Ok so I was totally just screwd on this other diesel I bought now I have bought this cummins&found out it has a 53 block.So Ive been paranoid & worrying. The truck doesn't overheat but the other day I.noticed what appeared to be diesel dripping off of the oil pan & landing on the ground right below it.
Well tonite I checked my cooliant & it appeard to be brown.When we bought it my buddy checked the fluid out & said how the cooliant needed flushed that was all.Theres no slippery feeling to it no milky look & my oil appears fine just needing a change. I DO NOT BELIVE that the p.o. took good care of it but then again he did @ 1 point pay my buddies shop 1700 for a new rearend.So could this be a sign of a cracked block or just the cooliant needing flushed?

 

Might not have much coolant in the block and could be mostly water. That would explain the brown color, as that's rust residue from the iron block. I'd be flushing that coolant out as quickly as possible and refilling it with the proper mix of fresh coolant and distilled water, especially given the cold temperatures we are experiencing right now in most parts of the country.

 

So not oil?

 

Btw its a 99 cummins, just dosnt seem like rusty water.I do bodywork 4 a living & rust seems &water usually have a beer look 2 me

 

Probably just rust. My van's coolant looks the same, and it was HIGHLY neglected before I got it.

 

Sure its not Zerex GO5 or Mopar HOAT? Just Spit-balling...

 

My gut tells me its a water and rust mix, due to basic neglect. Doesn't appear to be oil based upon what I see there and your description of the feel of the liquid.