2016 389 ISX 2350 Rebuild or new engine?

I wonder what caused the filter to plug up? I don’t see the oil alone doing it. Maybe that oil change managed to move a bunch if crud left over from the rebuild? Cutting the filter open would have been good to do just to see what was stuck in it.

 

Every time I've tried to switch to synthetic it's always caused leaks to happen. It's also full of cleaners so if you've been running conventional for any amount of time before the switch to synthetic your drains will be like tar for a couple times. This has happened to my gas engines as well.

 

Can take 2 or 3 oil changes to stop it burning after swapping from synthetic to mineral or vice versa.

If it's an ISX I would run the same brand mineral and maybe chuck some gear oil in it, run it for a few more oil changes and see what happens.

How many miles has it done since the rebuild?

 

I would be running that engine till it's dead on the side of the road and then petting a brand new crate engine in.

I believe history of the engine is important and you don't know much about why the engine failed in the first place, why it failed now, what's happen to it etc etc.

For all you know the air filter problem isn't related to this problem at all, or maybe it is.

Too many unknowns for my liking. It's a 2016, if the rest of the truck is good put a new engine in it so you can roll stress free for the next 5 years.

 

I believe Cummins recon heavy duty engines (N-14, ISM, ISX, ISX15, X-15) are remanufactured @ San Luis Potosí, Mexico facility. Cummins is going to start building new engines @ this facility so I imagine it is state of art. 100% success of reman is in QC. I put an ISM from this facility in a KW couple years back. Had to warranty two injectors from word go and I had to reseal rocker box about 18 months after install. I know injectors have been sore subject for years from Cummins recon.
Cat has some interesting options. One thing with Cat is they never put all their eggs in one basket. They never let one supplier have more than 50% of supply. If you think Cat turbos, Garrett comes to mind but also have Borg Warner. It's the the corporate 50% thing requires two suppliers at a minimum. Cool option Cat has on 3406E/C-15/C15 is option of brand new block, crank, and head for replacement engine. I know one of the rebuilders for Cat reman is SRC (Springfield Rebuilders, old Case IH reman). Not sure on others. SRC does lots of reman for Paccar.
All this being said, lots of variables with reman. Just do your due diligence and ask questions.