The flywheel drives either one camshaft or the balancing shaft via an idler gear, depending on the specific engine configuration.

In common with similar, contemporaneous two-stroke diesel engines, including the Detroit Diesel Series 71 and EMD 567, the Series 53 does not use crankcase aspiration and cannot naturally draw in combustion air; the Series 53 engines are fitted with a gear-driven Roots blower mounted to the exterior of the engine, which is inherently necessary to charge the cylinders with air for combustion.

[3]: 13  The atomized fuel combusts when is injected into the heated, compressed air in the cylinder, creating the power stroke and pushing the piston downward.

[3]: 4  As the piston continues downward, it uncovers the air intake ports again, which helps to displace exhaust gases.

When scavenging is complete, the exhaust valves are closed and air continues to be taken in to the cylinder until the intake ports are covered again by the upward motion of the piston.

[3]: 4, 17 Most Series 53 engines were "symmetrical," meaning that the blower, exhaust, water manifold, starter, and other components could be mounted on either side of the basic block to fit a particular application.

Similarly, vee-block engines could be classified into one of four basic arrangements, depending on the direction of rotation and the location of the starter and oil cooler.

The engine model code is stamped on the cylinder block, consisting of an eight-digit code which provides additional information on the number of cylinders and basic arrangement:[3]: 9 The 6V53 is most famously used with the M113 armored personnel carrier, starting with the M113A1 variant.

Two marinized 6V53s also were used to power the United States Coast Guard 44-foot motor lifeboats.

The base model (with a two-valve cylinder head and reduced compression to 17:1, model 5043-5101 and -7101) had peak output ratings of 108 hp (81 kW) at 2200 RPM (gross) and 263 lb⋅ft (357 N⋅m) at 1500 RPM[9] The firing order of the 4-53 is 1-2-4-3 (left hand) and 1-3-4-2 (right hand).