The other day my head gaskets blew on my 1996 V6 3.8L mustang and me and my brother have the engine apart and the heads are being machined and my brother noticed that the #3 piston looks bran new like it was never fired you can still see the etchings on the top of it and I was wondering if anyone knew why that would happen and if anyone has any suggestions???????????

 

Cylinder # 3 is where the water was entering. That's why it's clean. If you clean the rest of the piston tops, you will see that you can read them as well. By the way, when you go back together with it, be sure to replace the head bolts. They're torque to yield. Also be sure to be precise on the head bolt torque. If you don't do it properly, you'll be doing the job again.

 

Also, make sure you start in the middle of the head bolts and work your way out, otherwise you could get some warpage.

 

i have cleaned all the other pistons and #3 is the only one that looks new

 

as others have said #3 is where the coolant was coming into the engine. it will take all the carbon off of the piston in quick order.

new head bolts and use 1999+ ford MLS head gaskets. MLS= Multilayer steel. this will ensure that the gaskets never leak again

do not use 1996 head gaskets as they are not improved like the 1999+ gaskets are. also 1998+ Felpro gaskets are designed the same as the 1999+ford gaskets