Gasket Problems when studded and stock?

[woodchuck]

My truck is in for head gaskets for the second time. I had it studded the first time. It's at the dealer but a local shop told me that when my EGR cooler went a few months ago that the fluid entering the cylinder would cause the gaskets to blow. Does this sound right?

My main question is when these trucks are blowing gaskets multiple times, are the tuned? I'd like to keep it for a while longer but I don't want to do this again. If I run it stock should it have any problems?

[lawman349]

When it went in for HGs the first time were the heads taken to a machine shop, magnafluxed and checked for flatness?

[colo_dually]

First question, is what work controls were used to ensure the heads were flat and in good shape the first time?

Second, what gaskets were used when the job was done the first time?

Third, are you monitoring the truck in any way?

You still have the stock oil and EGR coolers that can still cause issues. The heads may in fact have been blown a second time, if the EGR cooler failed again.

Most of the trucks I see that are having multiple trips in for HG work, are either running bad gaskets (non-OEM), didn't have the head properly checked, or have experianced a second failed EGR cooler.

[Snake]

Originally Posted by colo_dually

First question, is what work controls were used to ensure the heads were flat and in good shape the first time?

Second, what gaskets were used when the job was done the first time?

Third, are you monitoring the truck in any way?

You still have the stock oil and EGR coolers that can still cause issues. The heads may in fact have been blown a second time, if the EGR cooler failed again.

Most of the trucks I see that are having multiple trips in for HG work, are either running bad gaskets (non-OEM), didn't have the head properly checked, or have experianced a second failed EGR cooler.

OP - there's some great advice here. As mentioned, your headgaskets could have blown again if your EGR cooler failed. This is why a lot of people either delete their EGR or buy one from Bulletproof Diesel.

[AshevilleEngine.com]

Good advise but one other "cause" could be your mechanic. It's hard to rebuild the top end while it's in the truck. It's tough to torque the studs without the right tools. I'm not saying that your guy doesn't know what he's doing but some don't.

[lawman349]

Originally Posted by AshevilleEngine.com

Good advise but one other "cause" could be your mechanic. It's hard to rebuild the top end while it's in the truck. It's tough to torque the studs without the right tools.

...and this is why we yanked my engine out to do it. It is the "hard way" but sometimes doing it right means doing it the hard way.



.

[lawman349]

...by the way, I had to buy two new heads because both of mine were cracked. If you even THINK your head gaskets MIGHT be toast, get it checked out. My $5000 rebuild (HGs, studs, Sinister EGR, oil cooler, etc. +labor) turned into a $7500 job because of cracks caused by heat, likely from the cracked EGR cooler.

My advice - delete the EGR system entirely if you can.






.

[Tuscany]

Originally Posted by lawman349

...by the way, I had to buy two new heads because both of mine were cracked. If you even THINK your head gaskets MIGHT be toast, get it checked out. My $5000 rebuild (HGs, studs, Sinister EGR, oil cooler, etc. +labor) turned into a $7500 job because of cracks caused by heat, likely from the cracked EGR cooler.

My advice - delete the EGR system entirely if you can.






.

Or you could have spent $19 on the head stud adapter tool and done it in cab with no problems lol

[jonesy_11950]

Tuscany what head stud adapter are you referring to?