Yesterday, I read an article in Popular Mechanics about a person that had a problem with electroysis occuring in his radiator. It cause a new radiator to corrode in just a few months. The coolant inlet connector actually crumbled.
I had never heard of this. How does electrical current occur in the radiator, and how can it be detected and fixed?
-Kirk Matheson
Do a websearch on "electrochemical corrosion". Electron transfer among metals with different electrostatic potentials is the root mechanism. The antifreeze-coolant chemistry specified for any particular system will have corrosion inhibitors specifically effective with whatever mix of metals is in that system. It sounds as if the victim in the PM article did one or more of the following:
-Used plain water or an insufficient concentration of coolant/antifreeze
-Used the wrong type of coolant/antifreeze for the system
-Bought an inferior (Chinese?) radiator.
DS
"Bought an inferior (Chinese?) radiator."
Hay, I resemble that remark. The Chinese radiator I just put in my 01 PT Cruiser is still doing fine, thank you. [My one week in service report].
Actually, the guys who inspected it said it looked better than many they have seen from Asia. The good old North American radiator in my Cruiser did not last and that had the correct fluid loaded.
Richard.
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