OldSmokey

After I installed my flux 1.8s a few months ago I have a slight tick in my exhaust tone. Ive run it for nearly 6000 miles that way and I havent notice any problem just the tick. Also when i did the install I was in a hurry and I put the bridge on number 6 cylinder on the valve spring retainer and not the top of the valve. It ran that way for a few min. Once I got the spring back in was the first time I noticed the sound. So im not sure if its a problem with the valve or if its the way the injectors sound? Also you can only hear the sound at idle or when rpms fall between shifts. Its a pretty faint sound but its there.

One other thing some times when I start the truck after its set for 8 hours or more I get a little white smoke. Im thinking some oil may be making it past the valve. The funny thing is it doesnt always do it.

What do you guys think.

Topper

Joel,
It kinda sounds like a valve seat to me. I had it happen and have seen it happen a bunch of times after it happened to me. The 03's are know to drop valve seats. I know Cummins stopped selling the 03 heads after a lot of problems. (Most valve seat troubles). I would check valve lash real close. All the ones that I know of have been #5 or 6 cylinder.
By the way mine had kinda a hollow tick sound for a couple of days then it went away. About a week or two later it did it again. This time it did it for about 75 miles then it broke the valve destroyed a piston, turbo and the head.
Good luck,
Topper

OldSmokey

I better get the head pulled. Whats the best place to get new seats or would I be better off getting a newer style head?

Dwitt0187

prolly the 06 head would be best and i think it flows more air than 03

Topper

I went with a new head from Cummins. It was $1800 and that was complete and assembled. I should have pulled mine the day before I did.... I would have saved some coin.
Good luck,
Topper

OldSmokey

Is this what i need?

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=cummins+par...dslspec.com%2F

Topper

Loel,
That link would not open for me.
Topper

OldSmokey

I checked all the valves and they are all spot on. Any more ideas? I think i might be having some injector problems too.Seems like im getting some fuel in my oil. Could the injectors be causing the sound?

Topper

Joel,
Hopefully you head is fine. I think an injector going bad could make a tic but every time I have had an injector go bad it sounded like a knock. The last time on my 03 it really knocked. Sounded like she was coming apart. My injector was stuck wide open though. One way to check if you have to much fuel in one cylinder is to pull the exhaust manifold away from the head an inch or 2 and see which cylinder is wet.
Good luck,
Topper

Topper

Hey OldSmoky,
How did ya make out with this?
Topper

OldSmokey

I sent an oil sample in to blackstone and they said everything looked good, but there was 3% fuel in the oil. This was at 1400 miles on the oil. The funny thing is the dip stick reads almost an inch high. They didnt notice any water in it maybe I blew a hg. Im stumped.