Reply to "Another Radiator Prob x3"

Aluminum rads are particularly sensitive to internal corrosion from acidic local water. Many aluminum radiator suppliers now include a bottle of No-Rosion or something similar to counteract this. We humans can tolerate acidic drinks but alloys are less able to. 'Coke' will DISSOLVE a piece of aluminum over a short time. Note also that Corvettes & Z-28s have had aluminum radiators since about 1969 as stock. 'Vette owners often use sacrificial anodes of magnesium or other active metals suspended in coolant, for corrosion protection.

You can check your car for galvanic corrosion quite simply: from the 'Vette guys, pull the radiator cap and stick a probe from a good VOM, set on the lowest possible amp setting, in the coolant while grounding the other lead. A reading of over about 75 milliamps means ALL the light alloys in your cooling system are actively dissolving including radiators, aftermarket water pumps etc. But it DOES have to be a good VOM; $5 meters from a generic auto supply are just not sensitive enough. pH paper from a swimming pool supplier will also work: it should show above pH 7. Note this also applies to copper rads as well.

Another interesting thing: with the good VOM still connected and showing a high reading, turn on the headlights: if the meter reading increases, you also have grounding issues in your Pantera. You can progressively pull fuses while watching the meter to help trace the problem. Our '72 has had the same Fluidyne rad' in place since 2002 with no issues; N. Nevada water analyzes as nearly pure H2O, though. though. Good luck-