Electrolysis

Electrolysis - 02/28/09 01:02 AM

Yep, fired up the new 493 (oh sweet music) ran like a top. Thanks for all the timing suggestions. Started just like everyone said it would. However, i now have Electrolysis! In my opinion everything is grounded very well. My radiator is not though. Any suggestions?

Also, how long before the electrolysis reaks havoc on the aluminum cylinder heads and radiator?

Posted By: J_BODY

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 01:18 AM

http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/anode.html

Posted By: VernMotor

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 01:34 AM

Quote:

i now have Electrolysis!

How do you know that

Posted By: Plumcrazyracing

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 01:43 AM

Cooling system building pressure with no engine temperature.

Posted By: savoyracer

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 02:49 AM

saw the problem begin to develop in my engine. I went to my part store{carquest]. they found me a radiator cap, that fit my car, with a zinc attached to it, it dangled an inch or two in the water. Electrolysis will attack the zinc, and not your engine. when the zinc is starting to get eaten up, simply get another radiator cap. Salt water boats have used this tech for years to prevent the problem. It simply works, and no mess, no fuss.

Posted By: Mike Swann

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 03:10 AM

Quote:

http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/anode.html

These are the hot ticket; been used in the marine industry since the beginning of time.

Electrolysis occurs. Copper and Aluminum are especially bad.

Remember the trick with the copper, aluminum and lemon in high school science?

Posted By: 340SIX

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 05:56 AM

I was told to use catapiler antifreeze since it has something in it just for that. That lots of machines and trucks have that problem so thats what I used.I went ahead and got the premixed one it is red in color.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 06:35 AM

Quote:

I was told to use catapiler antifreeze since it has something in it just for that. That lots of machines and trucks have that problem so thats what I used.I went ahead and got the premixed one it is red in color.

I'm certainly no expert, but hot water heaters have a "sacrificial anode" for this purpose, and trucks have chemically treated water filters and other chem additives for the cooling systems. I don't pay attention to trucks anymore, so I don't know if many use aluminum radiators or not

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 06:51 AM

Quote:

I was told to use catapiler antifreeze since it has something in it just for that. That lots of machines and trucks have that problem so thats what I used.I went ahead and got the premixed one it is red in color.

I just use a anode like posted above since we cant
use anti-freeze in racing. I havent had any problems
at all and the radiator looks like new

Posted By: David_in_St_Croi

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 02:13 PM

If it is electrolysis the problem is caused by stray current. If it is galvanic corrosion, that is caused by dissimilar metals. Both situations will eat the aluminum, which is low on the galvanic scale. Both can be treated with an anode. I suspect you have galvanic corrosion, not electrolysis. If you disconnect the battery do you still get the radiator building pressure? What time frame are we talking about to build this pressure? If you still get the phenomena with the battery disconnected you have galvanic corrosion. If you only get the effect with the battery connected you have a current leak somewhere (which I suspect is not the case).

Frequently people use the term electrolysis when they really mean galvanic corrosion. Cavitation and ventilation are frequently misused also, people call ventilation cavitation and they are very different. Boy, am I sounding like a pedantic engineer (which I am).

Posted By: Jeepmon

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 04:38 PM

Heres a story from a few years ago, that just might help some of the racers here..

Back in the day, I worked for the local Telephone utility company.. I was teamed up with the Company grump.. This guy would complain about anything and everything..

One day we were walking to a resturant for breakfast when we passed a beauty salon that was advertising electrolysis.. I said "Hey Ray, this place is for you.. they can remove that one stray hair thats growing up your butt".

and then the fight began....

Posted By: Plumcrazyracing

Re: Electrolysis - 02/28/09 04:56 PM

David, good point. The pressure occured with the battery system disconnected. Ran the motor to operating temperature on a saturday for about 3-5 minutes. Shut down and disconnected battery system. On sunday the cooling system still had pressure. I bled the air. On Tuesday the system had pressure. Bled again. On Thursday the system was FULL of pressure again. Drained system.

What kind of damage do you think this caused to my aluminum heads?

Posted By: savoyracer

Re: Electrolysis - 03/01/09 01:37 AM

Quote:

If it is electrolysis the problem is caused by stray current. If it is galvanic corrosion, that is caused by dissimilar metals. Both situations will eat the aluminum, which is low on the galvanic scale. Both can be treated with an anode. I suspect you have galvanic corrosion, not electrolysis. If you disconnect the battery do you still get the radiator building pressure? What time frame are we talking about to build this pressure? If you still get the phenomena with the battery disconnected you have galvanic corrosion. If you only get the effect with the battery connected you have a current leak somewhere (which I suspect is not the case).

Frequently people use the term electrolysis when they really mean galvanic corrosion. Cavitation and ventilation are frequently misused also, people call ventilation cavitation and they are very different. Boy, am I sounding like a pedantic engineer (which I am).

...........

Posted By: David_in_St_Croi

Re: Electrolysis - 03/01/09 11:31 AM

Hi Plum,

I doubt there has been any serious damage to your heads. A zinc anode on a boat usually lasts a pretty long time and that is submerged in salt water. As it sounds like the problem is caused by the dissimilar metals, which you can not change, I would go with the zinc anode or the coolants mentioned. You could also drain the system and refill using distilled water plus whatever antifreeze, water-wetter additives you desire. Distilled water is pretty much just H2O with no other ions so has less current carrying capacity. I know, it sounds as if I am talking about electrolysis again, but while not caused by an electrical current, galvanic corrosion is still an electrical phenomena. The worse of a conductor the fluid is, the less corrosion.

For fun sometime stick an aluminum nail and a copper nail into a lemon. Lemon juice is acidic, copper and aluminum are far apart on the galvanic scale. Put a voltmeter with one lead on each nail, completing the circuit. With the meter set on the lowest voltage DC setting you will be able to detect a current. Several of these in series will light up a flashlight bulb.

Okay, enough science. Now, go buy an anode and burn rubber.

Posted By: Plumcrazyracing

Re: Electrolysis - 03/01/09 04:16 PM

Thank you. Zinc Anode it is!!

Posted By: Plumcrazyracing

Re: Electrolysis - 03/01/09 05:59 PM

I found these online at a company called Electroguard in CA. There are several other companies out there (ie.. east and west coast) I was able to get the brass plug and 4 anodes for under 10 bucks shipped (i have no idea how long they last). Jegs and summit sell these for about 15 bucks each plus their handling fees.

Thanks for all the help.