Blown Headgaskets ???? 6.0
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Blown Headgaskets ???? 6.0
Just wondering how many of you guys have blown your headgaskets i live in florida and at my dealer they are coming in left and right i have a 06 f250 fx4 cc
with 6,600 miles on it and they are done the best part is its been at the dealer for four weeks goin on five ....
with 6,600 miles on it and they are done the best part is its been at the dealer for four weeks goin on five ....
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Joined: Mar 2005
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I grilled my cousin (lead mechanic at my local Ford dealership) before I bought my 05' PSD. He said that most of the trucks that come in with blown headgaskets have been chipped. He didn't sound too concerned about the trucks the were unchipped. Take it for what its worth, its just one mechanics observations.
I'm unchipped, no problems, and everyone else I know that is unchipped hasn't had any headgasket issues.
Off topic, but if anyone is curious. I also asked him about the torqshift failures and fluid loss associated with earlier 6.0L's. He noted a decline in both from the earlier 03' model.
2005 F350 6.0L PDS, build date 4/2005
I'm unchipped, no problems, and everyone else I know that is unchipped hasn't had any headgasket issues.
Off topic, but if anyone is curious. I also asked him about the torqshift failures and fluid loss associated with earlier 6.0L's. He noted a decline in both from the earlier 03' model.
2005 F350 6.0L PDS, build date 4/2005
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Other side of the sunrise
My head gaskets still appears to be strategically placed between the block and each head respectively, and I haven't noticed any abnormal liquid leaks or performance problems with 26000 miles on my 05. So far anyway (knock on wood).
I have no programmers and am completely stock, and she's running awsome with no problems. The only place I hear of head gasket problems are here where tuners are discussed alot. Coincidence? I dunno but I kinda have the feeling that it's not.
I do know that regarding some of the tuners, head bolt upgrade recommendations were posted on this forum as a must.
I have no programmers and am completely stock, and she's running awsome with no problems. The only place I hear of head gasket problems are here where tuners are discussed alot. Coincidence? I dunno but I kinda have the feeling that it's not.
I do know that regarding some of the tuners, head bolt upgrade recommendations were posted on this forum as a must.
Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 55
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From: So Cal
Hi All,
Just my observation, but maybe that is why some folks who have boost guages are saying they have seen slightly lower max boost after the latest 05E15 reflash?? I do not have a tuner, and have no plans to add one, mostly because of the warranty related issues, but I also do not feel the need to have any more power than what this truck makes stock. If there are "weak link" head bolts or poor designed head gaskets on these motor stock, then I can see how more boost might eventually overpower the head gaskets.
I only have 3,250 miles on my '04, and no problems yet, but I do worry about this issue alot, as I live in the SoCal desert where we get some 'slightly' HOT summers. Hopefully, if Ford finds there are defective head bolts and head gaskets, they will do the right thing and issue a recall.
Take care,
JJ
Just my observation, but maybe that is why some folks who have boost guages are saying they have seen slightly lower max boost after the latest 05E15 reflash?? I do not have a tuner, and have no plans to add one, mostly because of the warranty related issues, but I also do not feel the need to have any more power than what this truck makes stock. If there are "weak link" head bolts or poor designed head gaskets on these motor stock, then I can see how more boost might eventually overpower the head gaskets.
I only have 3,250 miles on my '04, and no problems yet, but I do worry about this issue alot, as I live in the SoCal desert where we get some 'slightly' HOT summers. Hopefully, if Ford finds there are defective head bolts and head gaskets, they will do the right thing and issue a recall.
Take care,
JJ
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 181
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From: Florida
Guys, this has been gone over many many times here on FTE already. Do a search when you get a chance.
Ford has issued a technical service bulletin about the head gasket problems. This bulletin also requires the use of a set of redesigned head gaskets and bolts. Quite a few trucks have had the bottle over flow especially when towing, even in bone stock form. My truck (04, 04 build) from new always had a "white powdery" substance around the degas bottle. I only found the real nature of the problem when I started towing. There was so much coolant loss due to the faulty head gaskets that coolant ran down the fender, along the step bars and onto the front of my trailer! Since the gaskets and bolts were replaced, I haven't seen a drop of coolant anywhere.
