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Cummins ISX15

Mvanhelden

Mvanhelden

26 Wheeler
Joined
May 31, 2020
Member Number
1703
Messages
302
Loc
Humboldt County
If someone were to delete an ISX-15 550hp 2011. What’s the best route? I’m talking DPF SCR EGR. I’d like to keep the VGT for the Jakes. I googled what I can, and most says NEXIQ usb kit and the like. But a lot of people say doing the delete fucks the jakes up. I’d like to keep the turbo doing what it does, the jakes are powerful right now, and I need that hauling really heavy with the terrain I do. Before I got into a heavy truck forum, thought I’d ask here…
 
I've had a '12 deleted. No, deleting it doesn't fuck up the engine brake because it is actuated with the cams. The vgt turbo aids in braking by restricting exhaust flow as well, but upgrading the turbo really doesn't hurt engine braking too much.

You have to delete the egr cooler, not just block it off. It will absolutely fail and either dump exhaust into the coolant or let coolant pump into the engine. Other than that, its just turning off the parameters in the ecm to stop it from doing a regen. Then removing and hollowing out the filters so that they dont become clogged.

I would probably only use factory tunes for increased power. Apparently anything over about 35-38psi of boost is not great on the engine, I can't remember why now.
 
HillbillyDeluxe said:
I've had a '12 deleted. No, deleting it doesn't fuck up the engine brake because it is actuated with the cams. The vgt turbo aids in braking by restricting exhaust flow as well, but upgrading the turbo really doesn't hurt engine braking too much.

You have to delete the egr cooler, not just block it off. It will absolutely fail and either dump exhaust into the coolant or let coolant pump into the engine. Other than that, its just turning off the parameters in the ecm to stop it from doing a regen. Then removing and hollowing out the filters so that they dont become clogged.

I would probably only use factory tunes for increased power. Apparently anything over about 35-38psi of boost is not great on the engine, I can't remember why now.
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Not looking for power, the truck is just getting on the old side, and was retrofitted for DEF and SCR years ago. It’s getting annoying with the service codes. And replacing the truck isn’t an option, $300k. It’s setup perfect, low miles. Just want to eliminate the bullshit and run it a million miles like they used to.
 
Mvanhelden said:
Not looking for power, the truck is just getting on the old side, and was retrofitted for DEF and SCR years ago. It’s getting annoying with the service codes. And replacing the truck isn’t an option, $300k. It’s setup perfect, low miles. Just want to eliminate the bullshit and run it a million miles like they used to.
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How does that work with the ca nonsense? Do you have to reinstall it for some time or inspection or is it just a random maybe once a decade roadside pull over?
 
OP will be going to federal fuck me in the ass prison for life for fucking with am emissions system on an HDT in Cali.


:flipoff2:
 
Every turbo has a "efficiency" chart, this is the boost to backpressure ratio. Depending on wheel size, housing size, etc this determines the boost to backpressure ratio, ideally 1:1 or less is ideal but you give and take on this ratio/number for quick spool or high rpm power. Example of this would be 15psi of backpressure or "drive pressure" gives 15psi of boost pressure for a 1 to 1 ratio. The factory vgt turbo is typically a little swayed for lower rpm quick spool versus higher rpm flow/power but does a good job balancing it versus a conventional fixed vane turbo where you typically gain some/lose some depending on your power goals/where you want the power band to be in the rpm range. Yes on factory tuning/setup the turbo vanes close and use the turbo as a exhaust restriction/brake on top of the jakes which is a great combination.

Agree with the egr and cooler needing to be gone, cooler is bound to leak like mentioned above. Vgt turbo actuators are troublesome on these for sure.

Ive got one i currently babysit with a aftermarket fixed vane turbo, a few parts that have been lost in boating accidents and tuning to make it all work and the owner is very impressed with it. On this truck they did use the pinouts on the ecm for the jake cylinder amount selection for something with the tuning so his are always all 6 cylinders jakes engaged instead of adjustable of 2, 4, or 6 or whatever they are on these cummins.

You wont get 1 million miles out of these engines in my opinion and experience, from the ones ive been around they always put a hole in the side of the block well below that number. This particular truck has already been inframed before he bought it and i replaced the head (got one during inframe also)on it earlier this year due to pushing coolant out on heavy pulls. This is truck #3 with this engine ive been around and the others put a hole in the block around 250k/10k hours without any warning, had good oil samples, etc. I will say these have been 2007-2010 trucks. Wouldnt be my first choice in engines but im a cat guy myself.

Good luck doing anything with it other than stock in california.

NexIQ is the converter/communication module between a laptop computer and the truck ecm. You'll need the nexiq, a laptop, and cummins insite or similar to flash the tune file into the trucks ecm or send the ecm to someone with it to do so. Your gonna pay a yearly subscription fee for cummins insite and most likely will not be given access to the full version with ecm flashing without being a shop or dealership. The fleet i used to manage i had 4 yearly license subscriptions with insite i was paying for without ecm flashing, could see all codes, troubleshooting information, and clear codes and i think it was $500 or so a year for each license.

