An Acura tech installed it and I didnt re tq it either. It was great at 17 psi for 1500 miles until the 21 psi and bigger turbo. It may or not be the install, but I doubt it.

Which ARP studs are you using and what did YOU tq yours down to? Ill ask the dude what he tq'd to.

 

Before I installed my 3mm I made a few phone calls to eliminate any hearsay.

ARP had me measure the threads on the studs and after confirming they are 12mm wide they stated they should be torqued to 90ft/lbs with their moly lube.

I then called IP, they said dont use any copper spray, put RTV/hondabond only around timing chain cover on both sides of the gasket, and torque ARP studs in two stages, first to 60ftlbs and then to 90ft/lbs.

So far so good....

 

Thats way too much timing at MBT man. Mine is around 7-8 degrees if I remember correct and I have yet to blow a HG. I'm going with detonation too. When you pull the head, you'll see the black coating missing between the cylinders.

Pop an OEM HG around the 3mm spacer and TQ your ARP headstuds in 3 steps with molylube, 30, 60 ,80 and drop that timing at full boost hit to around 7-8 deg and about 19 at redline and you wont blow it again. Guarantee your head was not lifting with the ARP's, this was detonation.

 

We did 90 ft lbs on the APR studs well lubed with moly. Copper coat on the gasket, retorque at 800 miles and no problems with factory head gasket.
IMHO, you should always do the head bolt/nut torque a second time after a rebuild. If any of the nuts are less than fully torqued I would suggest a 3rd torque check after a couple thousand more miles.

 

I checked mine C16 Map out and you are running VERY advanced at 23deg but I was having trouble trying to understand where you were running 15deg and 23deg. You referenced MBT at one point but you should be at or near MBT through the entire map.

This does assume that your MAP is properly calibrated and your base timing is sync'd

 

i agree with others..i have been running a 3mil gasket, 93 pump and arp studs, moly, torqued in 3 steps.22lbs daily.

when i hear 3mil hg install horrors i immediately think install error, head not machined properly, or at all..i personally think detonation is the cause here..

 

 

Well, I dont see anything on the plugs that show any sign of detonation and my CEL didnt flash during a run. On the highway the AF was around 10.8-11.2. I dont know. I would hate to be one to instantly think its the tune, but Ill have an open mind.

 

Here is my timing map... What I dont get is the timing from 12 psi to 16 psi. Why is it the same?? Its not right, I know that much.

 

well, detonation caused by running too lean is different then detonation caused by too aggressive timing. I was detonating with my Greddy Kit and was in the 10's AFR.........

FWIW I am running a 3mm H/G and Water Meth and timing is 21 at 23psi. Yes my HG blew but wasnt due to detonation, think it was when my mani was glowing red and I just kept on it