Purchased my rig last July and just discovered I have the dreaded 53 block.. Never thought about checking for it when I bought the truck. Oh well......... In any case I have not seen any anti-freeze leak.

Do they all crack eventually? Anything I can do to mimimize the chance of it cracking? The truck is just my daily driver -- I don't haul anything heavy nor beat on the truck. I have an auto tranny, where do I check for crack and what does it look like? Is it easy to spot?

 

Most of these that are going to crack have already done so. I don't think there is anything that can be done to minimize the possibility of it happening.......either it will or it won't. If it does happen, you won't be able to miss it, it'll be obvious.

 

Pardon my ignorance but was there a recall issued on these 53 blocks? I would think there would be one.

 

Unless you see anti-freeze pouring out of it, forget about it and continue with life. Most blocks don't crack, but when one does, everybody hears about it.

No recalls on it. Most recalls have to do with safety items. A block oozing antifreeze isn't that much of a hazard, no more than a leaky fitting would be.

 

I think the EPA would argue that statement, lol

 

Here are some detailed instructions on how to install the 53 block reinforcement bracket;

http://www.locknstitch.com/Repair%20...structions.pdf

 

Going to be reamed a new one for responding with this, but...........

I respectfully submit the wide coolant temperature fluctuations these trucks are infamous for may be a contributing factor to acerbating the 53 block cracking problem.

Nearly instantaneous 50 - 70 degree downward coolant temperature drops are indicative of the water jacket being slugged with cold water.
In below freezing ambient temperatures imagine ice cold water rushing into a 200 degree engine block.
Guess WHERE these ice cold slugs of water enters the engine block? -- exactly in the location where the "53" block actually cracks.

-----------------------

My 2001 doesn't have the 53 block, but these extremely wide coolant temperature fluctuations considered by many as annoyingly acceptable and merely an idiosyncrasy of these particular engines seemed to me simply a function of poor thermostat control.

Determined to eliminate the wild temperature swings I changed out the thermostat with a dozen different manufacturer's offerings.
The Motorad 426-190 thermostat won top honors with the least amount of fluctuations. This winter has proved the Motorad thermostat worth the effort, besides a steady temp needle, the heater is delivering heat in abundance.

Here is my previous posts on the subject:
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...57#post2867357

----------------------

Advice:
1) Find a thermostat that will minimize the large coolant temperature fluctuations.
2) Employ the block heater whenever possible as a cold starting aid.

 

My buddy has a 2001 40 foot RV with the 53 block. While helping him install a block heater i discovered he had a slight weep right where the pan mates with the block just below the block heater. He called Cummins and discovered that they would warrenty the block. He also has a warrenty on the drive train. Cummins replaced the block, reused the reciprocating assembly and head. His warrenty covered all but $200 which was the cost of gaskets, oil etc. if you find it's leaking give Cummins a call or maybe call them and see if their warrenty will intall that block reinforcement.

 

Thanks for the info. I will contact my local Cummins dealer to see what the deal is just in case mine starts leaking.

 

Reading this got me worried. I had not heard about the dreaded "53" blocks and my truck is a 2001 so I quickly ran out and checked my block. It's a "55". Any quirks with this one?

 

No, you're good.

 

Its only bad news after they crack. Quite a few haven't, you just never here about them.
Drive it like you stole it and if it goes then you will have an issue.
As these rigs get older there is more junk yard engines available so finding a non 53 shouldn't be too big a deal.

 

i own 2 of them and i'm not worried, the pics i seen of the cracked blocks looked like the block rotted form the inside to out. i keep the additive (DCA) in the coolant up to snuff.

 

53 block, 182,000 miles and no issues. Don't worry about it.

 

I was told that the majority of 53 failures are attached to standard transmission models. The reason being that one has a propensity to drive harder with slosh boxes. This was what I was told.