In our quest for great running Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel Engines, we are always looking for ways to eliminate problems and improve fuel mileage and longevity, along with performance.  We now have a new product for the ISX Cummins Engine from 2003-present.  If your ISX has suffered from numerous VG (Variable Geometry) turbocharger failures and the engine is out of warranty, then this cure just may be for you.  It’s a new ported and ceramic-coated exhaust manifold we have been working on for the past year and it will fit over the EGR cooler.  This exhaust manifold will allow the engine to gain ¼ mpg and lower the exhaust gas temperature 125 degrees.  So, you can stay with the EGR System and utilize a non-VG non-waste-gated Holset turbocharger.  Now, the expensive $3,000 VG turbo will be replaced with a trouble-free turbo costing $1,800 that will NOT fail you like the VG turbo does.  The cost of the new ISX manifold is $1,650 and will be available sometime in July 2012.  This picture of the exhaust manifold is our first prototype and the ECM will have to be calibrated to accept this turbo, so it’s not something you can bolt on in your shop:  You will have to come to our location in Western Pennsylvania.  A word of caution:  There are problems with cast iron from China and if you are looking at an exhaust manifold and it’s NOT made in America, be wary:  You will have problems with it.

Crankshaft Dampers:  For some reason, many of you owner-operators do not want to take the time or spend the money to change your crankshaft damper.  THIS IS A WEAR ITEM AND MUST BE CHANGED ON OR BEFORE 500,000 miles.  The silicone in the damper will get hard and not allow the damper to function.  Two weeks ago, I drove a W-900 KW powered by an ISX 565 Cummins and the 18-speed transmission sounded like the gears were worn out.  There were 665,000 miles on this truck and the original damper was still on the crankshaft.  We installed a new Made in America Vibratech Damper and a Pittsburgh Power Mercury Balancer and the worn out 18-speed transmission was now smooth and quiet.  Needless to say, the transmission WAS NOT worn out:  The crankshaft damper was worn out.

If you purchase a new damper from a truck dealership or the engine manufacturer, they are MADE IN CHINA, and ours are MADE IN THE USA.  Yes, there is a difference, and if I take the time to educate you about crankshaft dampers I would appreciate your business.  It does bother me when I take the time to help owner-operators and then they purchase the parts somewhere else.  It’s the same as me asking you to pull a load of freight for me for no money.

Detroit Diesel DD4 ECMs have a battery that holds the memory and when new, this battery has 4 volts.  As the years go by, this voltage drops, and when it gets to about 0.5 volts, strange things will happen to your truck.  The cruise control may not work, the coolant temperature gauge will become erratic, mileage logs will go to zero and show January 1, 1985.  Once the battery fails, the engine will stop running in about 1 to 2 months’ time.  SO, if your 1999-2002 DD4 Detroit has any of these symptoms, you need to get another ECM or purchase a rebuilt ECM.  We can help you with this problem.  Any time we are working on your DD4 ECM, we will advise you of the battery remaining.

Many of you know I use Lucas Oil Products and Forrest Lucas is a personal friend of mine.  He has told me that if he can’t make the best of a product, he just won’t make it.  Well, last year, he made a dream come true for me:  I love freshly waxed vehicles; cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even my John Deere.  I have tried many of the spray-on waxes that you apply to your vehicle when it’s wet and haven’t been impressed.  So now comes along Lucas Slick Mist, and I have to tell you:  This stuff really works!  It takes a few applications to really see the shine, and now I Slick Mist everything:  Cars, trucks motorcycles, snowmobiles, and even the John Deere lawn tractor!  I keep this stuff at home by the case and when going to a friend’s house for dinner, I take a bottle of Slick Mist instead of wine.  The gearheads love it!

Written By;  Bruce Mallinson, Pittsburgh Power Inc.,  3600 S. Noah Dr.,  Saxonburg, Pa. 16056.  Phone 724-360-4080. Email: bruce@pittsburghpower.com