I looked around the forum some on here about cracked blocks, but WHAT exactly is causing it?? It seems most people post "well, my block is cracked".

1) Is it a poor engineering? (can just happen to anyone at any given time?)
2) Over heating your engine?
3) Lazy anti-freeze practices?

Im curious...

 

1, 2 & 3.

most times it is not a "cracked block" it is a slipped or loose liner/sleeve.

over heat the motor and the sleeves will loosen and move up and down. knock, knock

"i" believe a lot of the problem is cause by poor workmanship when replacing head gaskets,
if you do not take care you can crack the head bolt holes in the block,(they are very thin).
Not torquing and untorqring the head bolts properly, not cleaning dirt and WATER out of the bolt holes

Once it cracks it allow coolant to get behind the liner/sleeve,
which works its way between the block and the sleeve into the combustion chamber.

just my opinion

 

OK. So we see a lot of "slipped liners" and/or "cracked blocks" AFTER someone has done the HG repair? That is interesting..

A lot of engine work was done on mine paid for by the PO at Green Dog Rovers in Portland, OR before I purchased the rig. I have O oil leaks so far,and a really clean engine, you can tell the pan and etc have recently been off the engine...so I hope Green Dog took as much care of the block/head bolts like you say Drowsapp...