Helping a friend with 1996 p/Stroke

If the intake is damaged, I'd be checking the CCV.

What jmadigan describes above is what happens when ether ignites on the power stroke, as part of the normal diesel cycle, with both valves closed. I've read varying opinions (you get 10 guys on a forum discussing this, you'll get 12 different opinions) about whether that's really possible. What isn't so debatable is what ether does when you use it with the glow plugs working. When you do, the GPs can ignite the ether at any point. That's what happened to your friend. It ignited while an intake valve was open, which is what damaged the air cleaner. This, of course, can't happen with an Otto (spark ignition) engine.

I'd leave it to the "experts" to argue whether it's safe to use ether at all on a diesel engine, but at the very least, if you choose to use it, ONLY do so when you're SURE the glow plugs and/or intake heater, whichever is applicable, are disabled.

klhansen said:

Turbo pedestal o-rings are a common source of leaks, as well as o-ring seals on the HP oil system.

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Both strong possibilities. Turbo pedestal leak would be "kinda" fast; HPO leak could be _very_ fast. Of the two, my money would be on the turbo, based on how it's been reported. That, and an ether explosion from a chamber with an open intake valve blowing out the air cleaner would of course blow back through the turbo.

Are you watching the VALLEY, esp. under the turbo, when revving it up to 2000 RPM?

Also watch the aft surfaces of the cylinder heads while doing the rev test.