I know there's a lot of different post along this problem. I have a 2007.5 and not knowing when I bought it it had a blown gasket. Since then I had the 425 ARP head bolts put in had the head checked for cracks and resurfaced. Also running the smarty Jr. And everything is deleted. Once I done this I didn't have a problem till 7 months later and now I'm puking water back into my over flow bottle. I believe that I caused this issue this time I was playing around turned the programmer torqe and timing as well as setting it on performance to well normally its on tow haul which is where I never had a problem. So knowing this I turned everything back down and the puking is only when I put the pettle on the floor. I know I'm going have to have it done again but is there any tips on how to prevent this issue. Yes I know keeping the settings where they was would have worked but any info would mean a lot thanks!

 

Typically the boxed programmers are a little harsher on the higher settings causing head gasket failures prematurely. However 7 months seems fairly quick, how do you typically use the truck? Do you tow often in the biggest tune?

 

Well I was hauling 100 gallon diesel tank full all the time and a welding machine and bottles and all kinds or tools so ya I was hauling a lot of weight. I'm not any more and prob won't be near as much but I'm still planning on using it to pull my 37 ft travel tralior around.so yes I was hauling a lot

 

I've been reading a lot and researching everyone has different ways they fixed theres. Would a exteneral waste gate help me on this issue? And what is this fire ring I keep hearing about. And where does this. Is that something the machine shop does when I take it and have it checked??

 

i have a 08. i blew a hg at 50k now i have 217k. i done some testing with boost/drive pressure years ago. 23-24 lb of boost is 23-24 lb of drive. 32 lb of boost is 60 lb drive pressure. this is my limit towing. also smarty set with default timing. when i use the exhaust brake i get 60 lb on the drive pressure gauge. the vgt turbo is a nice turbo but cant be pushed hard or hg will fail. hope this helps.

 

I have an 09 and still have the vgt turbo so I added an external wastegate and been good so far. it pops off when the exhaust brake starts to brake real hard and I have it set to 30 psi when driving

 

fire-ringing is generally thought to be superfluous on a 6.7, as the factory MLS gasket is holding up well to absurd boost numbers. there are guys on the NHRDA circuit running 1000+ hp dedicated drag trucks on stock head gaskets with good studs. as long as your head and block are level, you should be good.

fire rings, essentially, are metal rings placed between the head gasket and head in order to exert more pressure on your head gasket around the cylinder bores to ensure your gasket doesn't pop. a groove is machined into the head around each cylinder to recess the rings. once it's done, there's no going back as your head won't exert pressure on the gasket properly without the rings.

12v and older 24v 5.9s seem to respond well to fire rings with factory (cummins) style heads and high boost, but the 6.7s seem to hold boost just fine due to the MLS gasket specified by cummins, provided the head is studded and doesn't lift under boost.

if you keep popping HGs, i'd probably recommend making sure your head is milled level, and if that's good and you're still popping them then your block might be warped. good luck!