Date:         Thu, 17 Feb 2000 20:27:02 -0800
Reply-To:     harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Electrolysis and prevention of corrosion: It CAN be done...
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One "maybe" method to prevent or at least reduce corrosion
is to use tannin as a coolant additive which coats the metal parts
inside the engine, radiator etc.
Don't ask me where I read this, but apparently some cars
and trucks in Australia use a mix of water and tannin as a
corrosion inhibiting coolant in liquid cooled engines.
Guess they don't need freeze protection.
(Maybe someone on the list knows more about this)
Where do you find tannin for such an application, if you don't live
in Australia?
Well I didn't find any tannin pellets for that purpose here in the U.S..
But all is not lost.
Apparently in the old days some pioneering folks used to boil
leftover tea leaves, and add the brew (filtered) to the coolant as a
corrosion preventative.
Guess some smart people observed how water kettles eventually
rust out, but metal tea pots for some reason never do.
Anyway, that is how some old-timers kept their tin lizzys running.
Turns out, tea contains quite a bit of tannin.
( I agree it sounds pretty strange)
To make a long story short, my 10 year old westy with almost
110 thousand miles still has the original heads and gaskets
and no leaks. (knock on wood)
Harald
90 westy