Good luck with check engine lights, weird random issues, etc. In the 15yrs ive been working on heavy duty trucks ive had a ton of wiring harness issues and ecm issues with cummins engines over other makes. Just put a harness on the truck i currently babysit for egr codes when engine would get wet that would go away after a few days and 5v supply voltage issues to sensors.
 
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Wouldn't blocking the exhaust on both ends of the cooler and reinstalling it work? A stock appearing engine could be kept and eliminate exhaust and coolant mixing.
 
pvkj454 said:
Wouldn't blocking the exhaust on both ends of the cooler and reinstalling it work? A stock appearing engine could be kept and eliminate exhaust and coolant mixing.
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I do believe this can be done. Most issues arise when the egr function is turned off with the valve open and the exhaust or coolant is left to flow through the system. The metal weakens and eventually gets a hole. The ISX I had deleted, they half assed the egr like this and eventually lead to the engine consuming coolant.
 
Mvanhelden said:
Who said it’s going to be in California :flipoff2:?
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Dude Im leased to runs newer emissions equipped* trucks into Cali. No issues. I know multiple people who run older pre-emissions trucks in/out of there too, also no problems.










*emissions systems may or may not be intact :laughing:
 
HillbillyDeluxe said:
Dude Im leased to runs newer emissions equipped* trucks into Cali. No issues. I know multiple people who run older pre-emissions trucks in/out of there too, also no problems.










*emissions systems may or may not be intact :laughing:
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Most people I know have lost all the parts over the bumps. I’m merely asking if anyone knows a proven reliable way of making the truck run well until those lost parts can be replaced.:flipoff2: I’ve never seen any sort of emissions checkpoints. And what I’ve been told, CHP does not enforce CARB regulations.
 
I've been told CARB will attempt to pull trucks over. They also set up at scale houses and if you stop anywhere, shut the truck off.
 
HillbillyDeluxe said:
I've been told CARB will attempt to pull trucks over. They also set up at scale houses and if you stop anywhere, shut the truck off.
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Ever since they nailed the coffin with denying older registration. They haven’t done shit. They got what they wanted. The shark has been jumped I feel.
 
Make sure all the emission components are in place and look functional if you run out of state at all, or down to SoCal which anything south of Ukiah or Williams is SoCal to you and me. With that said I just heard of someone who got popped in CO at a port of entry for having a non functional EGR valve. He had deleted it but kept everything there so it looked ok but they hooked it up to a smog machine. He denied everything of course even though they were pressing him pretty hard, he iust ended up with a fix it ticket.
 
shortbus4x4 said:
Make sure all the emission components are in place and look functional if you run out of state at all, or down to SoCal which anything south of Ukiah or Williams is SoCal to you and me. With that said I just heard of someone who got popped in CO at a port of entry for having a non functional EGR valve. He had deleted it but kept everything there so it looked ok but they hooked it up to a smog machine. He denied everything of course even though they were pressing him pretty hard, he iust ended up with a fix it ticket.
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Interesting. Never had the hood lifted besides CHP checking the front slacks… rig gets an opacity test once a year for IRP registration. That’s it.
 
shortbus4x4 said:
Make sure all the emission components are in place and look functional if you run out of state at all, or down to SoCal which anything south of Ukiah or Williams is SoCal to you and me. With that said I just heard of someone who got popped in CO at a port of entry for having a non functional EGR valve. He had deleted it but kept everything there so it looked ok but they hooked it up to a smog machine. He denied everything of course even though they were pressing him pretty hard, he iust ended up with a fix it ticket.
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I'd have told them to kiss my ass. They aren't plugging shit into my truck (luckily my truck doesn't have that stuff). Who plugged what i to this truck? A state dot inspector? A federal inspector?
 
If you're a commercial rig going into another state your truck has no rights. They found the egr by probing the exhaust. Just like they can see if you've been running red dye diesel by shooting your exhaust pipe with a "ray" gun. Commercial rigs engaged in interstate commerce fall under a whole different set of rules than your average car.
 
shortbus4x4 said:
If you're a commercial rig going into another state your truck has no rights. They found the egr by probing the exhaust. Just like they can see if you've been running red dye diesel by shooting your exhaust pipe with a "ray" gun. Commercial rigs engaged in interstate commerce fall under a whole different set of rules than your average car.
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That’s understood. I don’t haul “commodities” I haul personal company equipment from job site to job site. Meaning I don’t carry a bill of laden or the like. And my cargo is never inspected other than measuring or weight for oversize. Not once have I been checked for any emissions related equipment. Maybe due to the truck being registered in Ca? Maybe they think since it’s registered it gets checked regularly anyhow? All I know is the majority of small company rigs I’ve seen are deleted, and get away with it somehow. I’m interested to know how they do it.
 
