Bad Day, Blown head gasket

[xxTJRocksxx]

Hey Guys, So I guess this is just poetic justice.

 

I installed my ARP stud kit Wednesday Night, and logged about 200 miles since installation. I originally planned to re torque everything and re check valve lash sunday. Unfortunatley disaster struck this afternoon and I am defeated.

 

Firstly, I haven't beat on the truck very much. I left the Boost defuel on the quad set to 45 PSI.

 

I left a stop sign on my way home from work today, and according to the data log I hit 37PSI of boost. I came to a stop and had a #2 cylinder miss, and White steam from the exhaust. I limped the truck a half mile back to my office, and now I sit here waiting for my wife to pick me up.

 

I guess I am going to get some seat time on my CBR 1000 this week lol.

 

What I know so far:

 

-Missing Antifreeze

-No coolant in oil.

-#2 Intake rocker came loose, Bolt pulled 4 threads from the head.

- Push rod is not bent, and during cranking it moves up and down correctly.

 

My suspicions:

 

-Either I overtorqued or undertorqued the #2 Rocker, and it just decided to fail two days later. (Yes I checked the lash after installing the studs, I planned to re check it Sunday)

-When the rocker failed, The added negative pressure on the intake stroke blew the head gasket.

 

My Hopes:

 

-Just need to re machine the head, and replace the gasket. Might as well do fire rings and valve springs while I am at it.

 

 

[dripley]

That sucks. Better luck in the future.

[xxTJRocksxx]

Apparently this is a common issue on 24V Cummins. 

[JAG1]

Are there a lot of similar stories about this failure? I guess I just haven't heard.

[dripley]

I dont think it is a common failure on trucks like ours @JAG1. Maybe with jacked up twins it is, but not ours. Dont know for sure.

Edited December 17, 2016 by dripley

[TFaoro]

Never heard of this happening with the rocker coming loose.

 

However, considering it is an intake rocker that came loose I don't see that blowing the gasket. No intake means no air, which means less pressure. 

 

This is why I ALWAYS break the studs back loose and re-torque them at least 2 more times before the truck moves. On my motor I did 3 times. Live and learn I suppose.

[xxTJRocksxx]

Head gasket is def blown, but the quad says I only hit max 37 psi of boost. I read on other forums where people had intake and exhaust rockers break. Unless I over torqued the rocker bolt IDK why it would fail 200 miles later

[CSM]

Stock valve springs?  When you pull the head i would look for any piston to valve contact.

Edited December 17, 2016 by CSM

[xxTJRocksxx]

@CSM yeah stock valve springs, but boost was limited to 45 psi. the quad logged a max of 37 PSI when the gasket blew. Keep in mind I already drove the truck three days before this happened.

 

I am pretty sure at this point that it was just bad luck and doing the studs with a stock head gasket was a bad idea.

 

I am going to have a shop near my work (that's where I parked the truck) pull the head and see what I got to work with. If the head passes NDT, I might rework it.

 

Anyone have recommendations on head mods that are a good idea while it is off? I am already going to replace the pushrods, valve springs, guides, seals, and put rocker studs in.

 

anyone have opinions on best head gasket for the 24 valve? I want to turn 60PSI when this is done. I was thinking fire rings but research shows mixed opinions up to 70 psi. From what I hear good gasket/studs/springs should hold up up to 70psi (weekend warrior)

@TFaoro @Me78569 @CSM, Head is off and out to machine shop. Looks like a bad head surface and over-torqued rocker bolt is the root cause. I guess the previous owner running 1500+ EGT's warped the head. LOL there went 2 grand.

 

New mods coming:

 

Fire rings

60Lb Hamilton Valve springs and upgraded push rods

3 piece exhaust manifold

Water Meth. (February)