Reuse the stand pipes. Yes buy the ford kit and throw away (or sell) the bolts. manifold gaskets i would replace. May need bolts also.

 

Put a pressure gauge on the cooling system.
What makes you thing you have a issue.

 

Long story short, losing coolant through the degas cap.

Is this a manufacturer claim or a claim by an individual posted somewhere on the internet?

Also. even if true that they are produced "side-by-side" with the Ford gaskets, it in no way assures us that they are identical.

Claim by the seller....don't know who the manufacturer is.

Exhaust gaskets are cheap. I put a set on mine when I had the heads out. Sure they weren't leaking, but I'd hate to put it all together only to find I have a manifold exhaust leak. Those aren't the easiest to get to on the truck.

And like the others stated, but your gaskets from Ford. They come with the updated standpipes, and you KNOW you aren't putting an inferior HG on the truck, because you don't want to do the job twice, am I right?

You, Sir, have just hit the nail on the head! I've already had her torn apart once and would have done HG while in there had I suspected them being bad, so I do NOT want to have to do things twice. lol It's just frustrating that I'm going to be paying for 20 bolts that I will not use. Wish they just sold a set of gaskets. I'd even be willing to do gaskets and the stand pipe...just as long as I wasn't having to pay for the TTY bolts! lol

 

I haven't conclusively diagnosed my gaskets as blown, but I'm leaning that way. I've still got to do the cooling system pressure test and CO2 in coolant test to verify. Anyway, in anticipation that this is my problem, I'm researching things. I have what are, I hope, a few simply questions.

Since I already have ARP studs, is it possible to just buy the OEM gaskets instead of the "kit" which includes TTY bolts that I'm just going to throw away?

I do know there are other manufacturers which sell gaskets by themselves and know everyone says to stay OEM. I have no problem with that, but wanted to ask about "Platinum" head gaskets. The claim is, "They are built side by side in the same facility as the factory Ford gaskets..." If this were true, then they would be the same as OEM, but able to get them without the bolts. Anyone have any input on these?

I replace the standpipes just last month so they are the updated version with teflon washers. With so little use on them would I still have to replace them when I do head gaskets?

Exhaust manifold gaskets...yes or no? I don't have any leaks right now. I'm thinking yes just to be on the safe side.

Is this a manufacturer claim or a claim by an individual posted somewhere on the internet? In fact, a statement on the Mahle website claims there are differences: "The new Victor Reinz head gaskets with advanced Black Diamond™ coating technology are constructed of five stainless steel layers, utilizing Dana’s patented integrated push rod locators and are coated with a Victor Reinz proprietary fluoroelastomer (rubber) coating.".

MAHLE Aftermarket North America | BlackDiamondGaskets

Also. even if true that they are produced "side-by-side" with the Ford gaskets, it in no way assures us that they are identical.

 

Use motor craft head gasket kit as mentioned, it will have new standpipes in it so why not use them? Also truck doesn't originally come with exhaust manifold gaskets and you are not having issues with exhaust leaks, why disturb them?

 

Exhaust gaskets are cheap. I put a set on mine when I had the heads out. Sure they weren't leaking, but I'd hate to put it all together only to find I have a manifold exhaust leak. Those aren't the easiest to get to on the truck.

And like the others stated, but your gaskets from Ford. They come with the updated standpipes, and you KNOW you aren't putting an inferior HG on the truck, because you don't want to do the job twice, am I right?

 

I know the feeling. I have both bags of TTY bolts sitting on a shelf in my garage now. Thought about using them as spikes to stake some timbers down around a couple flowerbeds. Unless someone knows a source who buys them?