corrosion around aluminum motor plate coolant holes

Dragsinger · 10-23-2015, 11:24 AM

Racers,

any suggestions to limit this corrosion?

SSDiv6 · 10-23-2015, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragsinger

Racers,

any suggestions to limit this corrosion?

It appears you are experiencing Electrolysis.

1. Use distilled water, not drinking or tap water.

2. Check the grounding of the engine to chassis and chassis to battery.

3. Add some Royal Purple - Purple Ice to the distilled water.

4. You can also have the plate anodized.

kansas stocker · 10-23-2015, 04:56 PM

Back in my flathead days, anti-freeze was the answer.

Jim B · 10-23-2015, 05:08 PM

Adding a zinc anode in a radiator bung used to be SOP when aluminum cooling system components were used in a cast iron engine environment. Adequate engine grounding is a must. As long as the water is potable (clean tap water quality) and the ph is around 7.0 we never found it necessary to use distilled water to prevent electrolysis.

Tom Goldman · 10-24-2015, 10:10 AM

I see it occasionally on cars in the shop. Usually can be traced to no or inadequate engine grounding. the motor plate should have a ground also.
A little cooling system conditioner dosent hurt either , helps with the Ph level.

Bob Mulry · 10-25-2015, 12:32 PM

Hi Guys,

Just my 2 cents..................

Zinc plates have been welded to the hulls of ships to prevent damage to the steel hull and brass screws by galvanic reaction.....

The more active metal is sacrificed to protect the less active.....

Zinc is a less active metal and unable to protect aluminum....

To prevent galvanic damage to aluminum a magnesium anode should be used....

For additional info I will post a link speaks to galvanic action...

http://www.performancemetals.com/anodes/AnodeFAQs.shtml

Bob

10-23-2015, 11:24 AM	#1
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	corrosion around aluminum motor plate coolant holes Racers, any suggestions to limit this corrosion? __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

10-23-2015, 04:56 PM	#3
kansas stocker Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: kansas Posts: 235 Likes: 491 Liked 249 Times in 48 Posts	Re: corrosion around aluminum motor plate coolant holes Back in my flathead days, anti-freeze was the answer.

10-23-2015, 05:08 PM	#4
Jim B Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 100 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: corrosion around aluminum motor plate coolant holes Adding a zinc anode in a radiator bung used to be SOP when aluminum cooling system components were used in a cast iron engine environment. Adequate engine grounding is a must. As long as the water is potable (clean tap water quality) and the ph is around 7.0 we never found it necessary to use distilled water to prevent electrolysis.

10-24-2015, 10:10 AM	#5
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,473 Likes: 878 Liked 857 Times in 234 Posts	Re: corrosion around aluminum motor plate coolant holes I see it occasionally on cars in the shop. Usually can be traced to no or inadequate engine grounding. the motor plate should have a ground also. A little cooling system conditioner dosent hurt either , helps with the Ph level. __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

10-25-2015, 12:32 PM	#6
Bob Mulry VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Coarsegold, CA Posts: 1,016 Likes: 57 Liked 320 Times in 102 Posts	Re: corrosion around aluminum motor plate coolant holes Hi Guys, Just my 2 cents.................. Zinc plates have been welded to the hulls of ships to prevent damage to the steel hull and brass screws by galvanic reaction..... The more active metal is sacrificed to protect the less active..... Zinc is a less active metal and unable to protect aluminum.... To prevent galvanic damage to aluminum a magnesium anode should be used.... For additional info I will post a link speaks to galvanic action... http://www.performancemetals.com/anodes/AnodeFAQs.shtml Bob __________________ Bob Mulry 7516 STK A & M Motorsports