[DeTomaso] Sacrificial Zinc anode

[Clark Family]

I would be very interested to see a picture or a careful weighing of a
sacrificial anode used in a car cooling system after 50k miles. For
marine applications, absolutely! But modern coolant has anti-corrosive
additives because of aluminum, brass, and iron in the coolant path.

Has anyone seen galvanic corrosion damage in a car cooling system? I
have read wankels had some that was solved by a simple ground wire.
Silica additives and not changing on recommended interval worries me more.

That Fluidyne suggests a sacrificial plug moves the needle a bit away
from snake oil. A quick search shows places selling 'voltage sponges'
and 'smart ground wires' along with anode radiator caps, really??

And it may hurt. What happens to all those active zinc or magnesium ions
put in solution? Do they precipitate and clog radiator tubes? Do they
plate on some other part of the engine? Does zinc stay in solution and
make waste coolant even worse toxic waste?

Monday musings,
Chris


On 1/26/2014 11:22 PM, jgkrenton at comcast.net wrote:
> All:
> 
> These are known as "Pencil Anodes" and are widely available in the
> marine industry.  Not a bad idea for any cooling system..
> 
> http://www.marinepartssource.com/products.asp?cat=7&CatName=Anodes&Sub1=3&Sub2=0&Sub3=0&SubCategory=Pencil%20Anodes
> 
> FYI
> 
> Jeff/2467
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> *From: *"Asa Jay Laughton" <asajay at asajay.com>
> *To: *detomaso at poca.com
> *Sent: *Sunday, January 26, 2014 2:01:53 PM
> *Subject: *[DeTomaso] Sacrificial Zinc anode
> 
> I'd recommend the zinc anode.  I first installed one in the water pump
> but later moved it to the upper hole in the Fluidyne radiator.  It
> doubles as an air bleed by opening it slightly, and doesn't cause a mess
> when I go to drain the radiator through the regular drain cock:
> 
> Flex-a-lite 32060 - Flex-a-lite Zinc Anode Drain Plug Replacement Kit
> 
> The photo is from Jegs because Summit doesn't have a photo. (and neither
> does the Fluidyne site).
> 
> Asa  jay