Can some one tell me about block 53 and can you id such block I've just purchased a 24V and now I'm a bit concerned

build date 07/01/2002

 

There is a big "53" cast in the side of the block. I can't remember if it is on the right or left, but if you crawl under the truck with a light you can see it. It is near the front of the block.

 

Dont worry about I have a 53 Block and pull a 30ft 5th wheel all the time in Kansas and never have had any leaks. So far 114,000 miles and no cracks, just enjoy your truck and make sure you keep it running cool. My advise is to do what I did before I pulled my camper to Colorado. Take out the radiator, wash it out clean it real good, change the t-stat to a 180 cummins, put new hoses on it and then dump 3 bottles of Redline water wetter with cat diesel antifreeze. I can pull heavy in the mountains and never get above 200 on my temp gauge. Trust me as long as you keep your cummins running cool you'll never have problems. Do a search on 53 blocks on this site and you'll find lots of other opions and facts about it.

 

Thanks for that

 

Here is a picture of the 53 on the driver's side of my engine: <br />
<br /> and on the passenger of the engine: <br />
<br /> and I think this is the area where the leak occurs, if it should happen to crack: <br />

 

I don't think 2002's come with the 53 block.

 

You are correct....98 - 01 only could have the 53.

 

Well, the operating temperature will have very little to do with 53 cracking. The heat cycling of going from hot to cold is what causes the crack....and the crack is only allowed to occur in the first place on the 53 because the mold pattern for the block had a core shift in it that caused an an unacceptably thin exterior wall section that is too thin to withstand the normal expansion and contraction of the block for the useful service life of the engine. It really isn't a matter of if it will crack - it is a matter of when.
Application and power levels appear to have very little bearing on the useful life of the 53....it is simply a matter of how many heat cycles it is exposed to.

 

My wife has a 99 with a 53 block and 151,000 miles on it. No cracks in it yet. If you compared how many 53 block's that were made, to how many have cracked, I dont think that the chances are that great. JMHO.

 

A Cummins mechanic told me that they crack due to the torque, The block actually twists a little. He said he has replaced blocks that were leaking on both sides of the engine, and most he sees have a crack on both sides.
I tend to believe this because when my block cracked, it was summer, so no huge temperature change, but I was towing a tractor up a mountain at 75mph (testing for boost leaks).
I think it depends on how hard you work it. I had no problem with the block drag racing, only after that one tow job....

Chris

 

Loc-n-stitch says it is because of not warming up and heating the block unevenly when taking off. I tend to agree with that. That is the way I drive and mine cracked. I heard Loc-n-stitch is not always successful in the long term - here and from Cummins.

Still waiting for Cummins to send me a check -- they said they would, but I may have to rattle their cage again soon to make them remember.

 

Called Cummins 2 days ago - they had the info-- said they would call back -- waiting.

 

Cummins called back about a week ago. Said they couldn't find the information. Rep had lost a family member but still called back upon his return. This is encouraging. He gave me a new number to fax the info to for my settlement -or whatever you want to call it.

Faxed again. Waiting again but at least they called.

 

That's more than you get from most companies.