Head gasket "break-in "

[ELABAY]

I should be getting my truck back today with a new head gasket and arp studs. Is there any kind of break-in for this? I've read I need to re-torque after awhile. I'm supposed to be pulling our 11k # travel trailer Friday and back home Sunday, will that be a problem or should we re-schedule our camping trip?

 

[NIsaacs]

I don't see any difference than a new truck. When I changed mine I went to hauling right away.

Nick

 

[ELABAY]

Ok thanks. That's true about a new truck.

 

[Newsa]

Any idea what caused the blown gasket? Did it get too hot?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Any idea what caused the blown gasket? Did it get too hot?

I am betting, deleted with a tuner and having some fun!

 

[ELABAY]

I'm really not sure what caused it. I don't beat on it. I tow occasionally but nothing extreme.

 

[sag2]

Are you sure the EGR cooler didn't leak and it got misdiagnosed as a head gasket? Cummins, especially stock do not fail head gaskets.

 

[ELABAY]

Egr cooler "fell off" in the driveway awhile back.

 

[Mingoglia]

Egr cooler "fell off" in the driveway awhile back.

HAHA :-laf

 

[sag2]

Egr cooler "fell off" in the driveway awhile back.

OK, just checking, it gets misdiagnosed most of the time.

 

[Newsa]

Are you sure the EGR cooler didn't leak and it got misdiagnosed as a head gasket? Cummins, especially stock do not fail head gaskets.

Would/Could the increased heat (from uncooled recirculation) cause this?

Was originally thinking EGT's from a tuner.

I know it was posted on here before that head gaskets don't fail. And heads don't warp on the cummins.

 

[ELABAY]

You guys are saying it doesn't happen, but if you go over to cummins forum it seems more common then I would like to know. I read over there that it can be blamed on deleting the egr. I don't know though.

 

[sag2]

OK I will correct my statement. Stock Cummins engines do not fail head gaskets.

 

[mpaulson]

Deleted trucks,6.7's, are hard on head gaskets. With the EGR gone they get too much compression spike and especially if the tuner has any kind of timing advance. The EGR from my knowledge helped provide a function like a waste gate to help move air volume out of the cylinders so that the residual volume didn't compound with the next compression stroke, at least something to that effect.
On my 07.5 I did fine for about 180,000km's with one programmer then switched to a different one and within 10,000km's I had to do the head gasket and then again in about 12,000 Km's later again. The gaskets are to narrow between the cylinders since the block is basically the same as the 5.9L, just a bit bigger bore thus reducing the space between for a less forgiving gasket. The second programmer had some more aggressive timing advances. After that I went back to the original programmer.

 

[AH64ID]

OK I will correct my statement. Stock Cummins engines do not fail head gaskets.

Stock 5.9's with less than 250K miles rarely have head gasket issues, but 6.7's are a different breed. The Siamese design if the cylinders is far harder on headgaskets even in stock form. Deleted and tuned without studs can decrease the life drastically.

Saying something doesn't fail is too extreme, it's rare but does happen.

 

[ELABAY]

I went with arp studs so I sure hope I don't have to deal with this again.

 

[Sleeper1]

You should be good with studs but 68RFE may suffer if you don't monitor your right foot! Good Luck. If you don't mind, how much do you have in the studs and gasket? I assume you had it Decked as well? Thanks

 

[AH64ID]

As far as the breakin most shops do the hot retorque before you pick it up. Once you get it there should be nothing additional required. Just be sure to check with the shop.

 

[ELABAY]

They told me I was good to go when I picked it up. I always have that 68rfe in mind. It cost me $2800. That was for the studs, machine shop work, and gaskets, and labor. They also changed valve guides. I hope that was "fair".

 

[Sleeper1]

They told me I was good to go when I picked it up. I always have that 68rfe in mind. It cost me $2800. That was for the studs, machine shop work, and gaskets, and labor. They also changed valve guides. I hope that was "fair".

Thanks for the info. I guess it's a fair price if holds the Head down from now on. Maybe someone can chime in on what a typical H.G. install cost. Most likely varies from place to place. Again, Good Luck