The Cummins ISL G natural gas engine is built for a different type of combustion.
And that difference is exactly why the cylinder head fails the way it does.
Unlike diesel engines, ISL G failures are not typically caused by pressure.
They are caused by heat, material fatigue, and valve seat wear.
Continue reading Cummins ISL G Cylinder Head Failures: Why Valve Seats Drop and How to Prevent It
You finished the in-frame. New liners, pistons, rings – everything looks right.
But now you’re seeing:
This isn’t uncommon on Cummins ISX engines – and it usually comes down to one issue:
Improper liner protrusion and ring seating during install.
If you don’t get this right, your rebuild won’t last – no matter how good your parts are.
Continue reading Cummins ISX In-Frame Rebuild Failure: Why Your New Liners Aren’t Sealing (And How to Fix It)
Not all engine noise is the same.
A ticking sound and a knocking sound may seem similar, but they point to very different issues inside your diesel engine.
In many cases, both originate in the valve train system – and both can escalate into major engine damage if ignored.
Continue reading Diesel Engine Ticking vs Knocking: How to Diagnose Valve Train Noise Before It Causes Damage
Belt noise on a diesel engine is not just an annoyance.
It is often an early warning sign of misalignment, bearing failure, or improper belt tension.
Ignoring it can lead to:
Proper diagnosis requires understanding how the belt system operates under load.
Continue reading How to Diagnose Diesel Engine Belt Noise: Identifying Pulley, Tensioner, and Accessory Failures
Dirty or clogged diesel fuel injectors are one of the most common – and most misunderstood – fuel system problems.
A lot of people think it’s just a restriction issue. Spray some cleaner, maybe swap a filter, and you’re good to go.
But in reality, injector contamination leads to precision failure inside the injector itself – and once that starts, performance drops fast.
Before you try a quick fix, it’s important to understand what’s actually happening inside your injectors.
Continue reading Dirty Diesel Fuel Injectors: What’s Really Happening Inside (And Why Cleaning Isn’t Enough)
The oil pump in your Detroit Diesel Series 60 isn’t just another component – it’s the heart of your lubrication system. When it starts to fail, the damage doesn’t stay isolated. It spreads fast.
Low oil pressure, bearing wear, and even full engine failure can all trace back to one root issue: inconsistent oil delivery.
If you’re working on a Series 60, understanding how the oil pump fails – and how to catch it early – can be the difference between a simple repair and a full rebuild.
Continue reading Detroit Diesel Series 60 Oil Pump Failure: Causes, Oil Pressure Loss, and When to Replace
The cam follower in a Cummins L10 is a small component with a very large job.
It directly transfers motion from the camshaft to the valve train.
And when it fails, it doesn’t just affect performance – it can lead to catastrophic engine damage.
In the Cummins L10 valve train, the camshaft does not directly actuate the valves.
Instead, motion is transferred through a cam follower (cam lever with roller).
This component:
The roller rides directly on the cam lobe, making this a high-load, high-contact stress interface.
The Cummins L10 uses a roller-style follower to reduce friction and wear.
Compared to flat tappets, roller followers:
However, this design introduces a different failure risk — roller bearing failure.
The cam-to-roller interface experiences extreme contact pressure.
This is a classic Hertzian contact stress scenario, where:
Under normal conditions, a hydrodynamic oil film separates the surfaces.
But when lubrication is compromised, metal-to-metal contact occurs.
Cam follower failures typically start small but escalate quickly.
Common failure modes include:
Once the roller stops rotating:
This is where failure becomes severe.
A seized roller creates:
This leads to:
Eventually, this can damage:
The cam follower depends entirely on proper lubrication.
Oil must:
Failure causes related to lubrication include:
Without lubrication, failure accelerates rapidly.
A failing cam follower rarely fails alone.
It creates a chain reaction:
In severe cases, this can lead to:
Early detection can prevent major damage.
Watch for:
These symptoms often appear before catastrophic failure.
Cam followers should always be inspected during an overhaul.
Key checks include:
Reusing worn components increases the risk of immediate failure.
Replacement is recommended when:
It is often best practice to replace followers when replacing the camshaft.
If you’re rebuilding your engine or diagnosing valve train issues, cam followers should not be overlooked.
At Highway and Heavy Parts:
The cam follower may seem minor.
But it directly affects:
Ignoring it can lead to major repairs.
Proper function depends on correct operation across all components.
👉 Maintain Proper Oil Quality And Pressure
👉 Inspect Valve Train Components During Service
👉 Replace Worn Components Before Failure Occurs
Call 844-304-7688 to speak with a diesel parts specialist
or visit highwayandheavyparts.com to find the right rebuild kit for your engine.
From diagnosis to delivery, Highway and Heavy Parts has your back.
Blow-by is not just a symptom.
It is a direct result of combustion pressure escaping past the piston assembly.
On a Detroit Diesel DD15, controlling blow-by comes down to one thing:
How well the piston, rings, and liner seal under load.
If that seal fails, everything else starts to follow.
Continue reading DD15 Diesel Engine Pistons: How They Control Blow-By and What Causes Failure
The turbocharger on a Detroit Diesel Series 60 14L engine does more than add power.
It controls airflow, and airflow controls combustion.
When the turbo isn’t performing correctly, the entire engine starts to fall out of balance.
Continue reading Detroit Diesel Series 60 14L Turbocharger: Symptoms, Failure Causes, and When to ReplaceIf you’re working on a Cummins ISX15 and run into fault code 0731 (camshaft and crankshaft misalignment) after an overhaul, it can be frustrating.
Especially when:
👉 Yet the code is still active.
Continue reading Cummins ISX15 Camshaft and Crankshaft Misalignment Code 0731 After OverhaulThe difference is not just speed.
It is how the engine is loaded, how often it changes state, and how long it stays in stable operating conditions.
City driving introduces:
Highway driving introduces:
These differences directly affect internal engine conditions.
Continue reading City Driving vs Highway Driving: Engine Impact Explained
Head gasket problems on the Caterpillar C15 are rarely random.
They are almost always tied to:
If you’re seeing coolant, oil, or pressure issues – especially toward the left side or rear of the engine – you’re already looking in the right place.
Continue reading Caterpillar C15 Head Gasket Problems: Failure Points, Diagnosis, and ReplacementView self help and informational diesel engine videos in Highway and Heavy Parts extensive video library.
