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Smitty77 · 01-28-2020, 12:05 PM

Just was looking at an 08 coach with an ISM500 in it, believe it is a 2006 era ISM500 - but did not confirm that. (Would have checked the build date/configuration if the rest of the coach past inspection... We saw enough to not pursue it for mostly aesthetics reasons (Meaning once again, the DW could care less what engine was in the back - it's all about galley counter space and interior appearance to her

!)...

My question, as this coach had had the Turbo replaced also. (No receipt to read, the owner did not know if it was 'hot side out' failure, or if it had problem son the 'cool/intake side'...).

Curious about three things on the ISM of this era, and thought it fit in this thread that I had remembered reading:
1) Are any aftermarket turbo's available, that may have longer survival experience? (I did look quickly, for example Parsley Diesel did not have a Turbo for the ISM. Nor did Pittsburgh Diesel...)

2) Ugly Fix - Is available for this era ISM. They talk in their description about "stops the Hesitation, Surging, Coughing, Black Smoke" and "Turbo Lag" goes away. -- Opinions on this reduces the impact on cavitation from the intake side of he Turbo, and thus possibly extending Turbo life...??

3) Parsley Diesel does have an After Market Exhaust manifold. Easier breathing and back pressure for faster spooling and a more power generation. Assume the reduction on back pressure could also assist on Turbo life(? really two questions in regards on opinions on the Exhaust Manifold. So that was question 1.). But they also say 75-100 degrees. And thus question two, cooler temps should help on turbo life too(?)... (Opinions on the easier 20% breathing and lower temps enhancement of turbo life?).

Just curious at this time, and thought I'd ask those who have had their ISM's for awhile what their thoughts are.. ISM450 or 500's.

I also assume it is safe to say, that not all ISM450/500's have ISM failures

! (At least, I hope so!!!).

TIA, and best to all,
Smitty

tom chelbana · 01-28-2020, 06:34 PM

The ugly fix is available till the end of production of the 500 ISM engine which we had and used on our coach.

Smitty77 · 01-30-2020, 03:32 PM

Thanks Tom - Any opinions on if the UF's basically smoothing out the 'surging, coughing and turbo lag' - if it softens he wear and tear on the Turbo itself? And then hopefully, adds to a reduction of ISM Turbo Failures that his thread talks about?

It is these accumulation of items feeding or following or controlling the Turbo in the ISM, that I'm wondering if it might reduce the reported failures here?

And I've struck out finding any aftermarket turbo's for the ISM(?)... Maybe they exist and I missed them. But if a better quality Turbo is available - then that would also help when one fails, to keep from being less likely again.

Fuzzy thinking (Or as my wife calls it Scotch Influenced!!!!)!

Best to you and all,
Smitty

Mr_D · 01-30-2020, 03:38 PM

I installed the Ugly Fix on my ISX 650. The only difference I noted was the DPF was half full of soot and cracked in 4,000 miles. Cost me about $4,000 to fix.

Wild Card · 01-30-2020, 04:25 PM

The ugly fix is a joke. It causes more problems then without.

To understand why I say that you would have to understand the 3 dimensional ECM mapping programs. You would have to understand the modes the engine runs in when this happend and when that happens, then if this happens, when that happens this happens. You would have to understand flow to, through and around egr and the boost pressure measurements.

Telling the ECM your running at high altitude all the time causes problems itself.

Find a custom tuner for the ISM, not some gadget for $150 that is supposed to solve your problems.