Sorry to hear about the EGR...
A few tips from reading RAWZE's site, to reduce the impact of living with EGR's (Most of the conversation was on the ISX, but suspect the ISM500 this would apply to too
!):
-Avoid extended idling as much as possible
-Don't lug the engines
-Some advocate when getting close to stopping from a day of travels, to down shift to get the RPM's up. The comments were that the higher fuel rates at the higher RPM levels, burn a bit hotter, and the hotter exhaust dumping into th EGR's 'could/might' help burn off soot build up
- Running an additive with Cetane, can result in a more efficient burn of the fuel, reducing EGR soot build up
- RAWZE is very big on doing what he calls EGR Tune Up's. (Easier to don on a Semi, with good engine access, then it is in an RV
!)... Clean or replace the MAP sensor is one of the best preventative recommendations he makes. (If the MAP sensor is dirty/sooted, it can communicate info the engine ECM that dumps in more fuel then his actually called for, which then results in a possibility of more soot build up (And lower MPG) in the ERG (Due a search on 'EGR Tune Up' on google and see what pop's up.)
- In the same though as adding Cetane to the fuel tank (Which with our much lower miles driven the a commercial trucker, is not too cost prohibitive for us, and some feel with a tad higher MPG from the Cetane.), some are also now using the Pittsburg Power's additive Max Mileage. (I'm considering running a year with this, to see if I detect any slow changes to engine behavior. I do run with Optilube Summer Blend in each tank, which has both Cetane and Cleaners and Lubrcisty. But have no problem trying other products out too
!).
All that being said. I believe you now have to go to Canada or Mexico to find the Ugly Fix(?) module.
IF you consider going this route, it's been recommend on some sites that I've read, you only do it with a healthy EGR, one with the door that is closing properly. So if you've done a recent EGR swap out - well, might be a good time to try it... (And of course, wear your bib boy pants and assume the risk of responsibility of bucking federal and some state regulations
!).
And an opinion. Many Cummins facilities will just swap out an EGR, vs cleaning out the Tube, the sensors, and door maintenance... As with many things now aways, if the computer tells them something is bad - they're in a Remove and Replace syndrome vs Remove and repair the faulty part(s)...
We now have an ISX600 EGR only CM870 build engine. Just turned 52K on her recently. When we reach 75K, I plan to have Coburg Cummins remove the EGR and clean the tube, and probably just go ahead and replace the sensors and door flapper. By seeing how dirty the engine is, with 40K of unknown fuel and driving style, and 35K of my fuel and additive and driving style - I'll get a feel for how 'sooted up' the EGR is. IF it's not too bad, I'll just keep on living with the EGR as is, after maintenance. IF it is heavily sooted up, well, I might do a trip to Canada to see the scenery... Perhaps shopping for a few parts as I travel.
ALL OF THE ABOVE, is from my memory form deep diving over 12-14 months ago, so fact check. And also understand, some of the input is from OTR Drivers and a few RV owners too - that are like me, non professional mechanics... So sometimes a grain of salt comes with theirs, and mine, comments
!
Good luck, and please share what you find out!!!
Smitty
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