Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 53 Blocks

[HCannon]

My wife drives on that has been driven lightly for 114k miles. It is a 1999 auto. She is getting a new rig so I was planing to putting it to work pulling a trailer. Could someone tell me if that would bring on the crack block, or should I not worry about it? What percent do crack? This is one thing I wish I didnt know about if the percent is low.

 

[mediccummin]

I have a 53 block and it finally cracked, 89k miles. I now believe it will just happen, some say from continues towing but I only tow every other month or so, short distance. Weather did get below freezing last couple weeks and that is when mine finally cracked, also just started using my block heater for the first time the day it cracked.

 

[jhoughton]

I have a 99 with the 53 block and 73k. I drive it regularly and have pulled very heavy a few times and usually pull around 11k and still no problems.

 

[1965LONEWOLF]

Sold Mu 99 3500 Because I Found Out About The 53 Block Problem , I Did Alot Of Homework And Its Happened To Truck That Don T Tow Alot To , I Had 99,000 On My Truck And It Wasn T Cracked At All When I Sold It , But When I Called Cummins To Ask What They Will Do When It Cracks They Were To Much In A Rush To Help , They Said They Deal With It Case By Case And There Is Alot Of Going Back And Forth With The Dealer Who's Fixing For You , I Wasn T Happy With That And I Wasn T Waiting To Find Out , So I Sold It And Bought A 04. 5 325/600 .

 

[JFlagg]

What are the years for the 53 block, or better yet what do you actually mean by a "53 block"

 

[JTruelove]

I have 176K on mine and no cracks or problems yet. I tow lightly 7500lb trailer.

 

[gmsboss1]

I found the following information on the Lock-n-Stitch website. It would seem that you (we -- I have a "53" block, too) could up the odds of avoiding a crack by using the block heater and taking some warm-up time before taking off, especially when we tow a heavy load and need to get up to speed quickly.



"While certain 1999, 2000, and 2001 Cummins 5. 9-liter engines have come to experience cracks on the side of the block, the engines are not under a recall. The cracks are caused by thermal expansion stress during cold start warm-ups.



The Cummins 5. 9 engine block has a complex structure that is difficult to cast in the first place. The outside wall of the block features a tricky 45-degree angle, which means that when casting, a vertical core shift can result in an area with a thinner wall than the rest of the sidewall, which is the case here. The problem is further exacerbated by reduced coolant flow in the lower parts of the cylinders where the block counts on the coolant to transfer heat from the hotter combustion area and cylinder head to the lower and outer walls of the block.



This means that when you start your engine and take off without a long warm-up period, the coolant has not fully warmed and expanded the lower cylinder walls and lower outer wall of the water jacket. If thermal expansion does not occur evenly there will often be stress that can result in a crack. These conclusions were reached by the technicians of LOCK-N-STITCH Inc. , the cast-metal repair company with over 30 years in the business. "

 

[FourBarR]

you might want to go to this thread.

www.stamey.info/truck/cummin...#new information

 

[JFlagg]

Does that mean my 2002 doesn't have a "53 block"?

 

[1965LONEWOLF]

:-laf 53 Blocks Were Made In Mexico I Believe , 90% Of 99,2000,2001 Blocks Are Stamped " 53 " If You Do A Search On Here It Will Tell You How To Get Under Your Truck And See If Yours Is A " 53 " Block , If I Remeber Right , Its On The Block Behind The Power Steering Pump , Do A Search To Be Sure , Some Guys Have Been Lucky And Have Not Had Any Cracks , If You Have A 54 Or A 56 , Your Ok , Your Block Is A Thicker Casting

 

[FourBarR]

Sorry the link I posted on the 53 block didnt work. It has lots of info including color pictures of the cracks and the location of the 53 on the block. try this link ,hope it works ok. www.stamey.info/truck/cummins53faq.

 

[WBarker]

My brothers truck has the 53 block, it has 126,000 on the motor he used to tow a good bit with it, but since we started sled pulling with it he doesn't haul much at all now and his is holding up good so far. I think its one of those things that happens, some engines go longer than others.

 

[VicR]

On the positive side (if there is a positive side) it doesn't sound like a breakdown that is going to leave you stranded on the side of the road.



Sure would be nice if Cummins or DC would tell us what range of engine numbers were prone to cracking.



-Vic

 

[BDanner]

53 is ok. just drive it!

Just turning 100K miles and 6 years on a 53 block & tow a 35' Sundowner weighing in at about 14K loaded. Lots of mods and prayers. Truck was built in St. Louis. I remember reading that the 53 block was shared heavily in Cummins marine applications and this is were a high percentage of cracks occurred. Discontinued for the most part by the introduction of the 2001. 5 4 -wheel disc model in late summer.



53 block was built in both Mexico and Brazil for the 1999-2001 model years. The Brazilian is the thinnest wall of the 53's. Only 1 of every 8 was Mexican.



It might let go tomorrow, but I will deal with it then. Tonight I will sleep fine after spending the day driving an 06' Superduty, that really made me appreciate the "old Dodge".

 

[HCannon]

Thanks everyone. Now I do have a better understanding of what it is about. I sure do like this truck, It is set up just the way I wont it. There is no way you can tell if it was made in Brazil? It was made in Mexico. Maybe the best thing to do is, what BDanner said, deal with it when it happens.

 

[mediccummin]

And that day will come, eventually. Mine did and it sucks. Got to take a day and sit down make some phone call etc. and see if cummins will cover this thing. There is a thread I posted some pics on a couple years ago of the 53 on the block, I recently found it but now I cant. The 53 can be located on either side of the block towards the front, The 53 on my passenger side is twice as big as the driver side, passenger side is just above the pan below the altenator. Cant miss it. I have not towed my trailer for 3 months, but I did just start using my block heater the day the crack appeared. Never had to use it before, but we had below normal temps here and decided to try it out. I always let my truck warm up in am, no matter what the neighbors gripe about, and I let it cool down before shutting off, ALWAYS. So this cold running, or hot shut should not have been an issue. Not sure if block heater had something to do with it or just a coincedence. Any way good luck with your 53 POS blocks.