Recently I experienced a huge loss of power. As I was merging onto the freeway there was a huge *POP* sound (similar to *BANG* but not as sharp) and the truck lost almost all power. I promptly coasted/pulled over to the side of the road to assess the damage and mentally prepare myself for the buck$zooka I was going to witness when I opened the hood. It was incredibly loud (louder than throwing a belt) and I though a component had come off and was being thrown around under the hood. Turns out that the CAC boot on the spider (turbo outlet) blew off. With a potential financial crisis averted, I limped the truck home to re-attach the boot.

Once I tightened the clamp to 60 in-lbs (I have the t-bolt clamps and my boots are from Dieselsite and Riffraff) I checked the others and they had all loosened too. I don't know by how much as I just wanted to get everything tightened back to spec since it was dark, dinner was waiting, and I could feel my wife inside tapping her foot with her arms folded wondering when I was going to be done.

I have been using t-bolt clamps for years and never checked them routinely nor had a problem with them. I had everything apart about 6-7 months ago to fix some oil leaks and install a 6.0 trans and intercooler and torqued them all to spec when I re-attached them.

After this experience I will be adding this to my list to check every few oil changes. Just thought I'd pass along what I learned.

 

Yeah... that boot pop is on par with seeing flames shoot out of the hood - it soils everything in close proximity to the back pants pockets.

 

Clean and use hairspray as a lube, acts as a glue when dry.

Referring to the boots, not your pants.

 

Also known as the "Brown Note"....Thank God that years of shooting and standing in front of speaker stacks at rock concerts have made me immune to it's effects....

 

Brown note... good one.

 

Was in a buddy's 6.0 test driving when his boot let loose under high boost (!)

Dented the hood

Definitely a coast to the top of the steep hill moment.

Mine need changed. Soon.

 

I bought the Riffraff boot for my 6.0 intercooler swap last summer and am very happy with it. The rest of my boots are from Dieselsite and I've had them for going on 9 years now (bought them in the pre-Riffraff era). They are still doing great. T-bolt clamps all around including the plenums (Riffraff inserts last summer also).

 

I have the Riffraff boots and one time I forgot one of the clamps. The boot held fine on its own until 30 PSI... which is incredible. That reach for 31 PSI is what gave me the brown note.