Iron Block, Aluminum heads....corrosion

[mrvette]

A buddy stopped by to help this afternoon, dropped off an engine stand, going to pull short block 350 Sunday AM.....BUT he noted the cyl head gasket from the driver side.....it too was pulled to the machine shop.....

and noted corrosion on the old gasket, same as was on passenger side......but he never saw the gasket from pass side....

one glance and he swears I can NOT USE TAP WATER in the cooling system, has to be bought OTC at parts house......he learned this some 5 years ago he said.....I been using tap/well water for years, never an issue.....but this is the longest span with Aluminum heads and Iron block......

so going to pull the engine Sunday AM.....flip it over and see just HOW IN HELL the oil sump got full of water in about 15 minits after adding anti-freeze coolent,

SO anyone ever heard of using just store bought premixed coolants in iron block/aluminum head engines???

[Datawiz]

Your car is toast (and looks questionable). Just let it die and buy your wild live sex wife a new C8. You will thank me.

[Aerovette]

I did it all the time in my C4.

[StaticCling]

I’ve always used undiluted coolant and distilled water. Just did a coolant swap on the LT4 and used about 25% coolant with 75% distilled water since I live in a warm climate.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by StaticCling

I’ve always used undiluted coolant and distilled water. Just did a coolant swap on the LT4 and used about 25% coolant with 75% distilled water since I live in a warm climate.

What is the diff between distilled water and tap water??? chlorine?? chlorine cause corrosion/reaction between aluminum and iron??

IF that is true.....I don't recall ever hearing it.....lovely....

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by mrvette

What is the diff between distilled water and tap water??? chlorine?? chlorine cause corrosion/reaction between aluminum and iron??

IF that is true.....I don't recall ever hearing it.....lovely....

Minerals, solids, particulates in well, or tap water.

Distilled can be nearly chemical H2O

[Aerovette]

The gasket should be a barrier for any dissimilar metal reaction. I'm not sure what you are seeing.

[MadInNc]

Distilled only

[ZipZap]

Distilled and water wetter in the race car because we can't use coolant. Distilled and coolant in the regular vehicles. Some weird crap in the F-250 Diesel.

In any case, no tap. Tap water has impurities in it that not only cause deposits, but the water is conductive, providing galvanic pathways. Also, the chemicals used to treat water can be acidic, further encouraging corrosion.

Distilled water is cheap. I always have 5 - 10 gallons sitting around.

[Black94lt1]

I use distilled but I may consider switching to RO water instead. I’ve read several articles like the attached that say distilled can lead to issues with aluminum radiators. Industrially we do use molybdenum in our systems

https://www.hyperlube.com/blog/blog/...ooling-system/

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by Black94lt1

I use distilled but I may consider switching to RO water instead. I’ve read several articles like the attached that say distilled can lead to issues with aluminum radiators. Industrially we do use molybdenum in our systems

https://www.hyperlube.com/blog/blog/...ooling-system/

All our racing radiators are aluminum and the manufacturers recommend distilled with an additive, which removes the "ionic hunger" that this product talks about. Nobody uses straight distilled in the cars.

Here's the popular additive in race cars: https://www.redlineoil.com/waterwetter

[Datawiz]

Dude. Throw it away and buy a C8. You're welcome.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by datawiz

Dude. Throw it away and buy a C8. You're welcome.

Problem is his C4 probably won't last until delivery

[Bill]

Dissimilar metals causing corrosion? Gene, you need to tack weld on a sacrificial anode....get one from the boat dealer.




....but seriously, stop being a cheapskate and put in half distilled water/half antifreeze, or just spend a little more and get the premixed version.

[Rodnok1]

Distilled is preferred definitely, changing the coolant every couple years also a must.
Some well water is extremely full of minerals and ph way off which will cause problems.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by aerovette

The gasket should be a barrier for any dissimilar metal reaction. I'm not sure what you are seeing.

You're assuming Gene bought that fancy store bought gasket, vs. making his own do it yourself gasket out of straw and used bubble gum.

[Rodnok1]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

You're assuming Gene bought that fancy store bought gasket, vs. making his own do it yourself gasket out of straw and used bubble gum.

Maybe he should post a link to the gaskets he used, sure he has the email somewhere.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by mrvette

A buddy stopped by to help this afternoon, dropped off an engine stand, going to pull short block 350 Sunday AM.....BUT he noted the cyl head gasket from the driver side.....it too was pulled to the machine shop.....

and noted corrosion on the old gasket, same as was on passenger side......but he never saw the gasket from pass side....

one glance and he swears I can NOT USE TAP WATER in the cooling system, has to be bought OTC at parts house......he learned this some 5 years ago he said.....I been using tap/well water for years, never an issue.....but this is the longest span with Aluminum heads and Iron block......

so going to pull the engine Sunday AM.....flip it over and see just HOW IN HELL the oil sump got full of water in about 15 minits after adding anti-freeze coolent,

SO anyone ever heard of using just store bought premixed coolants in iron block/aluminum head engines???

You took heads to the machine shop where my dad works. Stan Brown will tell you what's up. I think you had the wrong gaskets or didn't put the intake on the right way.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

You took heads to the machine shop where my dad works. Stan Brown will tell you what's up. I think you had the wrong gaskets or didn't put the intake on the right way.

I had asked to talk to your Dad, but he not there yet.....so I talked to Gene Murray......it sounded like the heads were going to a head shop here in Clay Co......at any rate, my buddy suggested I get the intake examined too..... The heads were done by Dover Cyl. Head here some 20 years ago.....and a fellow named Oscar is the guy here in OP......son of the owner of Dover......

so maybe Sunday AM or so we can have the short block out and flip it over to see WTF is with the underside.....Thing is engine ran fine/smooth without any coolent for maybe 30 seconds in the garage.....my friend thinks to get that intake checked out.....for cracks as it's a custom intake....but no way in HELL water gets into any oil passage/air fuel even.....

[RMVette]

Originally Posted by MadInNc

Distilled only