Information on 5.9L 1990 Cummins Diesel Engines
The 5.9-liter 1990 Cummins diesel is a powerful engine that wields massive torque for hauling power and quick acceleration under a heavy load. The 1990 Dodge 2500 and 3500 series pickup trucks can be equipped with the Cummins diesel engine as an option. The 5.9-liter Cummins diesel remained in production until 2007.
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Origins
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Clessie L. Cummins founded the Cummins Engine Co. in 1919 and produced a series of small diesel engines. But it wasn’t until 1930 that his diesels had their first practical applications in farm equipment and work vehicles. In 2010, the company, now named Cummins Inc., is the largest manufacturer of diesel engines exceeding 200 horsepower. More than 50 percent of the Columbus, Indiana-based company’s business is abroad, according to Cumminspower.com.
“B” Engine Family
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The 12-valve 5.9-liter Cummins diesel inline 6-cylinder was introduced in 1984 as an engine for agricultural equipment. In 1989 it became part of the Cummins B-series line of engines that included the 3.9- and 6.7-liter diesels and the 24-valve 5.9-liter diesel that debuted in 1998. The 5.9- and 6.7-liter Cummins diesels has been the diesel engine of choice for Dodge since 1989.
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1990 Cummins
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The 5.9-liter liter (359 cubic inches) 1990 Cummins diesel is a Holset turbocharged straight 6-cylinder designed specifically to operate with 40 percent fewer working parts than a V-8, making the Cummins a more efficient engine less prone to breakdowns. The diesel has a 4.02-inch bore and 4.72-inch stroke. Its compression ratio is 17:1 compression ratio to give it only 160 horsepower but 400 foot-pounds torque. Torque is the twisting force generated inside the engine to give the truck acceleration and the ability to gain speed while carrying heavy loads. Torque is critical to truck performance rather than raw horsepower. Fuel is delivered via direct inject from a Bosch VE injection pump, which was replaced with the Bosch P7100 injection pump in 1994.
Durability
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The 5.9-liter Cummins was so durable that neither Dodge nor Cummins saw any need to change the basic structure of the engine between 1989 and 1993. The horsepower rating remained at 160 at 2,500 rpm for Dodge trucks equipped with an automatic. The only concession occurred in 1994 when horsepower was boosted to 175. Torque for the manual transmission versions was rated at 420.
Comparisons
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The 12-valve 5.9-liter 1990 Cummins diesel has stood up remarkably well to the 1998 24-valve version. The 1990 diesel’s compression ratio is on par with the 24-valve’s 16.3:1 rating. The size of the bore and stroke and the Holset turbocharger remains the same for both engines. The 24-valve version pulls away with the 1998 models wielding 235 horsepower and 460 foot-pounds of torque. Yet gross combination weight rating (or GCWR, which is the maximum weight a loaded truck with trailer can carry) of the 1990 Dodge trucks is a massive 16,000 lbs., two tons more than either Ford or GM trucks of the same vintage.
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