Cummins ISX EGR Delete Kit

Why Does Your Cummins ISX Need an EGR Delete Kit?

EGR Coolers Crack and Dump Coolant Into the Intake

The ISX EGR cooler lives its whole life cycling between exhaust heat and coolant flow, and that thermal whipsaw eventually wins. A cracked cooler pushes coolant into the intake charge, where it steams through the engine, contaminates the aftertreatment, and can hydro-lock a cylinder in the worst cases. Ask any fleet mechanic which part they replace most on an ISX, and the answer is the cooler, every time.

Recirculated Soot Cakes the Entire Intake Tract

EGR exists to push soot-laden exhaust back through the intake, and that soot coats the manifold, the valve, and the mixer like tar building in a chimney. The engine spends its life breathing its own exhaust, packing carbon into every passage, and the coking only accelerates as the valve slows down. A clean intake is a healthy intake, and an EGR delete is the only permanent way to get one.

Stuck Valves Trigger Derates at the Worst Possible Time

A coked EGR valve that hangs open or slams shut throws fault codes, and on EPA-era ISX electronics those codes cascade into aftertreatment derates that bleed power right when you need it on a grade. Thermal fatigue cooks the valve actuators until position feedback drifts and the ECM chases faults it cannot fix. Every one of those roadside events traces back to hardware the engine never needed in the first place.

What Can an EGR Delete Kit Solve?

Stage 1 Plates Block the Flow, Cooler Stays In Place

For CM870 owners who want the simplest path, Stage 1 uses CNC-machined 6061-T6 billet aluminum block-off plates to shut the EGR valve flow path while the cooler stays bolted where it sits. Minimal teardown, minimal downtime, and the exhaust gas recirculation stops cold. It is the entry point for trucks where the cooler is still healthy, and the goal is stopping the soot parade.

Stage 2 Kits Remove the System Entirely

Stage 2 pulls the EGR cooler and valve out altogether and plugs the coolant and exhaust ports with hard-anodized billet plugs sealed with high-temperature components and stainless hardware. Nothing is left to crack, coke, or derate the truck. This is the full removal that fleets do once and never touch again, available for CM870, CM871, and the CM2250/CM2350 ISX15 electronics through 2024.

Plugging the coolant ports takes the EGR heat exchanger out of the loop for good, so it is worth confirming the Cummins ISX water pump still moves full volume before you button the front of the engine back up. The rest of the cooling system carries the load once that exchanger is gone, and a tired pump is far easier to reach while the cooler is already off.

Cleaner Intake Air and Cooler Running

With recirculation shut down, the engine breathes fresh charge air instead of its own exhaust, so intake temps drop, and combustion runs cleaner. Coolant stops flowing through a heat exchanger that was boiling it next to 1000-degree exhaust. Combined with proper ECM calibration, that is where the fuel mileage and reliability gains actually come from.

Shop Cummins ISX EGR Delete Kit by Truck Engine & ECM Fitment Guide

• EGR Delete Plug Kit for 2002-2007 Cummins ISX CM870 Stage 1 - Fits the ISX CM870 ECM in Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, and International Class 8 trucks (2002-2007). Billet block-off plates shut off EGR valve flow while the cooler stays in place; the straightforward path for a healthy cooler on a 2004, 2005, or 2006 truck.
• EGR Delete Plug Kit for 2002-2007 ISX CM870 Stage 2 - Fits the ISX CM870 ECM in Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, and International trucks (2002-2007). Full removal with billet plugs sealing the cooler and valve ports so nothing is left to crack or coke.
• EGR Plug Kit for 2007-2010 Cummins ISX CM871 Stage 2 - Fits the ISX CM871 ECM in Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, and International trucks (2007-2010). Aluminum plates and plugs machined for the DPF-era engine, covering 2007, 2008, and 2009 trucks with the updated EGR layout.
• EGR Delete Plug Kit for 2010-2024 Cummins ISX15 CM2250 / CM2350 Stage 2 - Fits the ISX15 with CM2250 and CM2350 electronics in Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, and International trucks (2010-2024). Precision-machined plates and plugs seal both the EGR valve and cooler on the SCR-era engine, covering 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016 model years and everything after.

Why Choose EGR Performance?

The industry standard for high-performance diesel reliability.

Premium Quality & Rigorous Testing

Our EGR, DPF, and CCV delete kits are engineered from premium-grade materials and subjected to brutal quality control and field testing. Unlike generic alternatives, our products are built to withstand extreme heat and pressure, delivering unmatched durability and long-term stability when your rig needs it most.

20 Years of Proven Diesel Expertise

We aren't just selling parts. We live in this industry. With two decades of hands-on experience providing specialized modification solutions for heavy-duty truck owners, our upgrades have been extensively proven across every driving environment, from daily towing to high-performance tracks.

Industry-Leading Standards

We work hand-in-hand with top-tier industry partners and reputable organizations. Every product we design, test, and ship meets or exceeds strict industry standards, ensuring your Powerstroke, Cummins, or Duramax gets the exact precision it deserves.

Real Results, Proven Track Record

Thousands of diesel owners trust us to unlock their engine's true potential. Our massive library of positive customer feedback and successful build case studies proves one thing: our kits deliver real horsepower, lower EGTs, and flawless reliability in the real world.

FAQs About Cummins ISX EGR Delete Kit

What does a Cummins ISX EGR delete kit do?

