the future tools that will help the heavy-duty trucking industry meet upcoming emissions standards, and the Delo® 600 ADF will be part of the solution! So, if you’d like to order some for your fleet, or learn more about Delo® 600 ADF and renewable fuels, contact a Greg’s Petroleum representative today!