Head gaskets melted #3 piston

Hello, first time posting and new to the forums. I recently purchased a 6.0 diesel last October and absolutely love the truck! Always wanted one and finally got it and seem to now be having issues. I bought this truck to haul a 5th wheel mainly as I have a F-150 and a company truck I drive throughout the week. The first thing I did when I got this truck was order an scte livewire to monitor things while I waited for the 5th wheel hitch to get mounted. Right off the bat I had to replace the radiator due to heating up and having higher than normal deltas between oil & coolant. IWhen I did that I back flushed the oil cooler and did the swap to cat-etc as well. My deltas are normally 3-5 degrees while unloaded. 6-14 degrees while pulling. Truck has always ran great but from first time I ever pulled I have noticed puking coolant. I took truck into ford and 2 techs came out and hopped under the hook and told me that I had a bad egr cooler which was my problem. I explained that I had looked at the kits online and it appeared to me it was already deleted. They argued and swore up and down no it was there and pointed to something up there and said yeah it's right there. So I left and ordered the bullet proof egr cooler and a new oil cooler since I would be in there to fix this. I have taken it down to do this and have verified it has been deleted as I suspected. Which led me to the heads. I have pulled the heads with cab on due to YouTube video help. My #3 piston appears to have a valve slammed into it at some point. I can not see any cracks or holes. Appears to have heated up though and has a valve imprinted into the top of it. I can wiggle this piston more than others so I believe I will now be dropping the pan with cab on to try replacing this through the top. Heads are at the machine shop waiting to be magnafluxed and pressure tested. That same #3 cylinder had 2 bent exhaust valves when Disassembled that head. All else looks well. I have purchased arp head studs and fel pro permatorque gaskets as well as new pushrods, and standpipes. I'm getting mixed reviews on keeping the egr delete that it had. To revert back I would have to find a stock pipe I'm assuming. Am I on the right track? Just want truck to be nice and reliable. I don't tow with tunes. I will run the performance tune around town unloaded though. Hope I've covered everything and love my 6.0!

Anyone have a good used piston? Should this not be done?

The fact that you can wiggle that piston would concern me. If you want the truck reliable your best bet is going to be pulling the engine and having it inspected. My guess would be it's going to need an over bore. Maybe you'll be able to figure out why it PTV contact.

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Here is the bad piston

01yellerCobra said:

The fact that you can wiggle that piston would concern me. If you want the truck reliable your best bet is going to be pulling the engine and having it inspected. My guess would be it's going to need an over bore. Maybe you'll be able to figure out why it PTV contact.

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I guess I over exaggerated I can't wiggle loosely,I can click it side to side where I can't budge the others. So it's not that sloppy. I have been told to pull this one, ball hone and replace with another.

Use the Ford head gaskets when you reassemble. The others are more likely to fail. Look at www.powerstrokehelp.com and Bill Hewitt explains why. If you don't need the EGR do not put it back on. Get a different delete kit if you must. If you have emission tests then get an upgraded cooler. Check around for the better ones. Good luck with it.

Well piston and rod were replaced had to get new heads, arps, new pushrods, new oil cooler, coolant filter and probably more I'm forgetting. But she's running great! Back on the road! Thanks for all help and comments!

Glad to hear it's running again. Sorry to hear it took so much to get back on the road.

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The good news is now that you've done all of these things and did them right that truck will give years and miles of good service. You have addressed all of the Achilles in the is motor. These are the issues that cause big failures. Too bad you had to go as far as the piston and heads. Enjoy the truck. I love mine.

Yes sir! She's running like a top! No coolant disappearing anymore when I tow. Temps are all great! Couldn't be happier! Was a very scary job but well worth it, and more knowledge of my truck now!

troutwest66 said:

The good news is now that you've done all of these things and did them right that truck will give years and miles of good service. You have addressed all of the Achilles in the is motor. These are the issues that cause big failures. Too bad you had to go as far as the piston and heads. Enjoy the truck. I love mine.

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sir