Landracing Forum

Tech Information => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: jww36 on March 20, 2017, 03:09:59 PM

Title: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: jww36 on March 20, 2017, 03:09:59 PM

Need some help here. I’ve got an older SB2 motor, cast iron block with aluminum heads. I’m having an issue with either electrolysis or corrosion attacking anodized aluminum components in the water system. I’ve got a closed system, 16 gallon water tank. I’ve used Redline Water Wetter in the past and it seems like it doesn’t help much.
If it is corrosion in the aluminum parts, should I use distilled water as coolant, or use a little soluble oil in water, or use anti-freeze in water?
If it’s electrolysis, I don’t know what to do.
Thanks,
John Weatherwax

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: Bob Drury on March 20, 2017, 04:08:54 PM

  Buy a couple of sacrificial anodes (?) and put one in the radiator and another in the block or heads.  Most auto parts or boat supply places sell them.

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: jww36 on March 20, 2017, 05:17:40 PM

Bob,
Are they the same as zinc plates, etc used in marine applications?

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: Buickguy3 on March 21, 2017, 09:27:16 AM

   John, remember to keep rule 3.R in mind when using coolant additives. Many become combustible when the vapor particles get small enough and they come in contact a hot surface.
  Doug  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: Grumpy32 on March 22, 2017, 06:08:53 AM

My be a little "out there" but do you have bonding leads to earth the cooling system components?

Glenn

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: Bob Drury on March 22, 2017, 12:20:28 PM

  Try Ebay listings for sacrificial anodes.  Bob

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on March 22, 2017, 12:30:34 PM

Doncha hafta be of a certain religion to use sacrificial anodes?  Sounds kinda preverted to me. . .

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: Freud on March 22, 2017, 02:00:23 PM

Mothers Milk is the answer.

FREUD

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: kiwi belly tank on March 22, 2017, 04:52:43 PM

Seems to me you either have a water problem or an operator problem. In all the years of running all aluminum engines on the salt with anodized components I have never been a problem but you have to drain it when you're done racing.
If you go to Bonneville then just squirt it off with a hose & park it till next year, that will eat anodized aluminum parts for sure.
  Sid.

Title: Re: Corrosion or Electrolysis Damaging Anodized Engine Parts
Post by: Interested Observer on March 22, 2017, 05:40:42 PM

As you can probably tell from the wildly different responses above, a better description of the cooling system, all the materials exposed to the coolant, including the coolant, where and how the apparent damage is occurring, and whether there are any external electrical connections made to the system, would probably help in focusing in on a solution.