Cooling system
Is there any suggestion when it comes to choose radiator material when engine block or heads are made of aluminium?
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Aluminum anywhere there's coolant in contact causes the same problem. But radiators are made of thinner metal so problems with corrosion show up sooner. With reasonable chemical care, nothing bad will happen. My Fluidyne aluminum rad is now 13 years old and cools fine with no leaks. That's with aluminum heads and water pump as well. But we don't have corrosive water here in N NV either.
Also keep in mind that ALL Corvettes, Z-28s and Ford Mustangs sold since about 1990 have had aluminum rads, cylinder heads and water pumps if not engine blocks. You're in Europe: Mercedes, BMW and Porsche also have had aluminum in direct contact with coolant for decades. And the forums for those cars have few posts about dissolving engines. But those owners mostly use anti-corrosion additives and sacrificial anodes in their coolant.
Why do giant car mfgrs use aluminum radiators? Because pound-for-pound, it works far better than anything else; they're about 40% of the wt of directly comparable copper/brass rads. Extra wt sucks up power and fuel.
Also keep in mind that ALL Corvettes, Z-28s and Ford Mustangs sold since about 1990 have had aluminum rads, cylinder heads and water pumps if not engine blocks. You're in Europe: Mercedes, BMW and Porsche also have had aluminum in direct contact with coolant for decades. And the forums for those cars have few posts about dissolving engines. But those owners mostly use anti-corrosion additives and sacrificial anodes in their coolant.
Why do giant car mfgrs use aluminum radiators? Because pound-for-pound, it works far better than anything else; they're about 40% of the wt of directly comparable copper/brass rads. Extra wt sucks up power and fuel.
quote:Originally posted by Bosswrench:
Aluminum anywhere there's coolant in contact causes the same problem. But radiators are made of thinner metal so problems with corrosion show up sooner. With reasonable chemical care, nothing bad will happen. My Fluidyne aluminum rad is now 13 years old and cools fine with no leaks. That's with aluminum heads and water pump as well. But we don't have corrosive water here in N NV either.
Also keep in mind that ALL Corvettes, Z-28s and Ford Mustangs sold since about 1990 have had aluminum rads, cylinder heads and water pumps if not engine blocks. You're in Europe: Mercedes, BMW and Porsche also have had aluminum in direct contact with coolant for decades. And the forums for those cars have few posts about dissolving engines. But those owners mostly use anti-corrosion additives and sacrificial anodes in their coolant.
Why do giant car mfgrs use aluminum radiators? Because pound-for-pound, it works far better than anything else; they're about 40% of the wt of directly comparable copper/brass rads. Extra wt sucks up power and fuel.
So it should be ok to use the stock copper radiator with aluminium block and heads then?
I do believe copper/brass transmits heat better than aluminum but is much heavier and more expensive.
Are they the same to repair?
Are they the same to repair?
keep an eye on your coolant voltage, interesting I just saw a bit about this on the telly
below 0.13v is Good, above .3 is Bad
example they tested was midway but they changed out the damaged Rad & new coolant anyhow
multimeter, DC volts; Earth probe on the Bat Neg terminal, Pos probe in the coolant not touching metal
below 0.13v is Good, above .3 is Bad
example they tested was midway but they changed out the damaged Rad & new coolant anyhow
multimeter, DC volts; Earth probe on the Bat Neg terminal, Pos probe in the coolant not touching metal
quote:Originally posted by 4NHOTROD:
I do believe copper/brass transmits heat better than aluminum but is much heavier and more expensive.
Are they the same to repair?
Aluminum has to be welded for repairs, copper or brass can be brazed.
Jeff