I ordered the ARP head stud kit today. I just got the news from the dealers service dept. that they would be replacing the head gasket under warranty on my truck. And now the rest of the story:

I have an 05 CC FX4 6.0. It has 45K and was picked up from the dealer for 45k service the day before my problem. The next day I took off for the Ozarks. I reflashed the computer with my Diablo Predator in tow mode. ( I know, I know, but I had gotten the thing before finding FTE... it's for sale...OK already!) I had only run the tow tune (40 hp)for about 4 months and enjoyed the 3.5 mpg gain unloaded. This was the first time with a loaded 5th wheel, (approx 11K) wife, dog and full fuel. Twice that hot afternoon on steep long grades it would start to lose power. The engine fan came on loudly and it sounded like the turbo farted. I backed off and all went back to normal. This happened one more time just before reaching the campground. When I got there I checked and found evidence of coolant puking including a loose radiator cap. The next morning I added one half gallon coolant (to min mark sticker) reflashed the truck to stock and disconnected/reconnected the batteries.

Let me say that this was the one and only time to tow with the diablo and I have always taken my time and babied the thing. I have no aftermarket guages but I drive to keep the turbo boost 20 or below. My intention for the tuner was more for the mpg gains unloaded as opposed to towing power. And it did accomplish that, going from 13.5 to 17 hwy.

The service tech called and said that the head gasket needs replacement, the turbo was sticking and the EGR was "all coked up". I asked about the ARP studs and they said they would be glad to install them if I supplied them.

Lesson learned! From now on I will tow only with stock tunes. When I get it back I will be getting guages, EGT, Coolant temp., etc.: although, I really don't like the idea of 3 or more permanently installed guages on the pillar or overhead. The idea of a monitor with EGT probe is more appealing to me. I am also considering an SCT and a Spartan tune for mpg unloaded.

Also I failed to mention that the EGR had been disconnected for 5K and when adding the coolant I noticed the dealer had reconnected it.

I know this was a long rant but does anyone have any other ideas? Could this have happened without the predator? Is it worth the price (500 bucks) for the studs, if they are installed under warranty? I checked on the hypermax gasket and it would be about another $400. Should I do that to?

Thanks for everything

 

Check out Diablosport's website and look in the Forums section about how many problems those things cause. Problems I haven't even seen on this site. Now THAT is eye opening! Scared me enought to take my FREE, newer model, latest flash predator out after 50 miles.

 

And also I didn't like the shifting and cruise control jerk upon release.

 

you need to talk to matt...at spartan some of those "other" tuners have been known to dropp head gaskets Edge,grantelli, etc...and most of them are MORE then a ExcalII with 3 custom tunes...i have my 2 guages in the cubby next to the Cig lighter adapter... it will hold dual 2 1/16 guages and no mods are needed. If you need more guages (like me) then they make a triple pod that goes right below that cubby and you can tap into the wires from the other guages...A fuel pressure guage is very improtant also,pricey but worth the money even stock because if you were to get a bad batch of fuel that were to plugg your filter and you ran lower pressure you could lose some injectors...

 

floyddc10,

Sorry to hear about your problem with the head gaskets. Yes by all means install the ARP studs they are well worth the money. You can use either stock or Hypermax gaskets, both will work. If you can only afford one or the other go with the ARP studs over the Hypermax gaskets, if you can afford both then do both. Either way you go you will have a good fix that should last you the life of the engine.

You have found the info on the Predator and the SCT XcalII with Matt's custom tunes. Talk to Matt and then choose what you are most comfortable with, be it stock or tuned.

Dealer 6.0 tech will always hook up all disconnected sensors to trouble shoot vehicle, and will not disconnect emissions systems as they can get in trouble and fined. Sounds like you have a good dealer and 6.0 tech to work with.

Good luck

 

You may not be so lucky next time. Decide what is more important to you. Power or warranty. If you break down in the area of a non friendly mod dealer you may get an oasis black ball. The bad tunes are also costing all the legit owners more for extended warranties and Ford more for warranty work. If you are responsible for the problem with after market tunes or equipment, own up to it, you didn't do your home work! Now bottom line "Pay if you want to play"

 

Relay lol if the tech is any good he will be able to tell by the spray patterns on the pistons...they have a very distinct "star" pattern on them when tuners are used,there also was a TSB on this.

 

Please let me know more about the gauge pods. Do they replace the 'trash bag holder'? Where did you get yours from? Thanks!

 

blackhat620,

Thanks for the info. I looked at the hypermax website and they state to use stock bolts and that if you use studs you do so at your own risk. I also saw a post on another forum about an individual that installed a hypermax wire ring
gasket with arp studs and blew the gasket and damaged the head. Has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks

 

if i was to peel my valve covers off how would i be able to tell if i had head studs done or not?

 

Thanks for the info from everyone else. It only took 3 hours for the "Pay if you play" police to post.

 

If I came off that way, I apologize. I am just thankful for all the good information we get from all the knowledgable people on this site. Without this site what do we get? The guy on "Trucks" on the CMT channel doing burnouts with the Bullydog tuner telling us how easy it is to add 100+ hp for $400 without mentioning any consequences? I consider myself fortunate to have stumbled across this site. Like I said on my other post today, you can't blame a guy for putting in these tuners when almost all information on them is positive, except for here where it's real. I got a predator for free and got excited and installed it myself. Even after reading posts warning against it. I don't blame you for putting it in. I blame people selling a questionable product to the public like the pharmaceutical industry does.

 

If someone blew head gaskets with "Fire Ring" gaskets and ARP studs then they were running serious power. Also to instal "Fire Ring" gaskets you must machin the heads to accept the wire "Fire Ring".

Standard Hypermax gaskets and ARP studs will work, the reason Hypermax says to use "factory studs with there gaskets is to use the factory studs as the weak link in the system to allow the heads to lift and gaskets to fail before other engine damage occurs. Several people run Hypermax and ARP studs with serious Hp so that they can keep the heads on under the high Hp levels. Yes they can break other components before the head gaskets fail. It is always the weak link in the chain theory. Fix the head gasket weak link with Hypermax & ARP studs, now with enough power you have to find a new weak link because it won't be the head gaskets.
Factory bolts and Hypermax gaskets are better than factory bolts and factory gaskets. ARP studs and factory gaskets are better than factory bolts & factory gaskets, and slightly better IMO than factory bolts and Hypermax gaskets. Hyper max gaskets & ARP studs are more bulletproof than all of the above.

So choose the level you want and go with that. ARP studs and factory gaskets will work fine however.

 

Amen Nitrous, You didn't come off that way at all. I consider myself very lucky also to have access to the knowledge on this forum and share your sentiment exactly!

 

Wish I had your service dept. I asked mine about the ARP studs, he said they would put them in but that would be the end of my warranty. So with 50,000 left to go, I decided to keep the warranty.