cracked heads question

krasselt21 · Feb 18, 2016

had a set of heads magnaflux and you can see cracks from the glow plug hole to valve and also there is a small crack inbetween valves. pressure tested and don't leak. would you run them again?

6fodays · Feb 18, 2016

Hell yea id run them to the scrap metal bin

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6fodays · Feb 18, 2016

But in all seriousness, i wouldnt

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madman1234509 · Feb 18, 2016

Sure thing..... if you want to risk pulling them back off again just to put new ones on.... And yes the new ones need to be fluxed and surfaced again as well

In all seriousness, some guys run them. I don't know how many or if any have issues. But I wouldn't personally want to risk it have have to pay that bill twice. My heads on my 08 were cracked and the truck puked on high hp tunes. My 2010 never puked or showed signs of head gasket failure. When we took the heads off no cracks were found.

White_monster · Feb 18, 2016

Ran my cracked heads for 4yrs no puking. Pulled engine for my new one. Only reason I ran them is I do the work so it's not a big deal to redo it since no labour fees.

4.0l sahara · Feb 18, 2016

run them..... If some one came into the shop they would be getting new heads but they like to crack so me personally I would run them with out thinking twice.

6.0 Tech · Feb 18, 2016

Ford says that these are just superficial cracks, they do not extend into cooling passages or anything. I would have no issue running them.

6.4f350 · Feb 18, 2016

6.0 Tech said:
Ford says that these are just superficial cracks, they do not extend into cooling passages or anything. I would have no issue running them.

^This. Ford has an official bulletin out on AERA stating exactly what he said.

Ran into the same thing with my heads when they were off the first time. They've since been off again when I rebuilt the bottom end and I haven't had a single issue.

78f100 · Feb 18, 2016

One of my machine shops said he has only ever had 1 set of heads that didn't have cracks. Most of them do if they have any amount of miles on them. I've had several new sets with cracks in the if you look hard enough.

co04cobra · Feb 18, 2016

Is Ford going to superficially foot the bill too, if they do have to come back off?

If you're doing the work yourself go for it.

If you would have to pay labor twice then I wouldn't chance it.

6.4 Stroker · Feb 18, 2016

Run them.
FYI Ford isn't the only one who says superficial cracks are okay.

co04cobra · Feb 18, 2016

True. Any of those going to help foot the bill if they do have to come back off?

It should come down to if the guy likes to gamble and how much money he has can potentially waste.

Cutting-Edge Diesel · Feb 19, 2016

I have had heads on my personal truck I ran with those hair line cracks and after a couple of years they made their way to the coolant passages (on a 6.0). Personal truck you can chance it as long as you know there is a possibility they will leak in the future. Customers truck no way.

krasselt21 · Feb 19, 2016

well I ended up making a plate to pressure test the heads. put 50 psi of air pressure and used the simple soapy water mixture and no bubbling at the cracks. I do, do the work myself. I just read and called numerous shops and most people say to run them cause the reman heads that a person buys most likely have the same cracks in them.