Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Cracked 53 block and engine temp.

[scramblin]

Has anyone found a relationship?

 

[klaybus]

Did your 53 block crack with high water temps?



Clay

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It's probably more like the block had a crack, and the cooling system lost pressure and high temp was the result...

 

[JohnE]

An obvious sign. Stopped at local Cummins shop a week ago and a motorhome wheeled out of the service and pulled up to camp in the parking lot.

Overheating on the road. Cummins did a coolant system pressure test ... failed. i asked service manager if it was a 53 block. He assumed it was but it was covered under Cummins warranty and was replacing it when they got a new engine.

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I called Cummins when the 53 issue first surfaced on the TDR. I asked about possible preventions, and the guy replied there really isn't one, but don't overheat it and keep good antifreeze in it. FWIW



Dan

 

[scramblin]

Originally posted by klaybus

Did your 53 block crack with high water temps?



Clay

No. I was driving a truck with a 53 block. I noticed the temp climbing so I stopped and upon inspection noticed that the fan clutch was toast. I am just wondering if I wasn't paying attention if there is a possibility the block would have cracked due to the heat. Maybe its happened to others without knowing.

 

[Speedo]

I lost a 53 block on my '99 so I can relate what happened on mine. About a week before I found it I started smelling anti freeze when I got out of the truck. I looked for anything dripping on the ground and kept checking the radiator to see if it was low, nothing that I could see. On a weekend trip with the slide-in on board and a 4 place trailer with 2 machines in tow I headed into the mountains. Since I work the graveyard shift we travel in the middle of the night. I had just started pulling a grade when the heater started blowing cold air, the temp gauge was still in the normal range so I thought that I had just run through a cold spot. Then the temp gauge started climbing, I found a wide spot in the road to check things out, this time I could see a leak. I had anti freeze with me because I was suspicious of the smell so I topped things off and went up the road to the next lodge where we spent the night. The next morning when I could see things a little better I found the crack, I bought a couple of gallons of anti freeze and loosened the cap and headed back home after calling a friend to let him know that I might not make it all the way back.

I made it all the home and first thing Monday morning I took it into the dealer where I got a new short block installed.



Gus