I understand that water well, boats, and water heaters are often protected from corrosion by a "sacrificial metal" or "sacrificial anode" system. This is a strip of a metal "more reactive" than the protected metal, which is electrically connected and makes a battery such that the zinc or magnesium strip corrodes away first.
I am about to replace a radiator that has a slow-dripping leak. (Well, I'm going to try some of that radiator leak clogging voodoo stuff first, but I expect that I will have to replace it.) I was thinking that if I could avoid ever having to replace it again it would be nice; maybe I could connect one of these zinc or magnesium stips to the metal part of the radiator and put the strip inside the front bumber.
Attaching one to the frame to stop body rust doesn't seem like such a bad idea either.
Has anyone ever tried this ? Where to you get the strips ? I have been googling a bit and it seems that the strips are doped with other metals so that the corrosion crumbles away always exposing fresh surface, so I might need to get that kind instead of just any piece of zinc.
The car is an 88 Jetta. I am willing to invest in preserving it because this car has required the least maintainance work of any car I have owned -- I have friends who spend hundreds a year in mechanics work on cars that are half it's age.
Thanks in advance for suggestions or experience anyone can offer.
--Rob