Aluminum Radiators and Electrolysis

Don C · Feb 24, 2015

A thread the other day about the best aluminum radiator and a response by Mesozoic prompted this article. As more and more of us are replacing our brass radiators with aluminum this is something we need to be concerned about.

Edit (08262021): Updated the article to include a section about cathodic protection and the availability of a zinc anode for automotive radiators. Thank you TheDude for bringing the availability to my attention.

Aluminum Radiators and Electrolysis-v2.pdf

c9zx · Aug 19, 2021

I agree with Don C. I have both and prefer the brass and copper radiators. Chuck

tony-muscle · Aug 19, 2021

Don C said:
A thread the other day about the best aluminum radiator and a response by Mesozoic prompted this article. As more and more of us are replacing our brass radiators with aluminum this is something we need to be concerned about.

Aluminum Radiators and Electrolysis.pdf 35.69 kB · 86 downloads

Six years after your post, but still is a very good article.

TheDude · Aug 24, 2021

Having had boats used mostly in salt water, we always used sacrificial zincs to keep electrolysis and at bay. Seems like with aluminum radiators, water pumps and heads, the same thing would make sense in the cooling system. Maybe something like this might make sense https://www.flex-a-lite.com/radiator-anode.html https://www.amazon.com/Flex-lite-32060-Anode-Drain/dp/B001GR09S4

Don C · Aug 24, 2021

Interesting, I'm familiar with cathodic protection for various things, such as reinforcing in concrete, pipelines, water heaters, and as you said, saltwater vessels, but hadn't heard that it was available for aluminum radiators.

Thank you for sharing, I'll update the article.

Don

TheDude · Aug 24, 2021

Actually didn't realize you wrote that. Very cool.

Doing some googling around and I see that the form factor of that zinc is pretty common and used frequently in Marine engines. So there are bunches around in different lengths NPT size etc. and often under $10. One could conceivably screw one of these into the block or water pump. But I'm thinking might be a bad idea as the anode might come apart as it wears? I suppose if you consider it a wear item and replace it before its too far gone that should be OK.

Here's some examples

https://www.boatzincs.com/engine-sizes.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsZKJBhC0ARIsAJ96n3UxXJH7Fq_BNOM3a7t-utP3T-oYs4KR5REW3nCUPNUC0nNQMJE6zNcaAktKEALw_wcB

detritusmaximus · Aug 25, 2021

Didn't they used to sell an anode that hung just inside the radiator cap? I seem to recall JC Whitney had something like that...although, being JC Whitney, who knows if their version actually worked.

TheDude · Aug 25, 2021

detritusmaximus said:
Didn't they used to sell an anode that hung just inside the radiator cap? I seem to recall JC Whitney had something like that...although, being JC Whitney, who knows if their version actually worked.

Well there you go, that's even easier. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sdk-c5zz8100rce or https://www.amazon.com/MACs-Parts-Radiator-Sacrificial-Anode/dp/B095SZ8H7D

Don C · Aug 25, 2021

detritusmaximus said:
Didn't they used to sell an anode that hung just inside the radiator cap? I seem to recall JC Whitney had something like that...although, being JC Whitney, who knows if their version actually worked.

Good memory, now that you mention it, I do seem to recall them. But, I considered them in the same category as the tube of stuff that you squeezed into the battery to rejuvenate it and make it last for many years.

On the other hand, though, I bought my first tool set (Indestro) from them, and I still use the ratchet, a few of the sockets, and most of the end wrenches, and that makes them over a half-century old, even still have the metal tool box.

detritusmaximus · Aug 25, 2021

I went looking for an old JC Whitney catalog ad online for giggles...the younger members probably wouldn't believe what they were seeing. I won't muddy up this thread, but I found stuff worthy of a new thread!

Don C · Aug 25, 2021

Yeah, I wish I had kept one of the paper catalogs, some interesting stuff.

TheDude · Aug 25, 2021

I was at a car show not long ago checking out a pretty cool Nissan GTR surrounded by the owner and a bunch of 20-30 year old guys. He was showing some gadget that helped keep the hood up since the stock hardware wasn't there anymore. I jokingly asked if he got that from JC Whitney...

detritusmaximus · Aug 25, 2021

I can just see the artwork for the "universal fit Nissan GTR hood support rod".....

TheDude · Aug 25, 2021

Exactly. The best part was spending 5 minutes trying to explain what it was to a bunch of guys who basically boiled it down to "so it's just like like car parts like on the internet, right?".

Here's one of the VW catalogs if someone is board. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/jcwhitney_1996summer/JC Whitney Catalog Summer 1996.pdf

Bentworker · Aug 25, 2021

I have fond memories of flipping through the JC Whitney catalog at my grandfathers house. All kinds of goof stuff, retrofit cruise control, sketchy dually wheel kits, random musical horns, chrome stuff etc...

detritusmaximus · Aug 25, 2021

Or this...

Don C · Aug 26, 2021

I updated the article this morning.

Don

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