A wet-style cylinder liner (16) for a diesel engine is provided with a surface texture (28) to combat the effects of cavitation-induced erosion. The surface texture (28) can be formed as a coating (30) of manganese phosphate applied about the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16) within the coolant flow passage (20) of the engine. The manganese phosphate is applied in such a manner that a crystalline structure of 2-8 μm average grain size, blocky in nature, clearly faceted, with no cauliflower-like formations and a discernable channel network surrounding the crystals is formed. This crystalline structure works with the natural adhesion and surface tension effects within the liquid coolant to create a stagnant fluid layer about the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16). The stagnant fluid layer functions like a self-healing armor plate. When rapid flexing of the cylinder liner (16) produces cavitation bubbles, these bubbles are held at a distance from the outer surface (26) by the stagnant fluid layer. As the bubbles implode, their kinetic energy is dissipated within the stagnant fluid layer instead of directly upon the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16). The manganese phosphate coating (30) acts as a labyrinth to anchor water molecules, or the engine coolant, and thus promote formation of the stagnant fluid layer.