HeadGaskets....Again!
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2006
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HeadGaskets....Again!
My 06 250 had headgaskets replaced one year & 22k miles ago under warranty. I purchased ARP studs and had them put in as part of the job. Now it's puking coolant again, so I'm thinking it's gonna need a HG job again. It's going in to be checked Monday and will be at 99,600 when I get there.
Two questions:
Can they reuse the same studs or do I have to buy new ones? I don't really want to part with another $500 and may consider trading this puppy based on the last year.
They checked the heads for flatness before and said they were fine. Has anyone else had another HG failure after studs? I have only run a street tune and a tow tune from Innovative Diesel, so I don't feel like I've pushed the truck too hard.
I love this truck and don't want to part with it, but don't want to have to replace HG yearly on my dime.
Thanks!
Two questions:
Can they reuse the same studs or do I have to buy new ones? I don't really want to part with another $500 and may consider trading this puppy based on the last year.
They checked the heads for flatness before and said they were fine. Has anyone else had another HG failure after studs? I have only run a street tune and a tow tune from Innovative Diesel, so I don't feel like I've pushed the truck too hard.
I love this truck and don't want to part with it, but don't want to have to replace HG yearly on my dime.
Thanks!
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater
I have never seen a headgasket failure twice. As long as the heads and block were flat and the correct torque sequence was used then I would be checking a possible egr cooler or oil cooler concern first. Even a cap can be bad and vent at a low pressure.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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Unfortunately I have.The first time I had the same thing done ,heads were checked over and ARP's were installed.Started puking coolant again 6 months or so later.Went back in under warranty and I switched the ARP's for H-11 head studs and had the heads fire ringed.It's been over 18 months and no issues(knock on wood).You can reuse the ARP's.I gave mine to a buddy of mine and he put them in his Ex when he had his head gasket job done and all is good for over a year.Both of us have other mods though, 1 is EGR delete.
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Freshman User
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I put a new cap on it and it's still puking. All this started happening on a trip towing my camper to the coast. I stopped at a Ford dealer for some coolant and bought a cap hoping $10.53 would fix it, but no luck.
DieselBeast: How did you manage fire-ringing the heads under warranty? Did the dealer agree to that? What did it cost to make that happen?
Thanls!
DieselBeast: How did you manage fire-ringing the heads under warranty? Did the dealer agree to that? What did it cost to make that happen?
Thanls!
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I have had mine done twice. I re-used mine and it's fine. Just because the shop said that they checked for flatness doesn't mean that they actually did or did a good job about it.
As to fire-ringing, it isn't necessary and it's actually more of a pain. Installation has to be damn perfect and plus the OP using just tunes, not necessary to go through that pain.
I would actually say it was the original shop not doing the installation correctly. Maybe they didn't torque it right, really check for flatness or some other scenerio. I'm pushing more then the OP as far as HP/TQ goes, just using ARPs and stock gaskets and no issues. If you go back to the shop, don't let them roll over you, it almost 100% sure(but not exactly 100%) fault on the installation side of things and I would make sure that they make it right.
ARPs with stock gaskets, installed correctly should be a total cure for the headbolt issue. Gaskets, or installation not done correctly, or a flaw in the particular box of ARPs "you" are using and you might have issues. If all is good then you shouldn't.
As to fire-ringing, it isn't necessary and it's actually more of a pain. Installation has to be damn perfect and plus the OP using just tunes, not necessary to go through that pain.
I would actually say it was the original shop not doing the installation correctly. Maybe they didn't torque it right, really check for flatness or some other scenerio. I'm pushing more then the OP as far as HP/TQ goes, just using ARPs and stock gaskets and no issues. If you go back to the shop, don't let them roll over you, it almost 100% sure(but not exactly 100%) fault on the installation side of things and I would make sure that they make it right.
ARPs with stock gaskets, installed correctly should be a total cure for the headbolt issue. Gaskets, or installation not done correctly, or a flaw in the particular box of ARPs "you" are using and you might have issues. If all is good then you shouldn't.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 6
From: Abilene, Texas
I dont know if the dealer will honor any warrenty on the job since it is not oem bolts. they will probably blame it on have aftermarket studs/tunner on the truck. Thats not the problem I agree, but I dought they will warrenty the work because of this. mainly the tunner.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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I put a new cap on it and it's still puking. All this started happening on a trip towing my camper to the coast. I stopped at a Ford dealer for some coolant and bought a cap hoping $10.53 would fix it, but no luck.
DieselBeast: How did you manage fire-ringing the heads under warranty? Did the dealer agree to that? What did it cost to make that happen?
Thanls!
DieselBeast: How did you manage fire-ringing the heads under warranty? Did the dealer agree to that? What did it cost to make that happen?
Thanls!
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From what I have been hearing and reading EGRs are a big cause of head gasket failures.1 of the big fixes is blocking off or deleting the EGR.The 1st time my head gaskets were done I had a block off plate put in the 2nd time I put in an Egr delete pipe from EDE a buddy of mine is using the egr delete kit from them.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
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Do you have EGR / EGR Cooler on it?
Did you delete EGR / EGR Cooler?
If not, check for a bad EGR cooler first.
If it is bad, consider dumping the EGR Cooler and Oil Cooler at same time.
Then add coolant filter.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 63
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Isn't that the truth I've heard of dealers denying warranty work because of an air filter and or over sized tires.Sometimes you do get lucky and find dealers that are willing to honor warranties even with mods.Some dealers' mechanics are saving some of the stock torque to yield bolts so they can send some into Ford if requested on head gasket jobs because they are so common.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 425
Likes: 4
Something for those who know about the tty bolts. Are the bolts used to serve instead of retorque. If not,what is the benifit. I have never noticied anyone mention retorqueing studs. Is that reccomended. It would seem critical unless we were wasting time retorqueing all these years. Forgive me if that's old school but it has been a while since I clamped any type heads.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Good points. What kit did you use for coolant filter?
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Something for those who know about the tty bolts. Are the bolts used to serve instead of retorque. If not,what is the benifit. I have never noticied anyone mention retorqueing studs. Is that reccomended. It would seem critical unless we were wasting time retorqueing all these years. Forgive me if that's old school but it has been a while since I clamped any type heads.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
LOL... my truck is getting a coolant filter when ambient temperature rises to 65 degrees on a cold day again. (Spring).
I am going to kludge one from NAPA and Home Depot parts.
Someone else on here have done that ... quite successfully.
Got the ball valves from HD or Lowes....