[Vwdiesel] More on radiator as a battery (weekend science thread)

[Mark Shepherd]

How can the state of a rad be proportional to its voltage?
The state of a decomposing rad generally would be determined
by its core wall thickness.
Its thickness would be determined by length of time under
decomposition.
Rate of decomposition due to the battery effect would be
constant for any given rad/coolant(electrolyte) combination
irrespective of rad size.
Quantity of ally disolved would increase with rad size.
Its my opinion (which may count for ziltch) that any voltage
across the rad could appear almost from the beginning of
use (unless there is some kind of protective coating or
substitute stick of sacrificial metal... perhaps zinc????)

I think my resistance test would be more accurate  but I'm
not sure if a dry rad would be better unless the state of
the coolant/electrolyte was known exactly. What we need is
two radiators one brand new and one leaking due to old age.

I wonder if earthing the radiator would stop this corrosion
by electrolysis?

Miser