At what HP do head gaskets blow?

[PUMPERDUDE]

I was just curious if there is a number to lookout for before your stocker craters. How about timing? Is there a timing magic number to lookout for also? Just curious?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Joe D said he has never had one blow?



Maybe Propane plays a part?

 

[b.j.oneill]

Mine has gone through two and it is only about 350-375 w/o any timming I don't think mine has been as much a power issue as just bad luck. FYI



Ben

 

[Sled Puller]

The stock head gasket from what I hear is not the strongest available.



If you do blow one, get a better gasket than stock(marine), be sure to have the head shaved, new bolts, and proper torque.



I blew one at the 300 hp level because of all the above things were done wrong.



Gene

 

[Strick-9]

The first head gasket trouble I had was coolant leaking out around the #5 and #6 cylinders on the passenger side. When I went to Cummins to replace my head gasket they told me the head gasket was an upgraded part. Apparently there were a lot of failures. No mixing of coolant and oil and no compression lost. Just coolant leaks out the side.



I don't know how much truth there is to that, but that's what I was told.



-Chris

 

[jimk]

Originally posted by PUMPERDUDE

I was just curious if there is a number to lookout for before your stocker craters. How about timing? Is there a timing magic number to lookout for also? Just curious?

I Have set the timing to 16 deg now for the 2 years and that is the driving factor for increase in fuel economy on my truck, but it may not help yours. I later installed a #6 plate and I have since done the Piers adjustment and that really helped. I had slid the plate all the way forward it needed the adjustment. Since then I have installed the governor springs. lol JIm

 

[b.j.oneill]

Hey Jim what adjustment are you talking about I have the same plate Just wondering.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Here you go!

http://www.piersdiesel.com/LeverAdj.htm



You will like it.



Jim

 

[JGK]

Rocker adjustment question

JFulmer,



When I went to adjust mine this weekend, I noticed it depended on whether the fuel shut off solenoid was pulled up ("on") or left down ("off"). On mine, the rocker hits lower in the "on" position, but almost just right when "off".



Did you discover the same thing and in which position did you adjust yours?



Thanks,

Jay

 

[SlyBones]

Re: Rocker adjustment question

Originally posted by JGK

JFulmer,



When I went to adjust mine this weekend, I noticed it depended on whether the fuel shut off solenoid was pulled up ("on") or left down ("off"). On mine, the rocker hits lower in the "on" position, but almost just right when "off".



Did you discover the same thing and in which position did you adjust yours?



Thanks,

Jay

Do the check in the ON position. This has been updated on Piers site.

 

[John_P]

PUMPERDUDE:



At present, I am at 400 H. P. with my truck and I just

had Scheid Diesel replace the head gasket. Mine was

leaking outside of cylinder #1 when I got on it hard.

Cylinder #4 was getting ready to leak also! At first

sign of the coolant I thought my thermostat housing

cover gasket was bad, but it was the head gasket!



Scheid Diesel installed case hardened studs instead

of the stock Cummins bolts. The torque is alot higher

on these studs (125 vs 90) and they used a different

head gasket also. My stock bolts were "stretched"

pretty good!!



----------

John_P

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Thanks for that info, Sly. I checked mine with the solenoid in the down, or Off position.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

Re: Rocker adjustment question

Originally posted by JGK

JFulmer,



When I went to adjust mine this weekend, I noticed it depended on whether the fuel shut off solenoid was pulled up ("on") or left down ("off"). On mine, the rocker hits lower in the "on" position, but almost just right when "off".



Did you discover the same thing and in which position did you adjust yours?



Thanks,

Jay

Same thing here, and I had no luck with anyone having any similar experiences and telling me what they did. When it matters weather the rocker hits the plate (ie engine running), the arm is up, so that is how I adjusted mine.

 

[JGK]

My printed version of the adjustment from Pier's site is a few months old and didn't mention the position of the solenoid.



In retrospect, it would make sense to do the adjustment with it up, if you knew it changed position depending on the solenoid's position. But, hey, what do I know



Any tips to doing the adjustment that make it easier? I've heard it's kind of a bear to do with the pump on the truck due to the clearance and so forth.



Sorry to be off-topic.



Thanks,

Jay