Puking After Studs.... Let's talk gaskets

[ckyguy68]

So what I had feared is happening. Had a battery die on my today and when I went under the hood I found my 6.0 has been throwing up again.

It's been 5,xxx miles since my ARP/Black Onyx/Oil Cooler job and it has not skipped a beat since. The truck has been at the 1/4 mile (ran 13.9), ran hard at the sand dunes (Silver Lake) and done some mild towing. I don't baby it, but I expected my "bulletproof job" to last a bit longer.

As crazy as it sounds, I don't mind doing the HGs. I look forward to spending some quality time under the hood. My question is this: Has anyone had better luck with OEM Head Gaskets over the Victor Reinz "black onyx" gaskets? I had my heads checked at a machine shop and he said they were almost perfect with no signs of warpage. My only explination is the Victor Reinz Head Gaskets could not stand up to the pressures... Thoughts?

Here's a shot of the vomit! #$&^@%&*$%&*%@

[Chiller]

Subscribed. Im leaning towards oem for when i do mine. However, I have heard a lot of diesel techs say its almost impossible to torque the head studs down to the right specs without the cab off. They point to the failure of the black onyx being poor prep.

[PGreenSVT]

There have been way to many come backs and do overs with the BO/VR head gaskets. The common opinion at this point is to stay with the oem gaskets. A number of shops will no longer do BO gaskets.

[pizza pig]

Its been said that the BO/VR gaskets are THINNER than the OEM gaskets, get that crap out of there and use the Ford gaskets and hope your heads are still in decent shape.

[lightninmike]

Oh balls... this isnt what i wanted to here.
Just re-did my gaskets as i popped one between cylinders 1 and 2. Now my heads ended up being way out and are now flat (shop last year said they were fine but when you take .004 off a year later thats hard to believe)
I just tq them down yesterday with new BO gaskets..... please dont tell me i need to go buy stockers

[tjb9561]

Mine did the same thing except they lasted about 7 months. From what I've read it's a pretty common problem. I would defiantly go with the oem gaskets instead of the black onyx


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[brinker]

I have been running the OEM ones for over a year with studs and haven't had one problem. I don't baby it that much either.

[ckyguy68]

Originally Posted by Chiller

Subscribed. Im leaning towards oem for when i do mine. However, I have heard a lot of diesel techs say its almost impossible to torque the head studs down to the right specs without the cab off. They point to the failure of the black onyx being poor prep.

That's not true at all. It's all about technique! A cab-on head stud job is my specialty


I wish I would have heard this crap about the BO Head Gaskets earlier. Oh well. How much do the OEM units run?

[Jeckstine]

Mine lasted a year with B/O. I will be taking mine apart in about two weeks. You can get new oem for between $200-300 if you look around a little. I got mine on ebay for $200 complete with intake, injector and a bunch of other gaskets in the kit. Anyone out there need some stock head bolts? LOL I spoke to ARP and they said the studs are reusable just get new lube.

[lightninmike]

Now thinking I should take my heads back off and swap gaskets....damn I hate to waste $200 tho.