head gaskets

[melmount]

Thanks a bunch. That answered my questions,

 

[bendog]

Here is my feeble attempt at understanding..... In order for your truck to go faster than stock you have to change the engines operating parameters (there are many ways to add more power than stock This is extremely simplified.). To add power you must add more fuel and air than factory programming allows (more fuel and air = more power). The increased boost, and added fuel quantity, and pressure dont directly destroy the HGs, they allow more fuel and air, more fuel and air mean more power in the form of higher than factory engineered combustion pressure. Combustion pressure trys to escape from the combustion chambers and takes the path of least resistance, usually it pushes the pistons down, but when the pressures are high and the load is high it cant push the pistons down fast enough to release all of the energy so it finds another path. The other path is often head gaskets because of inadequit clamp load holding the heads to the cylinder block. The head bolts clamp the heads to the cylinder block. The gaskets are between the heads and cylinder block. Often the gaskets get the blame but truly it seems to me that there should have been more head bolts per cylinder or stronger bolts from the manufacturer. Even stock, under full load conditions for long periods of time, I think my gaskets leak. I am in the process of testing this now with a coolant pressure guage. wow my pointer finger hurts now.

 

[melmount]

is it definate that in 05 and up different head bolts were used? If i read correct their also was an improved head gasket? around 05 too, i think