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

[gary]

I think we need to step back and find out why electrolysis is happening.

Electrolysis is Galvanic corrosion... when two dissimilar metals are in
a contact in conductive solution.

Grounding the radiator will only compound the problem. 

Step 1: We need to electrically isolate the radiator. There is a reason
they came from the factory with rubber mounts.

Step 2: Use fresh uncontaminated coolant mixed with de-ionized or
distilled water. Distilled water will not conduct electricity.  

Step 3: While the use of a sacrificial metal will redirect the corrosion
to that metal, it will release metallic corrosion products into the
coolant which in turn will be deposited throughout the system as sludge
and scale.

Step 4: Flush the system every couple of years. Do not reuse old
coolant.

-Gary


On Sat, 2004-10-30 at 07:17, Mark Shepherd wrote:
> 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
> 
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