Nissan Titan

Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins Delete Kits & Tuning — 2016-2019

The 2016-2019 Nissan Titan XD came from the factory with a Cummins 5.0L V8 turbo diesel under the hood — 310 horsepower and 555 lb-ft of torque stock. That's a serious powerplant in a truck that most people overlook. If you own one, you already know it punches above its weight. The parts in this collection are built specifically for that engine: compatible delete kits, tuning hardware, and exhaust components verified for the Cummins 5.0L V8.

The Cummins 5.0L V8: What You're Working With

Cummins built this engine specifically for Nissan, and it shows in the architecture. The 5.0L V8 (internally designated the V8-320) is a purpose-built light-duty diesel with a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), a full emissions suite including EGR, DPF, and DEF/SCR systems, and a common-rail fuel injection system capable of serious pressure. Stock output is 310 HP and 555 lb-ft of torque — but there's room to grow.

The emissions systems on this engine — the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve, Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) injection system — all interact. The EGR pulls exhaust gases back into the intake. The DPF traps soot and burns it off in regen cycles. The DEF system injects urea into the exhaust stream to reduce NOx through the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst. Remove all three and you eliminate the heat cycling, carbon buildup, and forced regen burns that work against the engine over time.

Compatible Delete Kits for the 2016-2019 Titan XD

EGR Delete

An EGR delete kit removes the EGR valve, cooler, and associated plumbing from the intake circuit. On the Cummins 5.0L, EGR-related carbon buildup in the intake manifold is a known long-term reliability issue. Removing it means cleaner intake air, lower intake air temperatures, and no EGR cooler to fail down the road.

DPF Delete

The DPF delete replaces the diesel particulate filter with a straight delete pipe, eliminating exhaust restriction and putting an end to the regeneration cycles that cost you fuel and send heat back into the turbo and exhaust system. On the Titan XD, less backpressure means the VGT spools faster and your throttle response improves noticeably.

DEF / SCR Delete

The DEF system on the Titan XD includes a tank, pump, injector, and SCR catalyst. Failures in any of these components — especially the DEF heater in cold climates — trigger derate modes that limit your power output. A DEF delete removes the entire system from the equation.

Full Delete Bundle

If you're doing the EGR, DPF, and DEF all at once (the right call — partial deletes create fault code conflicts), a full delete bundle gives you everything in a single kit. One purchase, one install, one tune.

Tuning for the Cummins 5.0L V8

You need a tune to run any delete — without it, your ECM will throw fault codes for the missing emissions components and put the truck into limp mode. The EZ Lynk AutoAgent is the primary tuning solution we carry for the Titan XD platform. It connects via OBD-II port, pairs with the EZ Lynk app on your phone, and receives your delete tune over a cloud connection from a certified tuner. It also gives you live data monitoring — boost pressure, exhaust gas temperature, coolant temp — all from the app.

After a full delete tune on the Cummins 5.0L, owners commonly report 30-50 HP and 60-80 lb-ft of torque gains depending on tune level, alongside measurable improvements in fuel economy at highway speeds.

Year Compatibility

• 2016 — First model year of the Titan XD with Cummins diesel, introduced mid-cycle
• 2017 — Full model year, same Cummins 5.0L V8 platform
• 2018 — Same engine, minor trim updates
• 2019 — Final year of the Cummins diesel option in the Titan XD

Nissan discontinued the diesel option after the 2019 model year. If you're building a 2016-2019 Titan XD, verify your year before ordering — fitment is specific to these four model years.

Off-Road and Competition Use

All emissions delete parts in this collection are designed for off-road and competition use only. They are not intended for vehicles operated on public roads.

Legal Notice: Removing or tampering with emissions equipment may violate the federal Clean Air Act and state emissions regulations. Penalties can include fines up to $5,000 for individuals. Check your local and state laws before modifying emissions equipment on any vehicle driven on public roads.

The Bottom Line

The Cummins 5.0L V8 in the Titan XD is a capable diesel platform that never got the credit it deserved. 310 HP and 555 lb-ft stock is a solid foundation, and with the right delete kit and tune, you can push it harder, run it cleaner, and stop fighting the emissions systems that work against you at high mileage. We've done the work to find parts that actually fit this platform — so you don't have to.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot us a message!

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the Cummins 5.0L V8 — is it the same engine Cummins uses in Ram trucks?

No — this is a completely different engine. The V8-320 was built by Cummins exclusively for Nissan. It's a V8 configuration versus the inline-six you find in Ram trucks. Different architecture, different emissions components, different tuning access. Parts from the 6.7L Cummins platform do not cross over to the 5.0L V8, which is exactly why this collection exists.

Why did Nissan stop offering the Cummins diesel after 2019?

Nissan never publicly detailed the full reasoning, but the general read from the industry was that sales of the Titan XD diesel didn't hit their targets. The platform was positioned between a half-ton and a heavy-duty — which made sense in theory but was a tough sell against established HD trucks. The diesel got cut after the 2019 model year, which makes finding well-sorted parts for the 5.0L more important now than it was when these trucks were new.

How much power can I expect after a full delete tune on the Cummins 5.0L?

Most owners see 30-50 HP and 60-80 lb-ft of torque over stock numbers after a full delete and tune. That puts you in the neighborhood of 340-360 HP and 615-635 lb-ft depending on tune aggressiveness. The gains vary based on your specific tune level, but the throttle response improvement is something you'll notice immediately — less exhaust restriction means the VGT spools faster.

Is the DEF heater failure really that common on the Titan XD in cold weather?

It's a documented issue. DEF freezes at around 12°F, and the heater that keeps it from freezing in the tank and lines can fail — especially as these trucks age. When it fails in cold weather, you get a derate warning that limits power output. A lot of Titan XD owners in northern states have dealt with this. The DEF/SCR delete eliminates that failure point entirely.

Do I need to do the EGR, DPF, and DEF all at once, or can I phase it?

All at once is the right move. These three systems are linked in the ECM logic — pull one and leave the others, and you're fighting fault code conflicts that are difficult to tune around cleanly. A full delete bundle with one tune covers everything together. It's also more cost-effective than buying components separately and paying for multiple tune revisions.

What's the common-rail injection pressure on the Cummins 5.0L, and does a tune affect it?

The V8-320 runs a high-pressure common-rail fuel system capable of significant injection pressure — which is part of why this engine responds well to tuning. A delete tune can adjust injection timing and fueling maps to take better advantage of that system once the exhaust restrictions are removed. It's one of the reasons power gains on this platform are as consistent as they are.

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