A breakdown while driving isn’t just inconvenient – it can be dangerous if handled wrong.
Whether it’s loss of power, overheating, a blown tire, or warning lights across the dash, what you do in the first few minutes matters most.
This isn’t about panic.
It’s about control, visibility, and safety.
Diesel engine overheating is one of the most common – and most damaging – issues you can face.
What starts as a slight temperature increase can quickly turn into major engine damage if not diagnosed correctly.
If your diesel engine is overheating, identifying the root cause early is critical to preventing expensive repairs and downtime.
Continue reading Diesel Engine Overheating: How to Diagnose the ProblemThere are many possible causes of engine failure. You can see our earlier post on diagnosing engine failures, too.
Continue reading Diesel Engine Failure Diagnosis: Compression Issues
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)Look at your rocker cover: you’ll probably find your Cummins ISB engine serial number. You might also find it on the side of the gear housing. If you have a Cummins ISM engine, the serial number is on the rocker housing on the fuel pump side.
Continue reading Cummins Diesel Engine Serial NumbersIf you spend any time around diesel engines, you’ll notice something quickly:
👉 Almost all of them are turbocharged.
That’s not by accident.
While both turbochargers and superchargers are designed to increase air pressure into the engine, diesel engines overwhelmingly rely on turbochargers – and there are specific engineering reasons why.
Continue reading Why Diesel Engines Use Turbochargers Instead of SuperchargersEGR pressure ports are small, but they play a critical role in how a diesel engine manages emissions and airflow.
When they clog, it can lead to:
Cleaning them correctly matters just as much as diagnosing the issue.
Continue reading How to Clean EGR Pressure Ports in Diesel Engines (Without Causing Damage)
Cylinder head bolts don’t usually get the attention.
But on a Caterpillar C15, C15 ACERT, or 3406E, they play a critical role in engine performance and reliability.
They’re not just fasteners.
They are what keep combustion sealed.
Continue reading Caterpillar C15, C15 ACERT, 3406E Cylinder Head Bolts: Why They Matter More Than You ThinkDiesel engines are built to run – not sit.
At Highway and Heavy Parts, we regularly work with engines that come out of storage with unexpected performance issues. In many cases, the root cause isn’t a failed part: it’s what happened while the engine wasn’t running.
Whether it’s a backup truck, seasonal equipment, or a unit waiting on work, extended downtime can quietly create problems that don’t show up until the engine is put back into service.
And in many cases, those problems get misdiagnosed.
From fuel degradation to DEF crystallization and internal wear, here’s exactly what happens when a diesel engine sits too long – and what to look for before putting it back to work.
Continue reading What Happens When a Diesel Engine Sits Too Long? (Fuel, DEF, and Internal Damage Explained)
Remanufactured diesel engine parts offer a practical alternative to new OEM components. To understand their value, you first need to understand what “remanufactured” really means.
Continue reading The Real Benefits of Remanufactured Diesel Engine Parts
Diesel engines are built for durability – but excessive oil consumption is one issue that can quickly turn into a costly repair.
If you’re constantly adding oil, noticing blue smoke, or seeing a drop in performance, there’s usually an underlying mechanical reason.
In this guide, we’ll break down the 10 most common causes of excessive oil consumption in diesel engines, what each one means, and what to check before it turns into a major failure.
Continue reading 10 Common Causes of Excessive Oil Consumption in Diesel EnginesStop-and-go driving is one of the hardest operating conditions for a diesel engine.
A diesel engine is designed to run under load, reach stable operating temperature, and maintain consistent combustion conditions. In stop-and-go traffic, that rarely happens.
Instead, the engine repeatedly moves through:
Over time, this can increase wear, reduce efficiency, and shorten the life of critical components
Continue reading Why Stop-and-Go Driving Is Hard on a Diesel Engine
