New Diesel Cylinder Heads: Signs You Need Them and What They Cost
Cylinder heads take more abuse than almost anything else on a diesel. Heat cycles, cylinder pressure, towing, tuning and the occasional overheat all land on the head and the gasket under it. Here is how to tell when it is time for new heads, what goes into ours, and what they cost.
Signs Your Diesel Needs New Heads
- Coolant loss with no visible leak. It is going somewhere, often into a cylinder or the oil.
- White smoke that smells sweet, especially on startup.
- A pressurized cooling system or a degas bottle that pushes coolant out.
- Low compression on one or more cylinders.
- Overheating under load that started after a tune or a hard pull.
- Fuel in the coolant or coolant in the fuel on a 7.3, usually from leaking injector cups.
If the heads are coming off for any reason, including an engine build or a stud job, that is the time to put a better set on.
Built Better Than Factory
The factory head was built to a price. Ours are built to last. Every head we sell starts as a brand new casting that has never been installed or heat cycled, then goes through our Full Works process at Tru Cylinder Head and Machine in Jefferson City, Tennessee:
- Crack checked and pressure tested before any machine work starts
- Valve guides and seats cut true to our spec
- New valve seals
- Complete valve job, every valve lapped and checked for seal
- Deck surfaced flat for a gasket that seals the first time
- Final inspection by the people who did the work
Some platforms get even more:
- 7.3 Powerstroke: new injector cups and new intake valves on every head
- 24 valve Cummins: valve seats for cab and chassis applications and screw in plugs in place of press in plugs
There is no core to send back and no core charge on any head.
O Ringed or Standard?
Every platform can be O ringed for $300 more. We machine a receiver groove into the deck and set stainless wire in it, which locks the head gasket in place under high cylinder pressure. If the truck runs a tune, tows heavy or makes real boost, O ring it. Standard is right for a stock truck that stays stock.
What They Cost
V8 heads are priced as a pair. Cummins heads are priced each.
- 7.3 Powerstroke pair: $1,450 standard, $1,750 O ringed
- 6.7 Powerstroke pair: $1,550 standard, $1,850 O ringed
- 6.0 Powerstroke and 6.4 Powerstroke: $1,000 per head standard, $1,150 O ringed. See our 6.0 and 6.4 head guide.
- 12 valve Cummins: $1,350 standard, $1,650 O ringed
- 24 valve Cummins, 5.9 and 6.7: $1,750 standard, $2,050 O ringed
- 6.6 Duramax pair: $1,550 standard, $1,850 O ringed
Repair shops and fleets with a wholesale account get 11% off every head. Performance upgrades such as valve springs or stainless valves are extra and quoted per application.
Do Not Skip the Root Cause
A perfect set of heads on an engine with a restricted oil cooler, a failed EGR cooler or stretched head bolts will fail again. Stud the engine and fix whatever caused the overheat. Call us before you order and we will talk through what you are actually chasing.
Common Questions
Are these new or remanufactured?
New. Every head we sell starts as a brand new casting that has never been installed or heat cycled, then goes through our Full Works machine process before it ships.
Do I need to send a core?
No. No core charge and nothing to send back.
How do I get them?
Heads ship nationwide with freight quoted per order. In East Tennessee our courier delivers to your shop from Knoxville to Greeneville starting at $15 per trip.
Do you work on gas engine heads?
Yes. Tru machines gas engine heads and blocks too. Call 865.548.8520 for a quote.
Questions? Call Tru at 865.548.8520 or Powerhouse at 865.640.2097.