[Transkeicowboy]

Recently had my radiator replaced. The new one only lasted 10 days and then there was a leak.

Took it back to the suppliers who said that this type of failure is usually associated with electrolysis in the cooling system. Said they had checked for it and that there is evidence of this happening in my vehicle.

So I did some research on the web and found that "they" advise that a reading of 0.3 or higher on the voltmeter suggests there is an electrolysis problem.

I found this weekend that the reading in my system is 0.07 and when the engine is running it goes down to 0.03.

My dad and I did some more testing for the electrolysis problem later.

Again found that with the engine off the reading is under 0.1 and according to all the websites the reading must be over 0.3 to be an issue.

With the engine on and the lights/aircons/radio all on, and the revs at 1750rpm, the reading goes down to 0.03

This is less than the results we got from my mom's mazda etude which had 0.11 with engine off and 0.6 with engine on (at 1750rpm.

So mine is actually a little less than hers and she has not had any issues with radiator damage.

Another interesting bit of info I picked up on the web was one of the specialists commenting that the most extreme case he had seen was when a radiator failed after 30 days and just over 5000miles due to a significant electrolysis problem.

In my case the radiator had only been fitted for 10 days and around 2000km so that would have to be some kind of record!

Anybody else had any similar issues and can advise what they did to fix it?

[4ePajero]

A proper coolant should protect the radiator.

I use Caltex Extended Life Coolant.

Read here

Complete cooling system protection:
Unique Carboxylate Technology inhibitor system provides corrosion protection for all engine and cooling system metals, including aluminium, iron, steel, copper and solder alloys. Selective corrosion protection (only where it is needed) allows the remaining surfaces to be free of inhibitor film for unrestricted heat transfer.

[Transkeicowboy]

Thanks Gerhard.

[Transkeicowboy]

Is this available at Midas?

[4ePajero]

Is this available at Midas?

Sometimes.
Phone the Caltex depot in Westbank. (Remember they accept cash only!)

[Transkeicowboy]

Phoned Midas and they don't have any.

I can't find a phone number or location for the Caltex depot in West Bank. Any chance you have a number or address for me please?

[4ePajero]

Me finks the street is called Jonkers Crescent.

33° 2.065'S 27° 53.709'E

You can also try

StarLube East London
PO Box 7455
East London, 5200

Tel : 043 745 0407
Fax : 043 745 0406

[colinken]

using coolant made for a truck will eat through a car radiator in a very sort time.

[4ePajero]

using coolant made for a truck will eat through a car radiator in a very sort time.

Why?

They all use the following material:

• cast iron
• brass
• alluminium

[colinken]

about 4 years ago a customer ask me to fit a new radiator to his yamaha R1 it had lots of tiny pin holes in it. I took the radiator to silverton to ask there opinion on what caused the tiny pin holes

There answer was electrolysis, I tested for current and could not find anything out spec, later i mentioned to the customer when i drained the radiator it smelt very strong and the coolant appeared to be brighter than usual

The owner of the bike told me he had serviced his bike himself and used coolant that he uses in his truck

I phoned silverton back with this new information, there answer was no way can you use truck coolant in a motorcycle radiator, the glycol content is to strong and will eat through the radiator is a very short time. In this case it was just over a 1000Km