Aluminum radiator

[HO455]

For those who may be interested here is a link to a lengthy post on this subject.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Cooling/

[cardude]

My new ECP unit arrives today and I was wondering what if anything can be done to keep it from corroding on the outside? Living out on the coast, aluminum gets looking pretty jenky pretty quick! My carb, trans case, alternator, etc all have started getting that white speckled corrosion on 'um after only 6 months on the road. Sucks!

[Z10]

Originally Posted by cardude

My new ECP unit arrives today and I was wondering what if anything can be done to keep it from corroding on the outside? Living out on the coast, aluminum gets looking pretty jenky pretty quick! My carb, trans case, alternator, etc all have started getting that white speckled corrosion on 'um after only 6 months on the road. Sucks!

Try a can of Nyalic, but I wouldn’t use it on the cooling fins. I’ve used it for many years with great results. https://www.nyalic.com/
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[cardude]

Cool! I'll look it up. Thank you!

[Steve Cole]

Originally Posted by cardude

My new ECP unit arrives today and I was wondering what if anything can be done to keep it from corroding on the outside? Living out on the coast, aluminum gets looking pretty jenky pretty quick! My carb, trans case, alternator, etc all have started getting that white speckled corrosion on 'um after only 6 months on the road. Sucks!

If you would, post pics of weld quality, fittment, and give your overall impression of the quality of the radiator. I am strongly leaning towards buying one of those radiators but I have never seen an actual review of them here so that would be very helpful to those considering buying one. Thanks!”

[cardude]

Originally Posted by Steve Cole

If you would, post pics of weld quality, fittment, and give your overall impression of the quality of the radiator. I am strongly leaning towards buying one of those radiators but I have never seen an actual review of them here so that would be very helpful to those considering buying one. Thanks!”

Arrived yesterday, in a nice strong box, well packed in styrofoam. Looking Good! Polished up real nice and the welds look pretty good. Definitely hand welded, but whoever did it has a much steadier hand than me! Ordered the Nyalic that Z10 suggested so it'll be awhile before I get to installing it.

I took a handfull of shots of the weld seams, in my photo albums.

[Steve Cole]

Where are your photo albums located?

[cardude]

Originally Posted by Steve Cole

Where are your photo albums located?

Photo albums are on user's profile page.

[dmjlambert]

That is the radiator I put in. I don't know about corrosion on the outside, I would be interested to know also. For corrosion on the inside I wrote an email to ECP a while back and asked them if the stuff I read on the internet about sacrificial anodes is a real thing, and they wrote back and said yes and suggested I get one. I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GR09S4/
I don't know what it should look like after being in the truck for a year. I went and pulled it out just now and this is what it looks like. I don't know if this shows the sacrifice is happening. Poor picture, sorry about that. I was trying to take a picture with one hand and plugging the hole with my finger and making a mess. The anode has a brown coat of stuff. I run 2/3 coolant and 1/3 water, and have a coolant reservoir, so I probably don't have a very corrosive environment in there. Do you plan to use a sacrificial anode?

[cardude]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

That is the radiator I put in. I don't know about corrosion on the outside, I would be interested to know also. For corrosion on the inside I wrote an email to ECP a while back and asked them if the stuff I read on the internet about sacrificial anodes is a real thing, and they wrote back and said yes and suggested I get one. I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GR09S4/
I don't know what it should look like after being in the truck for a year. I went and pulled it out just now and this is what it looks like. I don't know if this shows the sacrifice is happening. Poor picture, sorry about that. I was trying to take a picture with one hand and plugging the hole with my finger and making a mess. The anode has a brown coat of stuff. I run 2/3 coolant and 1/3 water, and have a coolant reservoir, so I probably don't have a very corrosive environment in there. Do you plan to use a sacrificial anode?

Still researching that part! I'm running 50/50. Was hoping there's some sort of additive that can be added periodically.

How 'bout it - what's everybody else doing as far as interior corrosion prevention with an aluminum radiator?

[harpo231]

Zinc Anode Drain Plug... for internal corrosion

[dmjlambert]

"additive that can be added periodically" -- that would be any high quality coolant such as Prestone, it has corrosion inhibitors that wear out after 2 years. I added that zinc rod drain plug just as an extra measure. One thing I've noticed with my high concentration of coolant is the level of coolant in the coolant reservoir does not change at all with the engine hot or cold. No boiling, no expansion, and all the air is burped out of the main system.
I think it would be good to hear if anybody is doing anything to reduce external corrosion, other than painting the whole thing including the fins.

[cardude]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

"additive that can be added periodically" -- that would be any high quality coolant such as Prestone, it has corrosion inhibitors that wear out after 2 years. I added that zinc rod drain plug just as an extra measure. One thing I've noticed with my high concentration of coolant is the level of coolant in the coolant reservoir does not change at all with the engine hot or cold. No boiling, no expansion, and all the air is burped out of the main system.
I think it would be good to hear if anybody is going anything to reduce external corrosion, other than painting the whole thing including the fins.

Man, I've been reading on this anode subject and now my head's about to explode! LOTS of opinions!! If you want read some good debate check out this forum thread:

http://forums.corral.net/forums/general-mustang-tech/1046473-preventing-electrolysis-aluminum-radiator.html#/topics/1046473?page=1
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[dmjlambert]

Yes, head explosion effect, I had that, too. Makes me wonder if it's all a bunch of baloney.

[Daves70]

Back to Rads. I have a Griffin rad in my truck and although it cools my 408 small block ok the fit wasn't as good as it should be. I find that it needs more airflow than a copper rad ie in stopped traffic. The worn out, plugged up 40 year old 3 core that i had before,cooled it too. I would probably go with a new 3 or 4 core copper rad next time. All the studies in the world can't convince me that aluminum cools better.

[harpo231]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Yes, head explosion effect, I had that, too. Makes me wonder if it's all a bunch of baloney.

Was in cooling tower industry for 35 yrs , We used zinc anode on all watertouch applications.....

[Z10]

Here is something else to consider. I've used these on the last couple of builds.
http://www.acdelco.com/auto-parts/ve...seal-tabs.html

[cardude]

Originally Posted by Z10

Here is something else to consider. I've used these on the last couple of builds.
http://www.acdelco.com/auto-parts/ve...seal-tabs.html

Hey, Z10 - that link hits a dead end!
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[Z10]

Originally Posted by cardude

Hey, Z10 - that link hits a dead end!
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Hmmm? It's working for me. Try searching this: ACDelco COOLING SYSTEM SEAL TABS

[HO455]

Originally Posted by cardude

Man, I've been reading on this anode subject and now my head's about to explode! LOTS of opinions!! If you want read some good debate check out this forum thread:

http://forums.corral.net/forums/gene...1046473?page=1
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It's real. I have worked in the commercial marine industry for decades and there isn't an engine in our fleet that operates without zincs in the cooling system. They come installed from the engine manufacturers and we service them regularly. (Usually on a hours ran schedule) Putting cast iron and brass and copper and aluminum in a stream of moving water causes electrolysis. Additives wear out without warning and you have no protection. I have seen 1/8 thick aluminum housings eaten through from the inside a matter of months. This was on a generator that ran 12 hours day everyday). The more you operate the engine the more protection you need. Daily drivers need to change antifreeze yearly and and zincs are good for peace of mind. Now if you live in the north and have a block heater installed then a zinc is really a must as you have added an other source of electrolysis to the cooling system and it can wear out the coolant additives if there is current leakage when the heater is operating.