just curious, seems everyone has missing/ broken exhaust studs. We do not tow or live in the snow belt. We have 220,000 miles and no missing studs. Wondering if how and where you use the X has a bearing on that issue ?

 

I'm in Florida where all vehicles are rust free. And mine has a few missing studs.

 

The V10's long log-style exhaust manifolds expand and contract during heat-cycling.

The more they heat up, the more they expand.

If the nuts are corroded, and stick to the manifold, the manifold expanding and contracting drag the studs back and forth, eventually fatiguing them and they break.

I can't say why yours hasn't done it, but I suspect it has to do with not a lot of high-load runs (no towing) and no corrosion.

If you're not the original owner, they may have already been changed

 

Aha... so true. We are the second owner. Purchased it in 2005 with 60,000 miles

 

My Florida registered truck (2003 F-350 , original owner ) has no broken studs so far (knock on the wood) . Every once in a while, I apply high temperature resistant rustproofing material on them with a tiny brush . Among the materials I used are high temp silicone grease , high temp anti-seize (the kind used for spark plugs),etc.