radiator coolant resistance

[captainluigi]

a few months ago i read a thread where Q45tech gave a ohm factor for the coolant. i searched thru his posts but to no avail. anyone know what i'm talking about?

[qship96]

I remember reading it awhile ago, probobly quicker to just flush and refill coolant,than to search for old post here!

[Q45tech]

I remember speaking about the fact that a radiator with acidic coolant can act like a battery and create current flow thru the coolant eating the inside of rad and engine components where the coolant flows.

ElectroChemistry.

One uses a VOM to measure the differential voltage created between rad body and a probe inserted into coolant fill opening [not touching any metal].

http://www.phmeters.com/notes-antifreeze.html

Remember the rad aluminum and the engineblock aluminum are different alloys thus their voltage potential as view thru coolant will not be zero.

To protect against ground loops the radiator sits in rubber isolators, transmission isolated with rubber hoses to rad, rubber surounds aound rad air space.

Different VOM test reobes will be different metals so no absolute correct voltage just below 150 millivolts [will change with coolant temperature].

Careful when reading about cars with iron or iron/aluminum engine blocks and aluminum or copper radiators..............voltages will vary.

[captainluigi]

EUREKA! thats it. thx.

[goody90q45]

And if that doesn't work try some pH paper.

[Q451990]

Or just flush it

[Q45tech]

Since every ekectronic tech and sucessfull car owner keeps a quality VOM in the car, it was deemed the easiest method to check coolant every 6 months or just flush and replace.

Since each brand of coolant and type of water will produce a different voltage, I think I provided a range of millivolts .............not over 150mv.

The inside of the sacrifical anode tube or rad tells you when you have made a mistake.