[Fot] Aluminum Radiators

[TeriAnn J. Wakeman]

On 1/4/22 6:31 AM, Jerry V V via Fot wrote:
>
> They are susceptible to electrolysis if you don’t keep a watch on the 
> coolant voltage.
>
cooling system electrolysis is the result of poor grounding and your 
coolant being used as an electrical ground path. Aluminum is a fairly 
active metal and in the presence of an electric field will act as an 
anode and give up an electron to move current through the coolant 
towards a ground source. The result is the aluminum metal being eaten 
away and a gritty build up on the cathode side of the electrical 
pathway. Commercial coolants have inhibitors that can slow this process 
until the inhibitor gets used up. Tap water has ions in suspension that 
can facilitate electrolysis.

What you need to do is provide lower resistance electrical pathways 
between the engine and the battery ground. A good bare metal to bare 
metal ground strap between the engine & frame is a good first step. 
Triumphs with the battery ground going to the body also needs a strap 
between the body and frame. If you have an alternator you should find a 
ground post on the case. Run a wire from the alternator case to the frame.

Make sure your coolant gets changed per the directions and mix it with 
distilled water to eliminate the ions in tap water that can help 
facilitate electrolysis. Commercial coolants are formulated to minimize 
electrolysis. Another thing you can do is replace your radiator drain 
valve with a zinc plug. Zinc is more chemically active than aluminum so 
will more easily give up its ions for electrical current flow. It 
becomes the sacrificial anode giving of itself instead of the aluminum.

Good grounds, fresh coolant, distilled water, and a zinc radiator plug 
together makes for happier aluminum bits in contact with coolant.

TeriAnn
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