Zach is one of the founders of 8020 Media and a lead writer for DieselIQ. He’s been in the automotive industry for over a decade and has published more than 400 articles for DieselIQ, TuningPro, BMWTuning, & more. His blend of automotive knowledge, writing & research skills, and passion make him an excellent resource for fellow diesel owners. His expertise goes beyond writing and includes a deep knowledge of Cummins and Powerstroke engines, as well as nearly 10 years of DIY experience. Zach is also experienced with tuning and has a wealth of technical knowledge that he brings to every article he writes.
When you scan your Dodge/Ram Cummins engine and receive a P2509 diagnostic code, it will read ‘ECM/PCM Power Input Signal Intermittent Code’. P2509 appears on Cummins engines when there is an electronic signal being sent to the ECM/PCM that is faulty or intermittent. Electronic signals are measured within parameters, and when the signal falls outside…
The Navistar International T444E is a similar engine to the 7.3 Powerstroke. Of course, International built the 7.3 Powerstroke for Ford and they use this engine variant in their own applications, such as International trucks. Along with the DT466, the Navistar 7.3L was commonly used in school and coach buses, dump trucks, and various other…
Many also associate the Cummins name with some of the best light truck diesel engines ever. However, no engine is perfect and the 6.7 Cummins diesel is no exception. The 5.9 Cummins legendary reliably unfortunately didn’t translate as well to the redesigned new engine. The new engine received numerous emissions systems that have ultimately been…
In this article, we discuss the idea of bulletproofing the Ford 6.0 Powerstroke engine to improve reliability. The engine ultimately suffers from poor reliability due to problems with its emissions equipment, oil, and fueling systems. Therefore, the process of bulletproofing has arisen to improve the engines weaknesses and ultimately improve reliability. What is “Bulletproofing”? The…
5.9 12v Cummins Killer Dowel Pin Problems The 5.9L Cummins 12-valve diesel engines, manufactured between 1988 and 1998, feature a steel dowel pin that locates the front timing gearcase. Over time, this steel dowel pin can wobble out due to the constant heat cycles and vibrations of the engine. If (or when) the dowel pin works its…
The Bosch VP44 Injection Pump Overflow Valve is located on the side of the Cummins injection pump. It is also used to connect the fuel return line (banjo fitting) to the fuel injection pump. Bosch VP44 Injection Pump Symptoms Fuel volume from the fuel transfer (lift) pump will always provide more fuel than the fuel injection pump…
One of the biggest challenges with the 6.7 Powerstroke is the addition of advanced emissions equipment. It’s one of the reasons that I still prefer a classic pre-emissions diesel for reliability purposes – but they just don’t produce the power that these newer versions do. The 6.7 Powerstroke has a few common problems relating to…
The Cummins Diesel 5.9 liter Engine 6BT, aka the Cummins “12-valve” was the first member of the “B” engine family to be used in a light truck vehicle. The 6BT used Robert Bosch GmbH fuel systems, injector, and VE rotary pump and P7100 inline injection pumps. Some early 6BT’s were supplied with CAV rotary pumps…
Often times we get questions about why someone’s well running diesel truck isn’t “rollin’ coal” or making black smoke. The simple answer is, the fact that you are not seeing any black smoke is a good thing. A properly running diesel engine should not have any smoke at all. Black smoke is an indication of restricted…
The Cummins “53” Block was used in Cummins 24 valve ISB diesel engines from 1998.5-2002. Manufactured by Brazilian company, TUPY. The “53” block casting has thin water jacket walls that are susceptible to cracking. With coolant cavitation, corrosion, coolant pressure in the block, frequent or heavy towing they may crack, causing a loss of coolant. Failing to…
Why Do Diesel Fuel Injectors Fail? There are two major causes of diesel fuel injector failure associated with the properties of the fuel itself: excess wear and deposits. 1) Common Reasons Diesel Injectors Fail: Excessive Wear One mode of injector failure is excess wear. Prior to 2006, diesel fuels in the United States contained relatively…
The diesel fuel injection system is a major component of a properly operating engine. An engine out of adjustment can cause excessive exhaust smoke, poor fuel economy, heavy carbon buildup within the combustion chambers, and short engine life. The diesel engine is known as a CI (compression ignition) engine, while the gasoline engine is known as a…
