ISX DOHC Needs new head.

[Rawze]

(12-07-2025 )Scottj96 Wrote:  I have an 07 kw w900 with the DOHC ISX and we have determined that the head is cracked as I am getting fuel in the oil. I see aftermarket heads and oem heads. I can get an aftermarket {garbage head} for $3500 or I can get an oem for like $8000. I don’t really want to put a head that I know will eventually crack back on but I don’t want to put junk on either. Looking for pros and cons of both please

The OEM head should not be cracking prematurely unless your severely abusing your engine, not even with heavy haul applications. Most of the time its caused by a bad, engine killing delete program.

Also, Every single after-garbage branded 'stage whatever trash crap they call them' head that I have ever seen anyone use has not lasted more than about 2 years max or so at a time. - Cheaper = a whole lot of wasted moneys and regret.

So .. the real concern is not 'using garbage cheap parts because they keep failing' .. but ... 'how to get your engine to stop destroying itself in the first place'.

That starts with having any (delete) programming copied out and reviewed to ensure its not killing the engine internally, and causing all those headaches. And otherwise, also looking into WHY it would destroy/crack the head prematurely to begin with, preventing the base issues, instead of suffering with them.

If it has a de-mandate program in it, that is the first step... copy it out and e-mail it to me for a review. For all anyone knows, the injection timing might be whacked into oblivion, and the engine stuck in full-on piston scraping mode all the time.

the next step is to build it right... to which almost no one does any more.. even the shops that claim they are really good.. are completely clueless!. Here is how it should be done...
info: https://rawze.com/forums/showthread.php?...6#pid70606
... and good luck finding anyone these days willing to do all that extra stuffs not in the manuals ... because shops are too damn arrogant or lazy to do anything right any more.

Anything less, and your just pi$$ing moneys out the cab of the truck.