Blown engine

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by Steve Ownby

I agree of course, but if I had this failure in an engine falling within the group with the possible wrist pin defect, I would want a Cummins engineer to defend their cascade of events leading to this failure. The devil is in the details and it seems that the same failure could have started with the failure of the wrist pin.

Ah yes, I see your point. Not your first Rodeo.

[select55]

Originally Posted by lmartin12

Has anyone had a problem with a 2005 Cummins ISL 400 engine blowing up with 50521 miles? The motor was in a 2006 Allegro Bus which had been serviced at RV dealerships every 6000 miles or less. The inspection report stated cylinder #2 dropped 2 valve seats. The #2 piston broke up and put impact holes in both sides of the block. Cylinder wall was damaged and both push rods were bent. There was impact damage to the cylinder head. No signs of overheating or lack of lube. Cause of failure was material failure to valve seat/head causing catastrophic failure to engine. The extended warranty issued by Interstate National Dealer Services /Star Motor Home Service would not help with replacement because the warranty calls for the oil and filter to be changed every 15000 miles or 6 month, which ever comes first. I don't know anyone who changes oil and filter every 6 months with less than 3000 miles on the engine. I have always changed when I get to 6000 miles or 2 years. This was the 3rd Cummins engine I've had and never had a problem before. It looks like the warranties are written to protect the company from having to help if there is a defect.

yes that's why one needs to read the fine print because in all reasonable normal situations regarding ISL engines one would never ever consider changing oil at 6 months. this was obviously written in by purpose so there was a almost 100% chance the warrenty people would never have to cover
you.As Far as a 2005 ISL failing there seems to be quit a few failures out there was another one on here just today same thing 2005 isl

[select55]

OP you should contact CUMMINS with engine serial number as they may help if u had wrist pin failure

quote:
Cummins dealer as there is every possibility that the recall may have indeed been involved with this catastrophic event after we described what happened to the engine. He said there is every possibility that a bad wrist pin could have made it into our motor and since the motor has only 23057 miles on it,

[lmartin12]

Originally Posted by ep120794

lmartin do you have any update? Is Cummins stepping up to cover any of the cost?

No help from Cummins.

[lmartin12]

Originally Posted by select55

OP you should contact CUMMINS with engine serial number as they may help if u had wrist pin failure

quote:
Cummins dealer as there is every possibility that the recall may have indeed been involved with this catastrophic event after we described what happened to the engine. He said there is every possibility that a bad wrist pin could have made it into our motor and since the motor has only 23057 miles on it,

The VIN # was not in the group with the bad wrist pins.

[dennis45]

Have you leaned on the insurance company any more? A dropped valve or valve seat has absolutely no relation to oil change intervals. I would press hard in this direction, even to the point of having a lawyer drop them a note. To refuse your claim on this basis is BS.

[Airstreamer6]

Does comprehensive insurance cover engine failures? If so, who needs a warranty?

[kurtsimon]

I have a 2008 Cummins ISX 525 in a Monaco motorhome that blew an exhaust valve at 56K miles. Bill was $30K, but under Cummins warranty, so I only spent $100 plus 6 weeks living in a Freightliner facility. In the repair process they went through 4 turbopumps! Anybody know if this is a rarity or do I have to worry about a recurrence. I now have 105K miles.

[tom chelbana]

Are you calling the turbo a turbopump?

[kurtsimon]

Yes, apologies. (I once worked on liquid rocket engines that indeed had turbopumps)

Kurt

[WILDEBILL308]

How did they decide they had 4 bad turbos? What was bad about them?
Bill

[JMonroe]

Originally Posted by Airstreamer6

Does comprehensive insurance cover engine failures? If so, who needs a warranty?

Standard insurance will not cover mechanical failures.

Cummins recommends a 6 month change interval for our new ISX too, and I can't get any explanation out of them other than, "yes, that is our recommendation".

I've been having regular service done once per year, we typically average 6 to 7k miles per year. The lion's share of our mileage is added between April and October and I've always had the service done toward the end of October. If I have to change it out again April or May the fresh oil will have less than 1k miles on it. Nothing but wasteful.

[kurtsimon]

Cummins didn't find out that the valve had shattered until long after they replaced the turbocharger which had failed with the valve failure (the failure code said "turbo actuator failed"). They replaced the turbocharger and blew that one. Then they tried a turbocharger with actuator and fired it up and blew that one too. So then they disassembled the engine replacing valves, rockers, and bearings, replaced the turbocharger, and fired it up again and blew that one also. So they completely disassembled the engine, cleaned the last of the valve fragments out, put a new turbocharger on, and now it works.

[WILDEBILL308]

Originally Posted by kurtsimon

Cummins didn't find out that the valve had shattered until long after they replaced the turbocharger which had failed with the valve failure (the failure code said "turbo actuator failed"). They replaced the turbocharger and blew that one. Then they tried a turbocharger with actuator and fired it up and blew that one too. So then they disassembled the engine replacing valves, rockers, and bearings, replaced the turbocharger, and fired it up again and blew that one also. So they completely disassembled the engine, cleaned the last of the valve fragments out, put a new turbocharger on, and now it works.

I think if I was that shop manager I would be talking to some mechanics. Hopefully you are good to go now.
Bill