When the camshaft fails in your Cummins ISX and you’re looking at an expensive repair, we know you’re looking for the best option out there.
That’s why Highway and Heavy Parts carries only the highest quality camshafts for your ISX engine. There are multiple points of failure associated with this camshaft and even more if you have the dual cam engine.
Today we’re taking a look at the changes for the dual cam design compared to the single cam setup.
Dual Camshaft or Single Camshaft for The Cummins ISX?
An important thing to know about the Cummins ISX is that they made two different engines, a dual cam and a single cam. One of the benefits of a single cam system is the reduction of failure points in your engine.
The dual cam is the earlier model. It had one camshaft that operated the valvetrain and another camshaft that ran the injectors. This was an area of heavy wear and created possible failure points in the engine.
When the engine went to a single cam with high pressure injection they eliminated this failure point. Because of the design of the injection system and the immense amount of pressure, the load on the injection camshaft was heavier than the load on the valve cam.
Removing that camshaft really removed a likely point of failure. Similarly, the change in design, removed a heavy component out of the engine, and it took a lot of horsepower to drive it. So the move to a single cam engine actually made the engine more efficient.
The move to a high pressure common rail system also allows the engine to better meet emission standards. You’re getting more precise timing with this system to increase your efficiency and your fuel economy.
Common Cummins ISX Camshaft Points of Failure
As we mentioned on the dual cam engine, a common failure point is the injection cam itself. The injection cam also presented somewhat of a problem when it was taken out. It’s a unique camshaft, in that it’s hollow and it feeds oil from the inside out.
Debris can build up inside the cam, and when it’s removed and set on the ground this build-up can break free. The resulting debris can clog the oil holes and cause problems with the cam bearings. So this is another problem that the single cam high-pressure system addressed.
The dual cam engines also had some wear points with the rollers and rocker levers. On this setup the injector cam runs a lever and the lever pushes on the injector plunger, which actuates the injector itself. All of these points are opportunities for further wear and failure, whether that be pitting in the cam or the rollers sliding.
When the design went to a single cam system, all the failure points were removed as well. Perhaps the most common failure issue is going to be pitting or erosion, which is a result of wear that would come from the roller that rides on the camshaft.
Avoiding ISX Camshaft Failures
Oil change intervals are extremely important as well since extended oil change intervals or coolant dilution into the oil will cause wear on the camshaft and camshaft bearings.
It’s important to know that the dual cam injector camshaft lives horizontally. Because it’s oil fed through the center of the camshaft it spins. So a lot of companies use what’s called a centrifugal oil filter. The idea is the filter is going to use centrifugal force to pull the stuff that’s not supposed to be in the filter to the outside. This results in oil passages starting to get reduced size, and because of that it’s solid buildup. This can result in a spun cam bearing on start up.
When the cam is removed for repairs, a lot of times it’s set on its end, and even a small impact can cause some of the material to break loose inside. When it’s put back into the engine it can block oil passages which result in a cam bushing spinning, which ruins the head and the cam.
To prevent this though, a soft plug on this particular cam needs to be removed. Inside of the camshaft should be cleaned, and then the plugs should be replaced.
Cummins ISX Camshaft Installation
Cummins has a service parts topic out on the installation of these camshafts, which we recommend taking a look at. It’s important to note the proper way to clean these camshafts, and that you might need special tools like a timing wedge to help fine tune the engine to run more efficiently.
The Best Camshafts for Your Cummins ISX
We’re excited to offer the best camshafts for your Cummins ISX engine, including one newly available.
We only offer high quality components for your engine. Highway and Heavy Parts has a huge selection of parts for your diesel engine, and we sourced components from the best manufacturers to ensure you’re getting the top quality parts you want.
Our on-staff ASE certified technicians can quickly analyze and diagnose your engine problems. We work with you to better understand your issues, to make sure you’re getting the right parts for your application. All our parts come with an industry leading warranty, and we can get those components to you fast!
Our mission is to take the risk out of buying diesel engine parts for our customers. So if you’re looking for affordable OEM quality diesel engine parts with expert advice on the other end of the line, we’re here to help.
If you have any questions about your camshaft, you can call our ASE Certified parts technicians at 844-304-7688 or you can chat with us online at highwayandheavyparts.com.
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