Crack or Casting Mark?

[Bingster]

I have a thin curved line about 1" on the side of my block that could be a crack I guess but I can't tell.  It seems to be in an accessible location to be fairly easily welded. Any tests to see if it is a crack?

[Sniper]

magnaflux will tell you if it is a crack or not.  Several ways to heck

 

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by Sniper

[Bingster]

I've heard of it. Does a special person have to test it or can I do it?

[Sniper]

2 minutes ago, Bingster said:

I've heard of it. Does a special person have to test it or can I do it?

 

Well, it's not difficult, but it's not cheap to get the stuff you need to do it.  Which is why most just have their machine shop do the check when the block is in the shop.

[Los_Control]

The cheapest way is to fill it with water and see if it leaks. Then drain the water before it freezes of course.

[kencombs]

clean it well, really well then spray with auto trans fluid, the bright red stuff.  Now clean again and dust with corn starch.   If's a crack it will show as a red line in the white corn starch.   Cheap guys dye penetrant inspection.   Easier to do on horizontal surfaces, but might work on the side of the block.

 

Or search for 'dye pentrant kit' online.  Lots of them out there, some that even include a black light and the fluids that glow. 

 

Much cheaper and easier than MagnaFlux and works well on cast iron cracks as well as aluminum and other metals