I have a fairly new aluminum radiator in my car and have read about using a Sacrificial Zinc anode to protect my radiator. What exactly must I do....where do I get an anode and how do I introduce it into my cooling system?? I've seen Zinc used in marine applications, just throwing a piece in the bildges....I'm a little confused,as usual.
Thanks!!

JC Whitney had one that went under the radiator cap..
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Mike J

Is it really necessary for all this? I got aluminum in my daily driver and rod and wouldn't think of doing this zinc thing to my rod. Never hurt anything before, why should it start?

Slammin
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Hold your ears folks...ITS SHOWTIME!!!

Is it really necessary for all this? I got aluminum in my daily driver and rod and wouldn't think of doing this zinc thing to my rod. Never hurt anything before, why should it start?

Slammin
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Hold your ears folks...ITS SHOWTIME!!!

Mouse button got stuck...thus the double post.

Slammin
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Hold your ears folks...ITS SHOWTIME!!!

I always recommend a sacrifical anode for all iron/aluminum parted engines. The reason is that because of the differentiation of metals (much like lead and copper in batteries), and emmerse the two in a conductive bath of electrolyte (water), a battery is formed and thru electrolosis aluminum gets displaced throughout the system where the potential is the greatest. Same process for chrome plating exactly. Unfortuneately the aluminum will come from critial parts including heads, waterpumps, intakes, radiators etc. Displaced aluminum can come from critical areas in the system and weaken and fail. I have seen commercial alum radiators fail like this as well as intakes start to leak around the water neck mounting holes. Also I have seen the beginning of damage in heads too.

This is why it is simply a good insurance policy to run an sacrifical anode. You can get ones that are built into caps (haven't seen them lately) and ones with chains with the zinc on the end that get dipped into the radiator.

They last a couple of years on average, but Ihave seen some go as fast as six months meaning the electroplating is very active in the engine cooling system. This is somewhat dependent on cooling mixes as you might have guessed.
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Steve Jack
SOUTHEASTERN GOODGUYS REP

Hi Steve, you know what I run and I wonder what effect the grounded 1 1/2 copper (six foot long) radiator tubes would have on that??
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Grump

In the past, I used to see them installed on craft operating in salt water and its benefit was to reduce corrosion. It was also necessary when a "boat" was docked and running from shore power. This is when I was installing communications gear and a sacrificial anode also helped as a better ground for the radios and antennas.
Haven't seen them for cars but it makes sense in a way.
As Steve said, it would have an effect in a bi-metal situation...But sense, hopefully, there's no salt water in your system, I wouldn't spend the money on it...Fred P
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Fred P.

Fred, Ethyl Glycol or propylene gylcols are sugars....well sort of, and as conductive as salts (depending on how much you put in). It is the same as running salt electrolytically. That's why I recommend them.


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Steve Jack
SOUTHEASTERN GOODGUYS REP

Coincidentally, I asked about the JC Whitney anode on another board earlier this week and if you want to check out the responses, they're here: http://www.roddingroundtable.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/392.html
Is there a particular way anyone would suggest to use an anode? Is the JC Whitney one any good or is there another way to put one in the system that is easy and cheap?

Seems as tho the Rodding Round Table Forum has done a disappearing act on the web site owner!!! He says he's looking into it. Meanwhile, I signed up...Fred P
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Fred P.

I don't recall it disappearing on me. It hasn't been down for any reason in the last 2 months.


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There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys.

Fred, the old Rodders Roundtable is gone and a lot of the regulars went to one Fat Cat started which is here: http://www.roddingroundtable.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi . Like here, there's a lot of knowledge and experience over there.