ETH and blown head gasket survey

[Bart Timothy]

I have personal knowledge of 3 local ETHs which have blown haed gaskets at the oil feed passage in the very front of the engine. I've heard rumors of more in other parts of the country.

I would appreciate any responses of confirmed instances of this problem or other haed gasket failures on the ETH. Thanks in advance.

Bart

 

[Little Bill]

Bart, et al,

Please include whether these engines had boost modifications.

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2001 QC SLT SWB ETH 6SP JRE Spa Fabritech Bosch Edge

 

[drawson]

Bart is your's one of these w/ blow head gasket?

 

[Bart Timothy]

Dee, yes it happened to me and another local member you know. Most all ETHs are still under warranty and the subject is too sensative an issue to discuss here until we find out the exact cause. Right now we're trying to see if the problem is wide spread, find the simularities, if any, then I'll report.

 

[Benson]

How many miles do you have on them?

 

[daveg]

Just got mine out of the shop last week for a blown head gasket. Cost was $859 including cleaning up the oil soaked alternator. No warrantee because of the mods. Would have taken the stuff off if I had had a clue it was a combustion chamber blow. Never heard of it on a Cummins. From the outside it looked like the oil passage blew out for some reason.

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Dave Grindstaff 2001. 5 3500 quad cab duelly 4X4, SLT plus, ETH 6sp, 3:54ls, EZ, DD3s, propane, HX40/16, 4" pipe turbo to tail, Pyscotty air, Isspro's in pillar, Joe Donnellys modified Sachs

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

mine just did this also. it blew straight out the back of #6. it filled my coolant with 2 quarts of oil.

i have a ? do you think it's becuase of the propane or do you think the problem is when you get above 400+hp with the eth the gaskets won't hold? the eth has a higher compression ratio than the etc and maybe cylinder pressure is geting to high. i like my propane but don't want to blow another gasket. does anyone make a better gasket?

jim

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if it ain't broke fix it till it is!!
2001 eth, ez box, dd2's,southbendclutch

My Ram Pics

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

back to the top.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Jim, bummer about the head gasket! I hate reading threads like this the day after getting DD2s in the mail #ad
. There must be some change other than increased compression causing the gasket failures. I know having too much exhaust pressure, caused by running a stock turbo with big injectors, can contribute to head gasket failure. But lowering CR couldn't hurt. There was a good thread about thicker head gaskets on the 12v forum that will lower CR more than a full point, I would recommend doing that if your gasket blows in hopes of preventing it from happening again. It was mentioned on the thread the 12v and 24v engines use the same gasket, but the ETH may be unique.

Vaughn

 

[Bob Wagner]

So does the ETC have a thicker head gasket that lessens the chance of failure?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

vaughn

glad to here you got your dd2's. are you putting those 2's in before friday?

i'm not sure what the deal with the eth's is but it seems people with the gasket problems have 400+hp and they use propane. most other people's gasket's are blowing out the front of the motor and mine blew straight out the back of #6. so i think i'm done wih drugs for now.

say no to drugs say no to drugs say no to drugs.

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if it ain't broke fix it till it is!!
2001 eth, ez box, dd2's,southbendclutch

My Ram Pics

 

[daveg]

The dealership that replaced my gasket thinks that the timing changes made by the EZ and the volatility of propane caused the problem. Makes sense to me.
I had this same propane system on a '96 3500 and a '98 3500. Both were bombed and ran like hell. Could'nt keep a torque converter in the '96, finally snapped the input shaft off the transmission. Never had any engine problems with either, but both were 12 valvers.
Took the drugs off my ETH tonight, will do it with diesel. Time will tell if the gasket will hold the rest of my mods.

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Dave Grindstaff 2001. 5 3500 quad cab duelly 4X4, SLT plus, ETH 6sp, 3:54ls, EZ, DD3s, propane, HX40/16, 4" pipe turbo to tail, Pyscotty air, Isspro's in pillar, Joe Donnellys modified Sachs

 

[Bumble]

Sorry to hear about the blowouts. But it sounds like a highly modified engine thing. Stock engine sounds better all the time...

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2001, 3500, 5sp, 3. 54LS, 4x4, pyro and boost on the A-pillar, 165 watt backup lights, Thomas powered on-board air system, Grovers.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

There may be a combinations of things contributing to the failure (in addition to the possibilities of poor machining of the surfaces, warpage of the surfaces, improper bolt torques, inadequate surface cleanliness, defective gaskets, etc). The ETH has more compression and timing advance, and combined with aggressive timing boxes, lots of boost, and heavy doses of propane, the cylinder pressures may be very high. 12 valves have had head gasket problems mostly near the thermostat housing, and in some cases the block was parped with a dip up to 0. 060" deep there. When Piers and I "added a bit of hp" we went to the 0. 020" thicker head gasket which took the static compression from 17. 5 (like the ETH) down to 16. 35 (like the ETC). We also used only diesel #2 which may give a smoother, less peaky pressure curve than propane and/or nitrous enhancements. Also the gasket we went to was marine grade with better/bigger sealing beads at the water and oil passages. Cummins went to this grade gasket for all 12 valves late in their lifetime, after most of the Rams with them had been produced.

Hope this helps. Perhaps someone has done a careful diagnosis and can shed more light. I haven't seen one of the gaskets that failed, the machined block and head surfaces, etc. to make a better judgment.

 

[RobG]

These head gasket failures are frustrating to read, but if it happens to me, I'll just use it as an opportunity to improve upon a bad situation.

First, I'll do it myself, or with the help of willing locals.

Second, if I can get the head ported while it's off, I certainly will.

Third, I'll add whatever improved gasket that I can get, to drop CR and help things last better.

BUT, since I'm not running propane or nitrous, and have no plans to do so, I'll hope for the time being that mine holds.

It's like over in f-body-land... the mod-crazy types look forward to blowing their motor, so they have an excuse to rebuild and make it better (usually into a 383 or 396). #ad


Rob


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2001. 5 RAM 3500 QC 4x4 ETH/DEE Silver/Agate, 4. 10, USGear OD, Rickson 19. 5 Wheels, DD EZ, DD3 Injectors, SPA Guages, Psychotty, Firestone Airbags, Hellwig Rear Swaybar, Torklift Superhitch & Camper Tiedowns, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover, DD 4" Exhaust, US Gear Exhaust Brake, etc. On order: Southbend Clutch, HX-40

 

[KWIKKURT]

I wonder if its not a good idea to retorque the head. It may help prevent blowing out the gasket...

 

[JMoglia]

For what its worth,I had a [90] and lost head gasket aswell I did'nt know what caused it but I checked out radiator before tear down found it in bad shape so I had it routed out,I also checked out t/stat and replaced it too,I finally decided the hole problem was my poor service,yes I did feel like crap!!!so to everyone who reads this don't forget to change coolant every 12 months,and use distiled water with additve.

c-yall jdmjoe

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

well i've only had my truck a little over 3 months so i don't think that did it.

jim

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if it ain't broke fix it till it is!!
2001 eth, ez box, dd2's,southbendclutch

My Ram Pics

 

[Archive]

For a custom head gasket you can try Lubbock Gasket, in Lubbock, TX. www.LubbockGasket.com They will make you about anything you want. They have two types of gaskets, solid copper and a composite steel ring gasket. The can make them as thick as U want. The copper gaskets seal compression good, but leak out the oil and coolant. The composite gaskets are good. We have had good luck with them in our pulling tractors. Good luck. . and let the BOMBing continue!!!!!
Bryan