Date:         Sun, 17 Jan 1999 13:34:54 GMT
Reply-To:     Carroll Smith <cas@DIGITAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Carroll Smith <cas@DIGITAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: corrosion & anodes (sucking electrons?)
In-Reply-To:  <3.0.5.32.19990116223645.007b9760@popd.ix.netcom.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Yes you do. However your benefit will be mental, not physical. In
order for electrochemical protection to occur there must be a clear
path for electrolysis. Placement of sacrificial anodes must be near
the area of protection. So if you are seeking protection of the engine
block it is very unlikely the "current throw" as it is called in the
trade will be adequate and the protection will be small to nil.  You
are best off  buying the best anticorrosion  antifreeze available and
replacing it regularly.=20

I would return the anode for a refund.

cas

On Sat, 16 Jan 1999 22:36:45 -0800, you wrote:

>Just for the heck of it a coupla months ago I went down to West Marine &
>bought a corrosion anode, put a couple of ty-wraps on it so I could
>retrieve it & chucked it into the overflow coolant tank (behind the =
license
>plate).  Just pulled it out & it looks shinier than new!  Then it struck=
 me
>- all the different anodes WM had either screwed into or were otherwise
>attached to something *metal* on a boat...outboard drives, prop shaft
>housings, etc.
>
>Thus the question for all the electron cognizenti out there - does an =
anode
>have to be electrically attached to a vehicle ground, or is what I'm =
doing
>now eventually going to work?  i.e. for this to work, do I have to fish =
a
>wire out of the tank to connect the anode to a convenient ground???
>
>Austin