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
The cylinder head on a Caterpillar C10 or C12 isn’t just a casting – it’s where combustion, airflow, and cooling all come together.
And when it fails, it usually doesn’t fail quietly.
Cracked heads, worn valve seats, and injector cup issues are some of the most common – and most expensive – problems we see on these engines. If you’re already chasing coolant loss, misfires, or compression issues, there’s a good chance the cylinder head is involved.
Continue reading Caterpillar C10 and C12 Cylinder Head Failure: Cracking, Valve Seat Wear, and When Replacement Is Required
If you’ve ever dealt with a diesel fuel system issue, you know how quickly things can escalate. What starts as a minor problem – like a slight misfire, rough idle, or extra smoke – can quickly turn into major engine damage if it’s not addressed early.
That’s what makes modern diesel fuel systems so challenging.
They’re not just sensitive – they’re precise to the point where even small disruptions can create serious problems. When something in the system changes – even slightly – it directly impacts combustion. If you’re already dealing with fuel system issues or looking to prevent them, you can explore our full range of diesel fuel system components designed for reliability and performance.
Continue reading Why Diesel Fuel Systems Are So Sensitive (And How Small Issues Turn Into Major Repairs)
When a heavy-duty diesel engine goes down, the last thing you need is a dead end. Too often, repair shops and fleet managers hit a roadblock in their normal supply chain and end up scouring the internet, hoping to find the right component to get a truck back on the road.
That is exactly why Highway and Heavy Parts (HHP) was built. We saw a shifting industry where parts suppliers were no longer providing true service, leaving mechanics and owner-operators to figure things out on their own. HHP was created to be the reliable, knowledgeable voice on the other side of your search – a real resource providing solutions, not just a transactional storefront.
Continue reading Highway and Heavy Parts: America’s Trusted Diesel Engine Parts Supplier
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
Turbochargers are one of the most critical components in a diesel engine.
But not all turbochargers are built – or supported – the same.
Jrone has become a recognized name in the global turbocharger market, supplying components, assemblies, and repair solutions for both automotive and heavy-duty diesel applications.
Understanding where Jrone fits – and how their turbochargers are built – can help you make a better decision when it comes to replacement or repair.
Continue reading Jrone Turbochargers: What They Are, How They’re Built, and Where They Fit in Diesel Applications
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.
Cummins didn’t just evolve injector systems to improve performance – they fundamentally changed how engines fail, how they’re diagnosed, and how repairs need to be approached.
From mechanical injectors to XPI common rail systems, each generation introduced new advantages – but also new failure modes.
If you’re diagnosing fuel system issues on a Cummins engine, understanding these differences is critical.
Continue reading Why Cummins Injector System Upgrades Change Failure Patterns (Mechanical vs CELECT vs HPI vs XPI)
You finished the inframe. 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 Inframe Rebuild Failure: Why Your New Liners Aren’t Sealing (And How to Fix It)
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 FailureWhen a Cummins ISX starts running rough, vibrating, or misfiring, most people don’t immediately think about the crankshaft.
That’s the problem.
Because by the time the crankshaft shows obvious symptoms, the damage is usually already happening inside the engine – and it doesn’t take long before it turns into a full rebuild.
If you’re dealing with vibration, low oil pressure, or unusual engine noise, this is one issue you don’t want to ignore.
Continue reading Cummins ISX Crankshaft Failure: Signs, Causes, and What to Do Before It Costs You an EngineView self help and informational diesel engine videos in Highway and Heavy Parts extensive video library.
