Cummins ISL diesel RV engine question

[casanford]

I'm in the market for a preowned Class A Winnebago or Itasca diesel RV in the 36-40ft range. I read blog comments about the Cummins ISL engine that have a defect which can lead to a major engine blowup or repair and that all Cummins did was to install a warning light versus doing an engine recall or repair. Has anyone had any first hand experience with this issue?

[azloafer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by casanford I'm in the market for a preowned Class A Winnebago or Itasca diesel RV in the 36-40ft range. I read blog comments about the Cummins ISL engine that have a defect which can lead to a major engine blowup or repair and that all Cummins did was to install a warning light versus doing an engine recall or repair. Has anyone had any first hand experience with this issue?

Last year I was looking at coaches and one of them (just can't recall which Monaco it was) had the Cummins engine that was eligible for the warning light install. I contacted Cummins and spoke to a fellow regarding the situation. I was told that the light would work as a warning only and would not really fix anything. After we talked for awhile he admitted that if he was in the market for a coach he would pass on this one because the engine repair could run $28,000 without a warranty. Of course, an extended warranty company might pay if they didn't know about the problem, but I chose to not take a chance!

No matter what, before buying a coach check it out on this site: Recalls.gov I learned that too late on one of my prior coaches which was a orphan. (had recalls but went bankrupt) Happy travels, Joe

[Ann n Gene]

Have no first hand knowledge. You would likely get more and better response by posting under the cummins engine thread farther down.

[casanford]

I'm in the market for a preowned Class A Winnebago or Itasca diesel RV in the 36-40ft range. I read blog comments about the Cummins ISL engine that have a defect which can lead to a major engine blowup or repair and that all Cummins did was to install a warning light versus doing an engine recall or repair. Has anyone had any first hand experience with this issue?

[RustyJC]

Here's the RECALL

Rusty

[casanford]

Thank you for providing the link to the engine recall. I can't afford to make a $28,000 mistake.

[ua40j]

ISLs of the 2005/2006 era had a failure mode that could shove a piston rod through a block (bad wrist pins). Here's a link to the effected engines:

FMCA Community > ISL Engine Failure

Personally, I don't see how the light would let one know if a wrist pin failed and your piston rod was about to go sideways.

I don't think I would steer clear of these engines. If the recall was performed they should be just fine. Buying a used coach, I would check all the records; but I would also call Cummins with the engine serial number and have them verify if the recall was applied.

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by casanford I'm in the market for a preowned Class A Winnebago or Itasca diesel RV in the 36-40ft range. I read blog comments about the Cummins ISL engine that have a defect which can lead to a major engine blowup or repair and that all Cummins did was to install a warning light versus doing an engine recall or repair. Has anyone had any first hand experience with this issue?

Casanford,

The engines were used by several mfg's and start with serial #46543077 to 46603939. I would definatly pass on this one. So no matter which brand of MH that you are looking at, check the engine serial #.

[azloafer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ua40j ISLs of the 2005/2006 era had a failure mode that could shove a piston rod through a block (bad wrist pins). Here's a link to the effected engines: FMCA Community > ISL Engine Failure Personally, I don't see how the light would let one know if a wrist pin failed and your piston rod was about to go sideways. I don't think I would steer clear of these engines. If the recall was performed they should be just fine. Buying a used coach, I would check all the records; but I would also call Cummins with the engine serial number and have them verify if the recall was applied.

The Cummins rep told us that the only recall was for the pressure gauge which would indicate the need to immediately stop the engine. He said that if the engine were to last until after the warranty was up the owner would be out of luck as far as a free fix. Now, right or wrong, this is what we were told. I had the mechanic at the dealership get the engine serial number and sure enough it was a bad one. We chose not to buy because of what the Cummins rep explained. So were we misinformed? Why did the rep say to pass on that coach with that engine problem if it would be fixed without charge? There is something missing here (?) Joe

[RustyJC]

AFAIK, the recall only involved installing the crankcase overpressure sensor and light. There was no wholesale changeout of connecting rods and/or piston pins.

Rusty

[Gary RVRoamer]

Cummins claims that very few of the engines in that serial number range will have the bad wrist pins, so they were unwilling to go to the expense to tear them all down to see which ones might be bad. Thus the warning light instead of an engine rebuild. I've only heard of a few of them actually having this problem, and the ones I heard of were covered under warranty (5 years). And it is likely (but obviously not guaranteed) that a wrist pin failure would already have occurred on any engine that had the bad ones. A very lightly driven one, though...

[buck62]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyJC AFAIK, the recall only involved installing the crankcase overpressure sensor and light. There was no wholesale changeout of connecting rods and/or piston pins. Rusty

If there is a warning light installed on the motrohome you are considering buying then walk away and look at other motorhomes. The failure rate was felt to be low on motorhomes due to the low mileage we drive and Cummins decided to add the warning light and not replace the connecting rods with suspect wrist pin defects. You are right about being an expensive repair if the piston goes through the block if you cannot get stopped in time after the light comes on. When the factory service rep tells you they would not want to take a chance on a suspect engine then don't walk but, RUN away.

[ShapeShifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ua40j I don't think I would steer clear of these engines. If the recall was performed they should be just fine. Buying a used coach, I would check all the records; but I would also call Cummins with the engine serial number and have them verify if the recall was applied.

I would agree with you, IF the recall actually fixed the problem, but it doesn't. My understanding is that when a bad wrist pin starts to act up, the first symptom is unusual piston movement that allow gasses to blow by into the crankcase, increasing the crankcase pressure. So, rather than fix the real problem, the recall only adds a crankcase pressure sensor and a warning light. It would appear that the thought is if the wrist pin starts to fail, hopefully there will be an early warning and the light will turn on so that the driver can quickly shut down the engine before there is a catastrophic failure.

This recall does not fix the underlying problem, just like the various recent refrigerator recalls don't fix the underlying problem of fatigue cracks causing ammonia leaks which result in fires. Instead of fixing the real problem, the refrigerator recalls only add a baffle to reduce the chances of a fire once a leak happens, and a temperature sensor to shut down the system if it gets too hot.

The refrigerator recall doesn't prevent a leak, just like the Cummins recall doesn't prevent a blown engine.

I'm very happy with my Cummins ISL engine, and wouldn't hesitate to get another. But I would most definitely not want one that is on the recall list, even if it has had the recall service done.

[Route 66]

Quote:

I would agree with you, IF the recall actually fixed the problem, but it doesn't. My understanding is that when a bad wrist pin starts to act up, the first symptom is unusual piston movement that allow gasses to blow by into the crankcase, increasing the crankcase pressure. So, rather than fix the real problem, the recall only adds a crankcase pressure sensor and a warning light. It would appear that the thought is if the wrist pin starts to fail, hopefully there will be an early warning and the light will turn on so that the driver can quickly shut down the engine before there is a catastrophic failure.

I agree.

This is the result of a failed wrist pin.




The engines in the affected serial number range were all replaced when they were used in emergency vehicles. The MH owners had to roll the dice.