They get away with it until they get caught. Kind of like running red diesel, it's all good until you caught and then it's really really bad financially. All the guys I know that got caught were running through CO, seems like that state has figured out how lucrative it is busting diesel trucks that have had there emissions deleted. Whatever you do don't get rid of the parts you delete, put them up somewhere in case you need them to put back on.
 
shortbus4x4 said:
If you're a commercial rig going you have no rights.
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Fixed this part

They found the egr by probing the exhaust. Just like they can see if you've been running red dye diesel by shooting your exhaust pipe with a "ray" gun. Commercial rigs engaged in interstate commerce fall under a whole different set of rules than your average car.

Out of curiosity here… say I run red dye diesel while I’m moving rocks around my 120 acre farm, never touching the road. Then I go and haul a load of dirty dirt with the same tractor across 3 states. They shoot the ray gun into my exhaust or make me open my fuel filter fro check for red dye. How can they prove the fuel I used was on a highway or state road? They never catch me with red dye in my tank on the road, will they charges stick? My above joke about no rights, do you lose your right to face accuser?
 
Wizzle said:
Fixed this part

They found the egr by probing the exhaust. Just like they can see if you've been running red dye diesel by shooting your exhaust pipe with a "ray" gun. Commercial rigs engaged in interstate commerce fall under a whole different set of rules than your average car.

Out of curiosity here… say I run red dye diesel while I’m moving rocks around my 120 acre farm, never touching the road. Then I go and haul a load of dirty dirt with the same tractor across 3 states. They shoot the ray gun into my exhaust or make me open my fuel filter fro check for red dye. How can they prove the fuel I used was on a highway or state road? They never catch me with red dye in my tank on the road, will they charges stick? My above joke about no rights, do you lose your right to face accuser?
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My fuel boss said he had a customer get pulled over and the trooper didn’t just dip his tank he pulled a sample and said he was sending it in to be tested in a lab. It came back a very small minute amount of red was mixed in that you couldn’t even see. The driver went to court and beat the ticket because in the rule book it only says ”visual fuel inspection. Nothing about sending off samples.

My fuel boss knew because the guy called him needing every fuel receipt he had ever had.
 
KungFooMASTA said:
My fuel boss said he had a customer get pulled over and the trooper didn’t just dip his tank he pulled a sample and said he was sending it in to be tested in a lab. It came back a very small minute amount of red was mixed in that you couldn’t even see. The driver went to court and beat the ticket because in the rule book it only says ”visual fuel inspection. Nothing about sending off samples.

My fuel boss knew because the guy called him needing every fuel receipt he had ever had.
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And shit like this is why nobody who isn't a cop feels bad when they get hit on the side of the road.
 
I don't think a "1 million mile truck" exists today.

Deleting them definitely makes them more reliable, but they are still really fuckin finicky with safety interlocks and computers on 6 to 8 month national backorder out the ass.
And computer controlled waterpumps.

But the old dead nuts reliable engines of yesteryear, I believe, are gone. Killed by a mountain of useless epa regs that only serve to restrict the shipper and add cost to an industry with already slim margins. And dieing talent.

Followed what I assume is a new driver out of cincinatti the other day on a 2 lane windy state highway. No shoulders on the road, but normal lane width. Pay attention and you can run 60 to 62 in the straights and corners at about 5 over.

I don't think he got above 40mph. For 20 miles.

And I was at max gvwr with a dd13. Fuckin' painful.

Typical headset wearing steering wheel holder when I finally got around him.
 
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MuntCuffin said:
Followed what I assume is a new driver out of cincinatti the other day on a 2 lane windy state highway. No shoulders on the road, but normal lane width. Pay attention and you can run 60 to 62 in the straights and corners at about 5 over.

I don't think he got above 40mph. For 20 miles.

And I was at max gvrw with a dd13. Fuckin' painful.
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Absolutely fucking infuriates me when I'm not even driving like an asshole in my shitboxes or am overloaded and I come across some prick in a nicer newer, more capable vehicle that's still going way the fuck too slow. Not like slightly slower than I'd like but 10-15 under what that road usually goes in those conditions

If it weren't for cameras everywhere I'd pit them because shitbox.
 
KungFooMASTA said:
My fuel boss said he had a customer get pulled over and the trooper didn’t just dip his tank he pulled a sample and said he was sending it in to be tested in a lab. It came back a very small minute amount of red was mixed in that you couldn’t even see. The driver went to court and beat the ticket because in the rule book it only says ”visual fuel inspection. Nothing about sending off samples.

My fuel boss knew because the guy called him needing every fuel receipt he had ever had.
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Back in the day when I was trucking, I had a state trooper want to pull samples from my tanks. I had nothing to hide (remember when that seemed safe), and I told him, sure! Driver's side saddle tank was all diesel. He used a fancy autopipette to pull a sample.

Passenger side saddle tank was diesel in the front, and had a second compartment in the rear full of hoist oil. I told him that he probably didn't want to pull a sample from that second compartment, which of course prompted him to be highly suspicious. He was really, really unhappy with me when he pulled it and ruined his little tool. I genuinely wasn't trying to be a smart ass at that point.
 
The one I heard about, I don't know the engine model or year, the guy had his cummins tech do the entire job, he'd done the leg work and found a "factory Mexico tune"
 
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