Ford has issued a technical service bulletin about the head gasket problems. This bulletin also requires the use of a set of redesigned head gaskets and bolts. Quite a few trucks have had the bottle over flow especially when towing, even in bone stock form. My truck (04, 04 build) from new always had a "white powdery" substance around the degas bottle. I only found the real nature of the problem when I started towing. There was so much coolant loss due to the faulty head gaskets that coolant ran down the fender, along the step bars and onto the front of my trailer! Since the gaskets and bolts were replaced, I haven't seen a drop of coolant anywhere.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Originally Posted by jjgi5150
Hi All,
Just my observation, but maybe that is why some folks who have boost guages are saying they have seen slightly lower max boost after the latest 05E15 reflash?? I do not have a tuner, and have no plans to add one, mostly because of the warranty related issues, but I also do not feel the need to have any more power than what this truck makes stock. If there are "weak link" head bolts or poor designed head gaskets on these motor stock, then I can see how more boost might eventually overpower the head gaskets.
I only have 3,250 miles on my '04, and no problems yet, but I do worry about this issue alot, as I live in the SoCal desert where we get some 'slightly' HOT summers. Hopefully, if Ford finds there are defective head bolts and head gaskets, they will do the right thing and issue a recall.
Well said jjgi5150... Most of the head gasket/coolant related problems are ocurring from chipped, tuned, or trucks pulling alot of weight under load. The biggest issue is a poor head design lacking any center head bolts. Think of it as looking at the #5 on a set of dice and then looking at the #4 on a set of dice. Now think of the dots on the dice to be head bolts and the 6.0's are like the #4 dice with no center head bolts. Now when these engines are chipped, tuned, heavily modded or towing huge amounts of weight under load the center of the heads expand to creat a gap at the gasket area and then relax back to the normal position when these issue are not present. This is why some guys know they have a leak, see the coolant all over everything but can't ever see where it is coming from. Under these scenarios the leak seems to have fixed itself or is only intermittent but actually the situation that has caused the excessive amount of boost has gone and the head "relaxes". Yes, there are a few with a completely stock engine that have had coolant problems too, but they are a rare case when compared the engines with the modifications. Also some are saying they are having succcess with the new style head bolts and gaskets but I guess time will tell. Personally I think it will still happen again as new head bolts and gaskets can't replace center head bolts that should be there but aren't.
Take care,
JJ
Just my observation, but maybe that is why some folks who have boost guages are saying they have seen slightly lower max boost after the latest 05E15 reflash?? I do not have a tuner, and have no plans to add one, mostly because of the warranty related issues, but I also do not feel the need to have any more power than what this truck makes stock. If there are "weak link" head bolts or poor designed head gaskets on these motor stock, then I can see how more boost might eventually overpower the head gaskets.
I only have 3,250 miles on my '04, and no problems yet, but I do worry about this issue alot, as I live in the SoCal desert where we get some 'slightly' HOT summers. Hopefully, if Ford finds there are defective head bolts and head gaskets, they will do the right thing and issue a recall.
Well said jjgi5150... Most of the head gasket/coolant related problems are ocurring from chipped, tuned, or trucks pulling alot of weight under load. The biggest issue is a poor head design lacking any center head bolts. Think of it as looking at the #5 on a set of dice and then looking at the #4 on a set of dice. Now think of the dots on the dice to be head bolts and the 6.0's are like the #4 dice with no center head bolts. Now when these engines are chipped, tuned, heavily modded or towing huge amounts of weight under load the center of the heads expand to creat a gap at the gasket area and then relax back to the normal position when these issue are not present. This is why some guys know they have a leak, see the coolant all over everything but can't ever see where it is coming from. Under these scenarios the leak seems to have fixed itself or is only intermittent but actually the situation that has caused the excessive amount of boost has gone and the head "relaxes". Yes, there are a few with a completely stock engine that have had coolant problems too, but they are a rare case when compared the engines with the modifications. Also some are saying they are having succcess with the new style head bolts and gaskets but I guess time will tell. Personally I think it will still happen again as new head bolts and gaskets can't replace center head bolts that should be there but aren't.
