Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Block question

[cmills]

How do you know if you have a #53 block. Thanks!



Cory

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just look on the driver's side, up midway on the block for a LOOOOONG horizontal crack dripping coolent...



OR, look up at the front of the block, under the injector pump and about 2 inches above the pan for a string of cast-in numbers - see if ther is a "53" in there anywhere...

 

[cmills]

Thanks Gary, information greatly appreciated!!



Cory

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

Just look on the driver's side, up midway on the block for a LOOOOONG horizontal crack dripping coolent...



OR, look up at the front of the block, under the injector pump and about 2 inches above the pan for a string of cast-in numbers - see if ther is a "53" in there anywhere...

Gary, you ARE cold blooded !!



The two I saw were right below the injection pump, the 53 was all by itself and not in a string.

 

[John Berger]

My 53 is located all by it's lonesome up front under the injection pump. No oozing, though :-laf

 

[dresslered]

I have a "53" casting on both sides of the block--lots of extra metal!

 

[Speedo]

"53"

I could smell anti-freeze for about a week but could never see

a leak anywhere and the coolant level never seemed to go down.

I was towing a snow machine trailer in the mountains when it

started to blow cool air and then the temp started to climb now

I could see the leak. I had a crack about 10 inches long just

under the transmission cooler on the right side of the block. They gave

me a brand new short block at 92,000 miles out of the ordeal.



Gus

 

[thejeepdude]

hmmmmmmm

Here's a question... so let's say you find out that you have a #53 block... and don't want one... is there a particular cause for the crack that can be excercised before the warranty is up? IE: pushing it hard and making it run hot/cold/hot/cold really quickly or some other stressful practice that will MAKE SURE that it's either going to break SOON or else NEVER? I plan to keep my truck forever and only have about 10K on the 100K warranty left. :-\

 

[CATCRACKER]

yea cummins are great. i cant wait until there is a crack right b/t the 5 and 3 that is in the left side of my block#@$%! . i am over my 100k and if my developes a crack i am going to raise holy hell with cummins. i did not buy this truck b/c it was a dodge i bought it b/c it had a cummins in it... . oh well.



things not to do: don't run the motor hot you will crack the block. dont push it hard in the winter until it has warmed up. to do: make sure you have the 180 thermostat in your truck.



i am build up my POS arsenal for my wife so i can trade this 99' in.

1. auto transmission needs work($3000)

2. front right wheel bearing needs to be replaced for the second time($300)

3. cant alighn the truck so far ($300)

4. possible cracked block($6000)

5. rear brakes need new seals and redone($300)

6. truck needs new shocks($300)

7. truck has vibration that i cant figure out not shocks($????)

8. possible killer dowle pin ($?????)

9. oem lift pump 115K on it about to go ($200)

possible total=$10,000+32000 truck price this truck has been a money pit.

remedy. 2001 six speed with the longest extended warranty i can buy this aint no infiniti it a dodge i still love cummins

 

[Pit Bull]

Cat you want a new truck bad!!! I bet you get one soon, I see the hand writing on the wall



Guys don't worry about your block cracking. It is not going to happen. Even with a "53" block. This is very rare and normally seen only in bus applactions. There have been a couple of members that had cracks, but they towed real heavy all of the time and the cracks happened before the 100K warranty was up. Also if you did have that one in a million one that cracked then they can be repaired. Do a search it was discussed on a thread a month ago. Don't worry be happy

 

[tleclair]

Yes be worried!!!

Mine cracked. I didn't tow heavy loads and didn't run the truck hard and thats probably why this block(#53) cracked after the 100,000 warranty was off. I've got 105,000 on it and it's sitting in the drive way as I figure out what to do with the damn thing. I bought the truck because it had the cummins motor in it and they are suspose to run forever. Sorry if I sound ****** but I just got off the phone with one of the customer service people from DC and all they did was blow smoke up my @##. It would be nice to know how many of the #53 blocks out there actually did crack and why. If it was a manufacturing flaw Cummins should admit the problem and fix it. I think more and more of these cracks will be showing up in the future as these trucks with the #53 block get more and more miles on them. Hopefully they don't happen to the people that are just over the warranty like me. I was one of the ones that wasn't going to worry about it either but now my truck is parked and I am worried about it. My opinion if you got a #53 block get rid of it before it cost you more money.

 

[Pit Bull]

Try this thread for ways to repair a cracked block.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59770&highlight=cracked+block



Sorry you are one of the few that have had this problem, but I guess your right about the fact that if you have a 53 block you would alway be worried, after you found out about this problem.