Hi all

What about. ?

I was thinking on this proposal. A dangerous thing at any time. Seeing we all have heater hoses branching/coming off our main cooling ring what if someone came up with an attachment/further branch off these hoses into a form of heater core/body where the sacrificial lamb could be placed. I know it sounds a long way from the heads that we are trying to protect but lets discuss it somewhat. After what's another join or two to our already extended plumbing system.

This may be only an idea but something may come from it. Of course the annual change of coolant would still be added insurance.

Ray

PS going away for a week so I wont be able to answer. I am not going off line will collect the mail on my return.

Richard M. Myers wrote:

> Hello Ari, > > Better than on the radiator would be to connect a magnesium or other > cathode-protection chunk electrically to the engine block somwhere > immersed > in coolant. Unless what you're trying to protect is the radiator...... > > Any ideas on where this can be done without major disassembly? Also, > are > there any chemist-types who know *for sure* which sacrificial metal > will > provide the protection desired for this application? > > I may be short some of the details, but tinkerers on this list can > probably > figure out a better solution than the 'radcap' as described. > > Tom > > =============================== > >Reply-To: Ari Ollikainen <Ari@OLTECO.COM> > >Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM> > >From: Ari Ollikainen <Ari@OLTECO.COM> > >Subject: Re: head electrolysis cure? > >Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM > >To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM > > > >>Perhaps some dissolved zinc in our coolant would work, being preferred > > >>in the red/ox reaction to the aluminum of our heads? Any chemists or > >>metallurgists out there who could comment on this? I am not certain > of > >>all the details but I believe the concept is correct...although if it > is > >>wouldn't VW have simply added this "anode" material to the Autobahn > >>coolant to prevent/eliminate the leakage issue and all the irate > >>wasserleaker owners...have changes been made to the coolant since the > >>leakage problem arose? I suppose that would make regular coolant > >>changes absolutely mandatory to insure that the "anode" material has > not > >>been completed consumed by the reaction. > > > > It's interesting that this thread would surface at this time... > > > While watching a NASCAR event last Sunday, I didn't pay much > > attention to the commercial for a new product called "Rad Cap" > > which purports to provide *exactly* this sort of protection. > > Unfortunately its form factor (normal radiator cap) is wrong > for > > the Vanagon cooling system :-( > > > > Later I saw it again in the MotorTrend October 98 issue "Car > Care" > > section...see http://www.motortrend.com/oct98/cc/cc_f.html > > > > A "RAD" SOLUTION TO ALUMINUM EROSION > > > > The Rad Cap offers an innovative approach to minimizing the > type of > > internal metallic erosion caused by electrolysis: the stripping > of > > ions from system metals due to stored electricity in the > cooling > > system. Based on a concept used in marine applications, the Rad > Cap > > contains a sacrificial magnesium anode that hangs from the > underside > > of the cap and is immersed in the coolant. The idea is that > magnesium > > is a more active metal than aluminum, so it will dissolve > before > > aluminum, saving wear on the engine's aluminum parts. According > to the > > company, proof that it works is evident from the fact that the > > electrical voltage in the solution is usually much higher > around the > > anode than elsewhere in the coolant. The Rad Cap costs about > $20, and > > its effective lifespan is estimated at 18-36 months. > > Contact DD&E, 925/689-6214. > > > > > > > > OLTECO Ari Ollikainen > > P.O. BOX 3688 Networking Technology and Architecture > > Stanford, CA Ari@OLTECO.com > > 94309-3688 415.517.3519 > > +------------------------------------+ > | CycoActive Products tel (206) 323-2349 > | 701 34th Ave fax (206) 325-6016 > | Seattle, WA 98122 USA > | webpage: http://www.cycoactive.com > | e-mail: TomMyers@cycoactive.com > +------------------------------------+