CAPTCOOL

I have been experiencing coolant loss for some time now. I think i have narrowed it down some, but need some help. The trickle appears to be coming from between the bell housing & engine, kind of behind or over the starter. Does anyone have any ideas about this? Please tell me it is not a head gasket.

crobtex

Do a search for the "53" block. Although, I think it usually cracks on the drivers side.

Cowhand

Okay, it's not a head gasket. (My guess would be head gasket....)

Might be trickling down the top of the bell housing. If it was any lower than the head, it would drip out of the inspection plate at the bottom of the bell housing. I am not aware of a "freeze plug" back there, but I could be way off. Are you seeing coolant drip, or evidence of such? I would occasionally lose some coolant through a bad radiator cap. Check the level in your overflow tank.

I know several guys have used stop leak for small coolant leaks.

That kind of leak is usually caused by having too many valves..

Had another thought...if it's evident on the passenger side, check the heater lines....

MnTom

Since it is behind the starter I am thinking "53". I hope for your sake I am wrong. Maybe Haulin in Dixie will chime in and steer you in the right direction. Take a bright light and look carefully just above the oil pan. It might be there.
Tom

CAPTCOOL

MNTOM, THAT IS WHAT I FEAR THE MOST, THE 53 PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE 53 ON MY MOTOR, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THE NUMBERS YET. MAYBE SOMEONE CAN TELL ME AGAIN EXACTLY WHERE TO LOOK. I AM NOT LOSING COOLANT FROM THE CAP OR ANYTHING. IT IS DEFINETLY COMING DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE BETWEEN THE MOTOR & BELL HOUSING. DOES THE 53 CRACK NEAR THE BACK OF THE MOTOR OR THE FRONT OF IT? I THOUGHT THE 53 CRACK WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO THE FRONT PORTION OF THE BLOCK. ARE THERE ANY WATER LINES OR FREEZE PLUGS IN THIS AREA ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THAT MAY BE THE CULPRIT? IF IT IS THE 53 CRACK, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Haulin_in_Dixie

The 53 usually cracks on the passenger side first. There is a freeze plug just above the bell housing about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. It is within a inch or so above the bell and in the center of the block. I have been told that there is a troublesome plug on the back of the head also. See about the one in the back of the block and if you need I can tell you where all of them are.

For locating a possible 53 number, go to the front of the engine, between the pan rail and the injection pump, one the drivers side, and there you should find the 53 about one inch tall.

CAPTCOOL

OK, I have looked for the 53, I cannot find any casting numbers. As for the water leak, I got a little closer look yesterday. It appears to be leaking directly on to the top of the bell housing & running down the drivers side like behind the starter. This leads me to believe it is coming from the head area. Does the 53 crack appear up that high on the motor? What should I do next?

Rattletrap1

They do have some special dyes that show up bold under UV light. That's prolly what a shop would do.

Haulin_in_Dixie

There is also a small freeze plug, about 3/4 inch on the back of the head. This is the one that I have heard complaints of being hard to plug on the truck.

CAPTCOOL

Forgive my ignorance, but how the heck do you get to it? You can't even see back there.

killfast1

I had to change 1 on mine last summer. its on the passenger side in the back. Look where the head is notched ( angle cut instead of sqared off) and its about 3/8 inch in diameter in that angle. Its a real *itch to get at. I had to drive a small jewelers screwdriver through it then keep working it to get it out. To put it in I gooped it up with black formagasket and used a ratchet and a socket to drive it in. I couldnt use a hammer cause there wasnt enough room to swing it.


And cummins was going to take a week to get it napa had it in stock. Dont know part # but once I got the old one out I took it with me to napa so they could match it up.

Heres a drawing of its location. Scuse the freehand.

killfast1

The only way I noticed it was I heard hissing when I got out of my truck one afternoon, popped hood and seen a cloud of steam.