Coolant in oil Detroit 6V53 Diesel Engine

[old-iron-habit]

Just a comment on 53 series water leaks. This last summer we had a water leak in a 4-53 that powers a lumber edger at our local antique tractor show. The water had been drained every winter for the last 20 years that we know about, and who knows how long before that. It has not had and additives against corrosion in that time. Turns out the block rusted thru at the bottom of the upper section of the water jacket and into the top of the ports passages. When shut off it ran into the oil. If it had antifreeze in it year around it would not have needed a block replacement. Just one more oddball place to leak. When the pan was off, the water could be seen entering the offending cylinder from the port.

 

[DMiller]

On the old 71 series and if memory serves on the 53s were cathodic ‘pencils’ in the water pump housings. Looked like pipe plugs yet had a threaded end those ‘pencils’ (zinc sacrificial) screwed onto.

As DD stopped replacement production of the zinc inserts, we went to installing corrosion additive filters to stem it. Assisted and ended up performing block repairs by drilling the ‘soft spots’ on 71 series in the sleeve surrounding water jacket walls, threading and installing SS threaded inserts epoxied into the spots. Then honed those bores and fitted replacement sleeves. Sucked as everyone, the bosses, the clients and we the mechanics KNEW the blocks were trash.