travelingman

Does anyone know if all blocks that have the 53 on them were flawed.
Or was it ever narrowed down to a certain spain of serial numbers ? Or a origin of manufacture ? I've read there was about 100000 units involved from 99 thru 01 .

nelly

Thats a good question. Ive been told that most flawed 53 blocks were in the Sport models assembled in Mexico? I was also told you can take out your water pump & check the thickness of your block to see if it is the 'light casting' block? Just rumours?....I dont know, but Id like to find out...anyone??

160,000kms on a USA assembled 2001 truck & still going strong!

travelingman

I figured someone in the know would have jumped in a educated us by now .
Where did you hear about the sport trucks an or checking the thickness of the block in the water pump cavity at ? I called our Cummins distributer he said they had no campaynes going on it . An if there is anything left it would be through Dodge . I,ve been wondering since obviously theres way more of them that haven't failed than have if the condition of the the coolant is haveing an effect on them . I know in large Diesel engines if you don't stay on top of the DCA in your coolant it will eat the cylinder linners out by causeing hot spots on them . Because of the calcium deposits sticking too them in places as a result of electrolsous . I wonder if its sticking to the block
an causeing a proublem with heat distrabution ? which would not really mater if the blocks weren't weak ?

glenn-k

Lots of discussion on this here on the forum - a search should find it.

Mine cracked - they kicked in $1000 or part - maybe that's done now. Cummins went longer than Dodge on the refund.

neveragain

Lets see what I can remember what was asked? These engines are non linered so cavatation isn't a problem. The 53 blocks have a wall thickness of 5.5mm the 54's and up have a wall of 11mm go figure. With a different radious in the problem area. Mine went throught over 3.5L in the first 22,000 km's that didn't tell the Prince George dollarshop anything although! It has been burning it since then, with the last 22 months it has been leaking it in theee spot! Mine was a gutless wonder since new, so it didn't produce the power that everyone else enjoyed so it cracked out of the extended Cummins warranty period. After the 40 visits to get the engine fixed I gave up on it altogether. My new 09 5500 Topkick will be here in mid November, so I shall start working on the Mods that I want in the spring when it is warmer so hope to have it on the road for summer? I will enjoy this truck!

travelingman

Glen when you had that done did you get the new block through Cummins ? An just switch all your internal parts over? Did they use your Pistons just Haun the block an install new rings ? Do you remmber what the price of the new block was ?

1-2-3

My 53 was sold with 150k miles and no sign of cracking.

rich

put 275k on mine and they were hard miles and it didnt crack some do some dont

opiy2k

I have a 53 block with 302k miles, i run it hard everyday and so far so good. It is a sport model and it was originally purchased in texas so it probably came from Mexico.

travelingman

I think they may have cought there error before they finished the 53 series .
I,ve decided I am going to keep mine its just that my curiosity is killing me . Because if they did correct it or there is a way of knowing how to tell that info is out there somewhere .