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6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

Coolant leak help

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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 12:40 PM
  #286  
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Cylinder 2 and 3 concern me. Going to re measure and see what the deal is. My piston skirts are coming in a little low which isn’t helping my clearance issue.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 05:44 PM
  #287  
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Measurements in this range are easy to err on. I usually do it three times, walking away between each. I play with your numbers, including moving pistons around, which really gained nothing.

Two things might make you more comfortable: One is to replace the one piston with the most skirt wear. The other is to replace all the pistons and get the skirts back at the starting line. But you already know this.




 
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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 08:59 PM
  #288  
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Originally Posted by TooManyToys.
Measurements in this range are easy to err on. I usually do it three times, walking away between each. I play with your numbers, including moving pistons around, which really gained nothing.

Two things might make you more comfortable: One is to replace the one piston with the most skirt wear. The other is to replace all the pistons and get the skirts back at the starting line. But you already know this.

fancy. You sure are good with organizing data.
I wonder if my 2003 pistons are different than the spec? The coating looks good so I assumed the skirt wear would be ok because if they were severely worn I figure that graphite coating would be wiped out. I measured them many many times today and just keep coming up short compared to the book. I know the changed piston design but I figure that we just the crown/combustion chamber for emissions. I wish I had a new set of pistons to measure so I could know for sure. About a $600 gamble


looks like KDD has the Mahle standard bore in stock in a reduced .010 height. I’m going to see if they can measure a few skirts, if they are around 3.7370-3.7375 it will tighten up my clearances. Then I guess I just got worn pistons.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 09:49 PM
  #289  
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I spent 30 years making spreadsheets, graphs and tables of data for reports.

I can't help you with that since I kept my pistons in the cylinders for my one and possibly only "refresh". But I'm surprised the OE pistons are graphite coated.

You might want to bounce over to Powerstroke Army to ask about the pistons. There appear to be more guys there that do rebuilds as their job. You could also ask Toreador Diesel here, as he works on 6.0s as a side line.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 09:53 PM
  #290  
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2003 piston ID

Skirt coating
 
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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 09:55 PM
  #291  
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Timing tool
 
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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 10:59 PM
  #292  
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Oh, I believed you. I was just surprised.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2022 | 11:19 PM
  #293  
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Originally Posted by TooManyToys.
Oh, I believed you. I was just surprised.
me too. Now I’m stuck in a pickle. I wish my machine shop would have done a better job. I would have said punch it out .010” or .020” and let’s start fresh. It was my assumption they would measure the bores and skirts before removing material to see if there was enough room to work with. I guess I expected too much.

Im going to re measure my cylinders again, then talk with KDD about what a new set of pistons measures. I think I could get into a happy range if the new pistons measure out close to middle or high end of spec. I talked to Mahle today and these cast pistons don’t not grow as much as I anticipated. I’m used to forged pistons in the ford windsor world needing some breathing room.

if new standard bore pistons gets me to .004-.0045 I’ll let it rip. I’m just not sure about .005”+ working out for the long term. I’m sure it would start to rock too much in the bore and wear it self out prematurely. Oh what fun!
 
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Old Apr 29, 2022 | 12:00 AM
  #294  
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Here’s my estimated based upon a new piston being 3.7375” spec if 3.7369-3.7381
things definitely get better. I guess I just got worn out pistons that still “look” ok

Piston to wall clearance is .0017-.0036” ( I think .004 is fine, even .0045 is probably fine for higher hp setups).

1 .0047, .0037 new piston estimated 3.7375”

2 .0056, .003 new piston estimated 3.7375”

3 .0052, .0037 new piston estimated 3.7375”

4 .0046, .0037 new piston estimated 3.7375”

5 .0044, .0036 new piston estimated 3.7375”

6 .0048, .0036 new piston estimated 3.7375”

7 .0045, .0033 new piston estimated 3.7375”

8 .0047, .0033 new piston estimated 3.7375”

 
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Old Apr 29, 2022 | 08:41 AM
  #295  
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I had written that last night, but left it unposted. New pistons would get to better in the range; they should be in the OE spec zone. You could call Mahle again and ask them if their piston are in the spec. If you do go for new pistons, remember that they also have pistons ten under in height, less worry both the materials taken off the decks.

 
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Old Apr 29, 2022 | 11:54 AM
  #296  
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Originally Posted by TooManyToys.
I had written that last night, but left it unposted. New pistons would get to better in the range; they should be in the OE spec zone. You could call Mahle again and ask them if their piston are in the spec. If you do go for new pistons, remember that they also have pistons ten under in height, less worry both the materials taken off the decks.
I spoke to Mahle who did the pistons for Ford OEM. The guy said the numbers on my pistons indicate they are from international and that’s probably why they don’t match spec. He mentioned they did the running change for 2004+
his advise was that I’m crazy and .004-.0056” was certainly in the realm of normal for a medium duty Diesel engine. He gave it his stamp of approval citing that the Cummins engines run much larger clearances without issues and i could get more cold noise but with how much racket a diesel makes it wouldn’t matter.

im waiting on some numbers from KDD about their Mahle offerings to see if this will tighten me up. That’s my preferred method. Worst case they don’t make a difference I’ll just run these and move on with life.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2022 | 12:35 PM
  #297  
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My spec was from International, although '04+. If Mahle's comfortable, go for it.

Yeah, we are getting deep in the weeds.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2022 | 12:39 PM
  #298  
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I was also on the phone with Mahle and was told the piston and ring set I have are best not to do any filing.

KDD finally called me today aster a fire got lit under them. We shall see if I have a pallet with the core in it off my driveway soon or not.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2022 | 02:30 PM
  #299  
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Originally Posted by TooManyToys.
My spec was from International, although '04+. If Mahle's comfortable, go for it.

Yeah, we are getting deep in the weeds.
sometimes deep in the weeds is where I can’t help going. Hopefully KDD can supply me with a measurement and I’ll just go .010 shorter pistons to make sure that I’m fine with the cam and decking that occurred. There’s also a part of me that it saying F it and just run it. Maybe that $3800 ashville short block is worth it haha! Fun times for an enthusiast.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2022 | 03:49 PM
  #300  
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We’ll my answer for reduced compression height has been answered on the first cylinder. Placed an order with KDD for their new pistons with .010” height

 
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