Voltage in radiator water

Jeff Stout · 09-21-2019, 01:52 PM

Getting finished with list of problems. Previous I had high water pressure after car sitting for days. Cap was 16lb. Changed to a 13 lb lever type. I do have stock overflow and open hose to it. Something I was told to check was electrolysis in water. I tested and have .3 of 1 volt in water. I did not put a anode rod in.
My question is .3 volts a problem?
Do I need a anode rod?
Thanks

jamie2370 · 09-21-2019, 03:13 PM

You will always have "some" voltage in it. I think the .3 you have is fine. GM dexcool use to have a big problem, like 7-8 volts, that's where all the gunk would come from. They fixed that with a new formula. I've had to put a ground wire on heater cores before because the voltage would eat the aluminum. You can run a ground wire from radiator to frame. It will help a lot but I would not be concerned myself with that low of a reading.

cad · 09-23-2019, 09:39 AM

Hi Jeff,
I fought this in my newly finished 97 S10 last year. I had about the same amount of voltage in the water with an anode. After pulling my hair out and finding a wet spot on the floor where it finally made a hole in the brand new Griffin radiator, I finally took a heavy ground wire with alligator clips and started testing grounds from everywhere. I finally found mine which was ground stud on wiring panel to the floor pan. I finally had no voltage in the water.

Prior, it didnt matter if I had the battery connected or not. I tried tap water, deionized water, water wetter, etc.

It needs a ground somewhere.

Clark D
Omaha NE

09-21-2019, 01:52 PM	#1
Jeff Stout VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: phoenix Posts: 1,486 Likes: 66 Liked 704 Times in 281 Posts	Voltage in radiator water Getting finished with list of problems. Previous I had high water pressure after car sitting for days. Cap was 16lb. Changed to a 13 lb lever type. I do have stock overflow and open hose to it. Something I was told to check was electrolysis in water. I tested and have .3 of 1 volt in water. I did not put a anode rod in. My question is .3 volts a problem? Do I need a anode rod? Thanks

09-21-2019, 03:13 PM	#2
jamie2370 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Perry, GA Posts: 331 Likes: 11 Liked 239 Times in 90 Posts	Re: Voltage in radiator water You will always have "some" voltage in it. I think the .3 you have is fine. GM dexcool use to have a big problem, like 7-8 volts, that's where all the gunk would come from. They fixed that with a new formula. I've had to put a ground wire on heater cores before because the voltage would eat the aluminum. You can run a ground wire from radiator to frame. It will help a lot but I would not be concerned myself with that low of a reading.

09-23-2019, 09:39 AM	#3
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 702 Likes: 202 Liked 91 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Voltage in radiator water Hi Jeff, I fought this in my newly finished 97 S10 last year. I had about the same amount of voltage in the water with an anode. After pulling my hair out and finding a wet spot on the floor where it finally made a hole in the brand new Griffin radiator, I finally took a heavy ground wire with alligator clips and started testing grounds from everywhere. I finally found mine which was ground stud on wiring panel to the floor pan. I finally had no voltage in the water. Prior, it didnt matter if I had the battery connected or not. I tried tap water, deionized water, water wetter, etc. It needs a ground somewhere. Clark D Omaha NE