Author Topic: Charge in Radiator  (Read 911 times)

Offline punisher72

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Charge in Radiator
« on: November 23, 2011 - 02:46:36 AM »
Hey guys n gals.
Ive installed a Alloy Radiator and i have a charge running through the coolant when the car is running or not.
Im told if this is the case the radiator will eat itself  :eek2: :eek4:
Can anyone tell me how i could fix this???????
I dont know where to start  :dunno:
Thanx in advance  :cheers:




Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Charge in Radiator
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2011 - 07:54:17 AM »
Found a couple of articles, each suggest eliminating possible sources and adding back one at a time till the issue reappears.
One suggests missing grounds even to the radiator.
http://www.rondavisradiators.com/tech.htm
http://www.radiator.com/articles/alumrads2.html
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline Cooter

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Re: Charge in Radiator
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2011 - 12:10:10 PM »
Now we all know why it is so important to flush out the cooling System in your newer car every 1-2 years.

Afterall, where does the Spark energy ground when that 50K volts goes through the spark plug?

Right through the coolant, to the block, to ground.
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Offline dodj

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Re: Charge in Radiator
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2011 - 09:58:26 PM »


Afterall, where does the Spark energy ground when that 50K volts goes through the spark plug?

Right through the coolant, to the block, to ground.
Spark would go from the center electrode to the block to ground. The better your ground wiring, connections, the less current will look for pathways elsewhere. I'm curious though. How do you measure a current flow in your coolant? Water, coolant will always have a certain amount of ionized molecules, so there will be some 'charge' no matter what.
Scott
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2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
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Offline barracuda7199

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Re: Charge in Radiator
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2011 - 10:35:35 PM »
take a volt meter put the black lead on the negative battery post and put the red lead in the radiator neck touching only the coolant with the engine running. my 02 dakota had a bad ground and it ate the aluminum radiator up in short time. new rad and cleaned grounds later it is good to go.
Brandon

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Offline punisher72

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Re: Charge in Radiator
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2011 - 01:05:17 AM »
I was talking to a mate today and he said to go over my earths from motor to chassis.
I have an earth from front of block to k-frame only.
Im going to add 1 from rear of block to the firewall and recheck the earth to floor in my boot.

When i checked my current in my radiator with everything running it was around 0.066 volts.
Im pretty sure it should be no more than 0.05........

Offline nqkjw

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Re: Charge in Radiator
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2011 - 04:56:22 AM »
When i checked my current in my radiator with everything running it was around 0.066 volts.
Im pretty sure it should be no more than 0.05........

Had a radiator eating issue in one of my excavators a few years ago.
Didn't worry me too much as it was warranty.
Anyway,after the 3rd radiator Komatsu looked further into it and yes,the culprit was poor earthing.
Komatsu says absolute max 0.04V.Desirable max 0.015v
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Offline dodj

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Re: Charge in Radiator
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2011 - 12:47:49 PM »
The block to chassis ground wire should be a substantial wire, like #4 AWG (or better). Same size as the one connected to the -ve post on your battery.
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.