Take care,
JJ
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Well said jjgi5150... Most of the head gasket/coolant related problems are ocurring from chipped, tuned, or trucks pulling alot of weight under load. The biggest issue is a poor head design lacking any center head bolts. Think of it as looking at the #5 on a set of dice and then looking at the #4 on a set of dice. Now think of the dots on the dice to be head bolts and the 6.0's are like the #4 dice with no center head bolts. Now when these engines are chipped, tuned, heavily modded or towing huge amounts of weight under load the center of the heads expand to creat a gap at the gasket area and then relax back to the normal position when these issue are not present. This is why some guys know they have a leak, see the coolant all over everything but can't ever see where it is coming from. Under these scenarios the leak seems to have fixed itself or is only intermittent but actually the situation that has caused the excessive amount of boost has gone and the head "relaxes". Yes, there are a few with a completely stock engine that have had coolant problems too, but they are a rare case when compared the engines with the modifications. Also some are saying they are having succcess with the new style head bolts and gaskets but I guess time will tell. Personally I think it will still happen again as new head bolts and gaskets can't replace center head bolts that should be there but aren't.
Don't know what happened but this was my reply.
Don't know what happened but this was my reply.
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well to be honest mine is chipped has exhaust and the air intake now i ahve talked with my mechanic at ford and he says with those mods after they are done fixing the headgaskets i should not have an issue he "claims" he has not had a comeback of once fixed even if they are running propane too but we will see!!
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leaking head gaskets
Do these leak all the time or just once in a while, my 2004 leaks after long hauls, and of course when i take it to the dealership the can not find anything, it leaks sometimes on both sides of the motor. Last time it was a lot..it just started doing this in the last few months... Any Ideas ?
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
Ford-International had a bad run of head gaskets. The new gaskets are a five layer steel with torque to yield bolts. Some heads are found out of spec when a problem occurs. My dealer has quite a few 6.0L engines sold and has never replaced a set of head gaskets to date. I keep in touch with a technician and he does admit to replacing a few injectors on early 03 models and a few trucks with wiring harness problems.
I personally have used a tuner for for 30 thousand miles and I have no problems.
I personally have used a tuner for for 30 thousand miles and I have no problems.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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I read somewhere that the 2006 6.0 engine had new improved head gaskets and head bolts. Shouldn't those changes make it more chip friendly? It should also make it more resistant to puking in a completely stock situation. I'm not sure I completely followed the center bolt issue Turbostroke mentioned though.
Adam
Adam
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
The center bolt is not an issue since the head bolts are even on four sides of the cylinder unlike the 7.3 bolt pattern that is wider requiring a center bolt. The problem is torque to yield bolts found loose and warped heads new from Ford. Some trucks have had the EGR cooler fail causing the engine to over heat. The EGR cooler is silver solder and in my opinion a poor design.
Separate tests have been done on leaking head gaskets by replacing the bolts with studs and not removing the existing head or gasket, so far the heads are are holding. I would not recommend this but it is interesting information.
To sum the head gasket issue. Torque to yield bolt failure or improper installation. Warped or distorted heads manufactured which is a quality issue at the time of assembly and poor EGR cooler design leading to failure and over heating.
Separate tests have been done on leaking head gaskets by replacing the bolts with studs and not removing the existing head or gasket, so far the heads are are holding. I would not recommend this but it is interesting information.
To sum the head gasket issue. Torque to yield bolt failure or improper installation. Warped or distorted heads manufactured which is a quality issue at the time of assembly and poor EGR cooler design leading to failure and over heating.