Zinc anodes in cooling system.
Paul Gilbert (pgilbert(at)worldnet.att.net)
Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:06:41 -0500
Zinc anodes in a cooling system would be totally useless unless it is
the iron block that you are trying to protect. Aluminum is higher in
the electromotive series than zinc, hence it is aluminum that is the
anode that will protect the zinc from corrosion! Furthermore in a low
conductivity solution (50% organic) any anode will need to be very close
to the area that you are trying to protect. (read inside the water
passages of the head)
You might try magnesium which is the next element up the series from
aluminum, but again distance is very important.
Make sure that the coolant that you use contains silicates. The
polysilicates (water glass) are corrosion inhibitors for aluminum.
Corrosion inhibitors are a much better solution than anodes