Cummins N14
Used Cummins N14 Engines for Sale
The N14 is Cummins' 14-liter inline six that powered many Class 8 trucks in the 1990s before the ISX replaced it. Send us your engine serial number (ESN) and CPL and we search supplier sources nationwide for a matching used N14.
Cummins N14 at a glance
- Displacement
- 14 L (855 cu in)
- Configuration
- Inline 6-cylinder; Celect and Celect Plus versions use electronically controlled, camshaft-driven unit injectors
- Versions
- Mechanical N14, N14 Celect and N14 Celect Plus
- Top on-highway rating
- Up to 525 hp (N14 525 Celect Plus)
- Production era
- Late 1980s into the early 2000s; replaced in Cummins' heavy-duty line by the ISX
- Emissions / aftertreatment
- Pre-EGR engine: no cooled EGR, DPF or SCR
Identification
How to identify your N14
Read us the engine serial number (ESN) and the CPL number from the Cummins engine dataplate. Cummins ESNs are eight digits, and if the dataplate is missing or unreadable, Cummins notes that the ESN is also identified on the engine block.
Tell us whether the engine is a mechanical N14, a Celect or a Celect Plus. The CPL and the ESN let a supplier confirm the exact version, rating and fuel system, which matters because the electronic versions use different ECMs, wiring and injectors from the mechanical engine.
- ESN (8 digits) and CPL number from the dataplate
- Mechanical, Celect or Celect Plus, and the horsepower rating
- Truck year, make, model and VIN
- Whether the ECM and engine harness are reusable from your old engine
01Mechanical N14 vs Celect vs Celect Plus
The N14 came in mechanical and electronic versions. Cummins' Celect system brought electronic control of the camshaft-driven unit injectors around 1990, and the later Celect Plus added an updated ECM with more adjustable parameters. Diagnostic references date Celect to roughly the early 1990s and Celect Plus to the mid-1990s onward, but changeover timing varies by build.
A Celect engine and a Celect Plus engine do not use the same ECM, and neither is a direct swap for a mechanical N14 without matching the fuel system, wiring and controls. Quote the version your truck was built with, or tell us up front if you are planning a conversion.
02N14 vs ISX
Cummins replaced the N14 with the ISX (first sold as the Signature 600) around the turn of the century. Cummins described the Signature 600 as a 15-liter engine that weighed about 300 lb less than an N14. The two engines are different designs with different blocks, heads, fuel systems and electronics, so an ISX is not a drop-in replacement for an N14.
03Buying an older engine
Most N14 engines on the market are decades old, so history matters more than the model name. Ask whether the engine has been in-frame or out-of-frame overhauled, when, and whether there is paperwork. A running video and an oil analysis are worth asking for on any older engine.
Emissions rules can also matter. The N14 predates cooled EGR and particulate filters, so it should go into a truck that was originally built with an N14 or an engine of the same emissions era. Check your state's rules before planning a repower.
04Freight and core considerations
A dressed N14 is a large, heavy engine that typically moves by truck freight on a pallet or engine stand. Delivery to a shop with a forklift or dock is easier than a residential address. Core return terms, if any, are set per supplier and spelled out on your quote.
Before you buy
Questions to ask about a used N14
- Is this a mechanical, Celect or Celect Plus N14, and does the CPL match my truck?
- Has the engine been overhauled, and is there paperwork for the work?
- Is the mileage or hour reading documented, and from what source?
- Is an oil analysis report available?
- Is there a running video showing a cold start, idle and the engine under load?
- Does it come with the ECM (Celect or Celect Plus), harness and turbo?
- Was it pulled from a running truck, and why was it removed?
- Is a core required, and what condition does the core need to be in?
FAQ
Cummins N14 questions
Is a Celect N14 the same as a Celect Plus?
No. Both are electronic N14 engines, but Celect Plus uses a newer ECM with more adjustable parameters. The ECM, wiring and calibration need to match, so tell us which one you have.
How big is the Cummins N14?
The N14 is a 14-liter (855 cubic inch) inline six-cylinder diesel.
Can I replace an N14 with an ISX?
Not as a simple swap. The ISX is a different engine with different mounts, electronics, cooling needs and emissions certification. Most owners are better served by a matching N14.
Where do I find the N14 serial number?
On the Cummins engine dataplate along with the CPL. If the dataplate is missing, the ESN is also identified on the engine block.
Does the N14 use DEF?
No. The N14 predates cooled EGR, diesel particulate filters and SCR, so it has no DEF system.
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Looking for a Cummins N14? Send the serial number.
Have your engine serial number, CPL and VIN handy. If you don't, we'll help you find them.
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