Many people get nervous when their RV or motorhome engine experiences problems. However, whenever you own a vehicle, you can expect engine problems eventually. These engine problems don’t mean you need to replace the engine because many people can resolve these problems without help.
RV enthusiasts typically have the Cummins ISL9 to power their recreational vehicles or motorhomes. These engines supply sufficient power to these vehicles and allow them to haul plenty of weight. Whenever you own an RV, it’s important that you have an engine that can accommodate your daily needs.
Please continue reading to learn about common Cummins ISL9 problems and how people fix them. In addition, our guide will help you save money on your next mechanic trip by performing simple tasks independently.
Cummins ISL9 Problems
 1. Faulty Cummins ISL9 Water Pump
Your Cummins ISL9 relies heavily on its water pump to avoid overheating. Unfortunately, some of these engines have a faulty water pump that can lead to permanent engine problems. There are plenty of causes and signs you should look out for if your water pump isn’t working up to par.
Common Causes
If you’re experiencing problems with your engine water pump, there are a few common causes you’d need to look out for.
- Your water pump shaft doesn’t sit right: When your water pump shaft is in an abnormal position, it can cause damage. Your engine is constantly moving when you power your vehicle on. If any of your parts don’t sit correctly, they will receive damage.
- There’s a bend in your engine: Sometimes, manufacturing problems can cause engine parts to bend without your knowledge. These bent parts can cause warping inside your engine that damages your water pump.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to identify these problems until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, many people don’t look inside their engines until the damage is done.
How To Identify
If your engine overheats often, you probably have something wrong with your water pump. The Cummins ISL9 Is not prone to overheating issues without damaged parts.
- Pay attention to your engine behavior.
- Take no when your engine shuts off due to overheating
- Look out for any smoke coming from your engine
- You keep running out of coolant
Whenever you experience engine problems on your RV, resolving them as soon as possible is important. Do not ignore water pump problems because they can ruin your engine.
How To Resolve
If your water pump is broken or damaged, you’ll need to replace this part entirely. Fortunately, replacing your water pump is affordable, so you don’t have to worry about destroying your budget.
- Turn off your RV
- Wait until your engine cools down
- Remove the bolts from the water pump
- Get rid of the gasket
- Check your coolant hoses
- Remove the old water pump
- Install a new water pump
Check your engine user manual to ensure you pick the right water pump for your vehicle. If you can’t find this information in your manual, it would be best to contact Cummins customer support instead.
2. Poor Cummins ISL9 Maintenance
Sometimes, people purchase an RV and neglect the maintenance they’re supposed to perform. If you don’t complete routine maintenance on your RV engine, you’re asking for trouble. Pay attention to your fluid levels, engine behavior, and where you take your RV.
As soon as you notice problems with your engine, you should work to resolve them to avoid permanent damage. If you wait too long to fix these problems, you might need to purchase a new engine for your RV. However, engines are extremely expensive compared to replacement parts, so do your due diligence when you own a vehicle.
Common Causes
The primary cause of poor maintenance on your RV engine is not understanding what your engine needs. It would be best to read your user manual before operating your vehicle, so you don’t encounter these problems. You can destroy it if you go too long without performing basic maintenance on your RV engine.
RV owners need to maintain their fluids more than any other part of their vehicle. Your fluids are the way your vehicle operates smoothly. Running low on gas, oil, and coolant can cause several engine problems that are expensive to fix.
How To Identify
Plenty of indicators will let you know when you’re not maintaining your Cummins ISL9 engine correctly. Pay attention to the following situations to understand when vehicle maintenance is necessary.
- Check your engine oil. If the oil is gunky or smells bad, you should replace it.
- Check your coolant. People forget to change their coolant because they don’t need to as often as their oil.
- Watch out for engine shakes. This is a sign that your engine is about to go out.
- If you have trouble depressing your pedals, you could run low on fluids.
- Your engine frequently stalls.
- Check your air filter and replace it when necessary.
Even though it’s tempting to ignore engine problems on your RV, it’s important that you fight this urge. Some people have trouble coming to terms with the fact that there’s something wrong with their vehicle because vehicle fixes are pricey.
The better you maintain your engine, the fewer fixes you need on your vehicle. You shouldn’t put yourself in a situation where you could get stranded in an unfamiliar area. Maintaining your engine is the best way to feel safe and secure.
How To Resolve
The easiest way to resolve the lack of engine maintenance over a long time is to bring your vehicle to a mechanic. They understand your Cummins ISL engine better than the average person and know what to look for when it comes to performance.
If you buy a used RV, it would be best to bring it to a mechanic as soon as you purchase it to avoid problems. Unfortunately, you never know if the previous owner took proper care of your vehicle. So bringing it to an RV shop is the best way to identify problems before they affect you.
Aside from bringing your vehicle to a repair person, the easiest way to resolve the lack of maintenance is to hop on the maintenance wagon. Schedule dates and times to take care of aspects of your RV, so you don’t forget. Keep this information in a spot you often check, like your cell phone or tablet calendar.
3. Cummins ISL9 Broken Crankshaft
The Cummins ISL9 Is a piston engine that relies on these movements. Unfortunately, if your crankshaft breaks or gets damaged, it’ll be impossible to run your engine properly. You must replace your crankshaft immediately when it breaks to avoid further complications.
Common Causes
When you own an RV, you must not add too much weight to your vehicle. Instead, only add the amount of weight that your user manual recommends. People struggle with a broken crankshaft because they hold too much weight, which causes the crankshaft to misbehave.
You should never overload your RV with too much weight to keep it in working order. Sometimes, people are too ambitious about how much their RV can carry. Before towing vehicles behind your RV or motorhome, ensure that you have the right specs to perform this task.
How To Identify
Even if you don’t know what a crankshaft is, you can immediately identify something severely wrong with your engine. Pay attention to the following signs to understand if your crankshaft is broken.
- You hear loud noises come from your engine
- Your engine oil indicator pops on
- Your engine stalls and won’t turn on
You should bring your vehicle to a mechanic when you hear loud knocking. This is a sure sign that you will be out of luck soon. You don’t want your vehicle to break down somewhere unsafe and unfamiliar.
How To Resolve
If you have a broken crankshaft, it would be best to bring your RV to a professional for assistance. Operating on your RV engine at this level can be dangerous and result in injury. Always prioritize your safety when working on a Cummins ISL9 engine.
Additionally, if you’re unfamiliar with how a crankshaft works, you could fix the engine correctly, resulting in more damage. Bringing your vehicle to a professional helps you immediately fix the problem. You shouldn’t go through the trial and error process when you have a broken crankshaft.
Final Thoughts
Even though the Cummins ISL9 is a popular engine for manufacturers to place in an RV, there are problems you should watch out for with these engines.
Whenever you don’t maintain your engine, you will experience problems, no matter which brand you purchase from. Also, sometimes manufacturing errors occur at the factory before you receive your vehicle.
Our guide helps you understand the most common problems people experience with these engines, so you feel comfortable with basic maintenance.
However, you must go to a mechanic if you have a severe problem like a broken crankshaft. Always prioritize your safety when working on motor vehicles, so you don’t have any regrets.