The EGR system on an ISX routes soot-laden exhaust back into the intake to cut NOx, and a delete kit removes that loop from the engine. Billet plates and plugs seal the EGR valve and cooler ports so exhaust exits the engine instead of circulating back through it.

The hardware stops the flow, but the job is not finished until the ECM calibration is updated to shut off the EGR strategy and related fault codes. Hardware plus a proper tune is what turns the delete into reliability instead of a dashboard full of faults.

What is the difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 ISX EGR delete kits?

Stage 1 blocks the EGR valve flow path with billet block-off plates while the cooler stays bolted in place, which means minimal teardown and the fastest path to shutting down recirculation. Stage 2 removes the cooler and valve entirely and plugs the coolant and exhaust ports dead clean, leaving nothing to crack, leak, or coke up.

If your cooler is still healthy and you want the simplest install, Stage 1 gets it done. If the cooler has already weeped coolant or you are doing a full inframe-level cleanup, Stage 2 is the permanent answer. We carry both stages for the CM870 and Stage 2 kits for the CM871 and CM2250/CM2350.

What ISX ECM generations do these EGR delete kits fit?

Coverage spans the entire ISX run. The CM870 kits fit 2002-2007 engines, the pre-DPF era when EGR was the only aftertreatment. The CM871 kit fits 2007-2010 trucks that added the DPF, and the CM2250/CM2350 kit covers the ISX15 from 2010 through 2024, including the SCR and DEF-equipped years.

Identify your ECM before ordering, because the port geometry changed with each generation. A 2005 truck takes the CM870 kit, a 2008 takes the CM871, and a 2012 through 2016 truck takes the CM2250/CM2350 kit, with the same part carrying through the newest ISX15s.

Will deleting the EGR improve fuel mileage on my ISX?

Modestly, when it is done right. The engine stops pumping its own exhaust back through itself, intake air runs cooler and cleaner, and many owners report real gains over the long haul. The honest caveat from the owner-operator forums is that a poorly calibrated delete can absolutely hurt economy, with some botched trucks stuck in the 6 to 7 mpg range.

The calibration quality matters more than the hardware. Billet plugs seal ports; the tune decides whether the engine actually runs better. Pair our hardware with a reputable calibrator and log your numbers before and after.

Fuel delivery sets the ceiling on those gains, so a high-mileage engine with worn injectors should sort Cummins ISX15 fuel injector service before you measure the delete against your old numbers. Logging mileage against tired injectors gives you data you cannot trust.

Do I need ECM tuning with an ISX EGR delete kit?

Yes, plan on it. The ECM actively commands the EGR valve and monitors the cooler circuit, and pulling the hardware without updating the calibration lights up fault codes and can trigger derates on EPA-era electronics.

Tuning for the ISX is done through Cummins INSITE by calibrators who build delete files for the CM870, CM871, CM2250, and CM2350 strategies. The hardware install is the easy half of the job; the calibration is what makes it all work together.

Can I delete the EGR but keep the DPF on my ISX?

Physically, you can, and plenty of trucks run exactly that combination. The trade-off is chemistry: with EGR shut off, combustion runs hotter and dirtier at the stack, which loads the DPF with soot faster and forces more frequent regens.

On a CM871 or newer truck with the DPF still in place, the calibration needs to account for the changed soot loading so regen strategy stays sane. Talk the whole system through with your calibrator before cutting hardware, because the pieces all interact.

What are the benefits of an EGR cooler delete on a Cummins ISX?

The cooler is the most failure-prone component on the platform, cracking under heat cycling and pushing coolant into the intake where it steams through the engine and contaminates everything downstream. Deleting it removes that failure mode permanently.

Owners also see a cleaner intake tract since recirculated soot stops coating the manifold, lower overall operating complexity, and fewer trips to the shop for EGR-related faults. For fleets, the math is simple: the cooler that cannot crack never puts a truck on the hook.

Do you sell DPF, DEF, or VGT turbo delete kits for the ISX?

This collection covers the EGR side: billet plates and plug kits for the CM870, CM871, CM2250, and CM2350. DPF and DEF deletes are calibration work rather than plug-and-play hardware, since the diesel particulate filter and DEF dosing are controlled through the ECM strategy and aftertreatment logic.

VGT turbo deletes are a different product category entirely, involving turbo hardware swaps rather than EGR port sealing. If you are planning a full build, our 24/7 support can point you to what we stock and what has to be handled by your calibrator.

Which trucks can use the Cummins ISX EGR delete plug kits?

Any Class 8 truck running the ISX platform, which means Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, International, and Mack highway iron from 2002 through 2024. The kit is matched to the ECM generation, not the truck badge, so a 379, W900, Cascadia, or VNL all take the same kit if they run the same electronics.

Check the ECM on the engine data plate or read it through INSITE before ordering. That is the single detail that decides which kit lands on your dock, and our support team can confirm it from your engine serial number.

Are ISX EGR delete kits street legal?

ISX EGR delete kits are sold for competition and closed-course off-road use only. Removing emissions control components from a regulated on-highway engine violates the Clean Air Act and can carry substantial EPA fines, so these kits are not legal for over-the-road use in the United States.

Fitment is ECM-specific across the CM870, CM871, CM2250, and CM2350 generations, so confirm your engine serial and ECM before ordering, or contact our 24/7 support for help. Every order ships free from our US warehouses, carries a 1-year warranty, and is backed by a 45-day return policy if the fitment is not right.