The term high mileage gets such a bad rap. High mileage triggers negative perceptions of low re-sale value and diminishing returns. This phrase that brings instant bad reputation and shame is most often a negative descriptor of a vehicle. Whatever you do, never say high mileage, because high mileage means on-the-verge-of-breaking, worn out, and going-to-fail.

Cummins disagrees and thinks that high mileage is something of which to be proud. Cummins is so proud of its hard-working, dependable diesel engines that it created the Cummins High Mileage club in 2010. Since then, the club has welcomed over 20,000 members with Cummins-powered vehicles or RVs that have crested the 100,000-mile mark. Some members have even surpassed the million-mile mark, a true testament to engine durability and owner loyalty (and a heck of a lot of driving). Cummins-powered vehicles include RAM trucks, the Nissan Titan XD pickup with the 5.0-liter V8, and anything with a Cummins Repowered crate engine, for example.

Every 100,000 miles, members can order die-cast Cummins grille badges to commemorate their mileage milestones. Hey, there’s a club and badge for everything, right? Cummins was doing this before it was cool.

The relationship between Cummins and (then) Chrysler goes back some 35 years, with the first 5.9-liter Cummins-powered Dodge Ram making its public debut in 1989 with 160 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. From these humble beginnings, Ram now claims its Cummins-equipped trucks—the first in the industry to hit 1,000 lb-ft of torque—can tow up to 37,090 pounds and haul 7,680 pounds. The 6.7-liter Cummins High-Output makes 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of torque.

Side note: May 12 is apparently National Odometer Day, a day for enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike to remember the odometer (and maybe finally install one in the project truck). Another side note: Cummins celebrated its 105-year anniversary on February 6, 2024.

How To Make Your Diesel Last Longer?

Looking to spin those numbers on the odometer? There’s no guarantee your Cummins will go the distance, but there are things you can do to help it hit that 350,000-mile mark and then some. It mostly comes down to diligent maintenance and driving habits.

• Routine maintenance according to manufacturer recommendations: change oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid regularly; change air/fuel filters regularly.
• Keep fluids topped off.
• Address warning lights immediately to prevent further damage.
• Choose quality oils and filters.
• Use high-quality diesel fuel and beware that diesel fuel becomes more problematic as it ages.
• Avoid habitual towing/hauling over capacity.
• Drive like the patient person you are and not the angry madman you can become.
• Control temperatures (coolant, EGT, and engine oil), as heat is a killer.
• Allow your Cummins to warm up.
• Don’t habitually run on an empty fuel tank.
• Keep your Cummins clean (but be careful not to damage anything in the process).