head bolt issue on 3 of my last engines...

[IDIoit]

can someone explain to me why the center row of the head bolts on the last 3 7.3's ive torn apart,
all have rusted head bolts?

the first two, the bolts came out just fine.

the last one i tore apart tonight, 3 of the center row head bolts busted on me....

what causes the rust on the bolts besides moisture, do these bolts protrude into the water jacket?
and if it does why doesnt the coolant protect it from oxidation?

 

[riotwarrior]

Negative no protrusion into water jackets blind holes

Not sure what humidity, bolts dont seal so suppose water could get down inside then.

Perhaps a re gasket and sludge left i bolt bosses thus contributing to clrrosion..

Any others got any Ideas??

 

[Sorro71]

My only experience with the 7.3 was the head bolts were rusty where the cylinder head was cracked.. It took me over an hour to get the bolt unscrewed out of the block and I had to punch the bolt out after I got the head off. The rust was packed that tight around it. Hope it's a different reason for you.

 

[IDIoit]

the first engine had a cracked head.
the 2nd engine had a good set of heads.
the 3rd, i havnt inspected yet.

 

[Waystro]

The 6.9 I tore down
had rusted headbolts I'll snap a pic later for comparison.
I would also like to know what this means.

 

[icanfixall]

If these engines have never been taken apart before my only thoughts are when it was put together there was some issues with corrosion. Once rust starts it never stops. You might think in the heads tight there is no air around it but if any mositure gets in then rust is going to grow. Might very well be a bad oem head gasket. We all know the oem gaskets way back then were not good. And they got improved on over the many years till they are very good now.