Has Anyone Ever Blown A Head Gasket On 2003 Or 2004 Common Rail Someone Told Me Something About Them Having Mls Head Gaskets And They Are Harder To Blow I Was Told Some That Was Pulling In This Area On Stock Head Bolts And Gasket Running 70psi And Didnt Blow The Gasket Is This Possible

 

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Dwitt:

It was not a 2003 or 2004, but I know that Tim Barber who goes by Timinva and is also a banner advertiser here blew a headgasket on his 2006. If you contact him he can give you all the details.

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John_P

 

Its drive pressure that kills headgaskets. Basically Overfueling different turbos outside there map. 3rd gens are supposed to be good up to 45-50psi with stock bolts/gasket. Bottom-Tapped head studs are always good insurance tho.

 

IS DRIVE PRESSURE BECAUSE OF TO SMALL OF AN EXHAUST HOUSING?

 

Yes and no... The wastegate is not big enough, the exhaust wheel is not big enough.

Drive pressure isn't the only problem. Fuel, timing, boost, exhaust pressure, and NOS (if using it), are the main factors. This all leads to cylinder pressure.

Fuel = energy in the cylinder
Boost = the other half of the energy
Timing = Effects point of expansion
NOS = more fuel for the fire.
Exhaust pressure = residual pressure left over

 

plenty of people have blown headgaskets on Common Rail trucks, it is pretty common if you are pushing the envelope, or you dont have studs

 

studs? dont all the trucks have studs?

 

Yah they come with studs, these are new studs, that you can torque down more so the head doesnt lift. You can actually torque down your stockers way more but its kinda a fine art!

 

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sallyman1:

No, none of the stock Cummins 5.9/6.7 Engines in our Dodge Pickups from 1989 to present (2007) have studs. Cummins uses bolts in all those cylinder heads.

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John_P

 

Huh, you learn something new everyday. I just figured they were studs, just not of as good of quality.

 

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Old Smokey:

No problem buddy! This is not the first time I have seen or been asked if the Cummins Engines come with studs. I wish they did!

With reference to the Cummins Head Bolts, I would never use a set of them more than one time either. Cummins has a little cardboard "gauge" which is supposed to be used to "measure" the bolts if they are used again. You lay the bolt up into a groove on this gauge and if the length of the bolt goes past their "tolerances" you are supposed to throw it away. Some guys swear by the stock bolts, even some that drag race their trucks such as Jeff Garmon. He definitely has my respect and admiration, but I just can't see myself using stock bolts in a truck with alot of high horespower and torque such as my 96' Dodge CTD 12 valve. I blew my headgasket with STOCK BOLTS at about 98,000 miles, went to 12mm studs at that time and have never looked back. Actually, my engine builder (Scheid Diesel) has upgraded me to 14mm studs and firerings on my 12 valve now. IMHO, I think they are very tough and reliable. I do feel that the newer 5.9 Cummins CR Engines do have a better head gasket with the MLS than the earlier 24 valve or 12 valve engines though. They seem to be able to take alot of abuse, but I know they will blow out too with the right conditions.

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John_P

 

I ran 60-ish lbs. of boost with my SPS66 with no issues...

 

Im not speaking for Tim but it wasnt drive pressure that blew his gasket. He has a very nice set of twins, that are gated properly. But even with properly installed and torqued studs, they have their limits. Lets just say Tim found the limitations.