Continue to Site

Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet

Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals

Register Log in
  • Congratulations KootK on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

grounding radiators

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tmoose

Tmoose

Mechanical
Apr 12, 2003
5,626
There's a discussion on an engine tech bulletin board about the necessity or benefit or even harm of grounding the radiator of a typical passenger or even a boat.

A variety of opinions exist from it doesn't matter, to grounding is bad, to "Grounding a radiator is a necessity because the coolant is not only conductive, but as the system operates, it also picks up trace metals from the engine and other components. Grounding helps to prevent electrial issues by ensuring there is a ground path from a component that is normally mounted in rubber isolators, connected by rubber hose. Electricity will find the easiest path to ground, regardless of what that path is, it WILL return to ground. Not grounding the radiator is just like having a short in the electrical system, and can cause a host of issues....."

Testing for voltage potential from coolant in the radiator to the engine block exterior is mentioned. I think of that as more of a coolant chemistry condition test.

There is One interesting anecdote about an engine, probably from the carburetor era, that idled poorly and was found to have detectable coolant to block voltage.
Simply changing the coolant reportedly restored smooth running.

I have now thoroughly confused myself.

thanks,

Dan T
 
Replies continue below

Recommended for you

Sort by date Sort by votes
As someone that owns a radiator comb, I'd file this among other reasons that I gave up reading hobby forums.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Coolant should have low conductivity. What I have found is that most in the mechanic, technician, and operating engineer careers mistakenly correlate erosion with electrolysis instead of cavitation. Aftermarket radiators and heater cores with aluminum headers are especially sensitive. Modern coolants without nitrites are less protective against cavitation. Make sure you use a 15 psi radiator cap with proper treatment before you concern yourself with radiator grounding.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If one "grounds the radiator" and the radiator is one part of an electrochemical cell, doesn't that complete the circuit?

In a regular battery there are two plates and the electrolyte. They generally sit undisturbed (for various amounts, depending on chemistry) until the external circuit completes and then one side starts corroding and the other side starts oxidizing.

If the block is one electrode and the radiator is the other, keeping them isolated as much as possible seems like a good idea.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If the radiator is copper or brass grounding it will make the engine block sacrificial. We ground the keel coolers on our tugboats because there is such a high ratio of boat to cooler ratio the boat doesn't corrode much. However, that is on the outside and submerged in electrolyte. Inside, one has the option to properly treat the water to prevent corrosion. Do this.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
With any component that is isolated it pays to take voltage measurements prior to grounding anything.
The worst case is usually having multiple grounds that are actually referenced to different voltages.
Not all grounds are created equal.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Radiators in older cars and trucks were always grounded, there was not any plastic used on them, and they where bolted to the steel radiator support, that was of course bolted to inner fenders and frame.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My old truck has the radiator sitting in rubber vibration isolators. If everything is in good condition it is technically ungrounded. That's a good things, if it were grounded and you were to mistakenly short s wire to it, it would burn through.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

fireslave
  • Locked
  • Question
Radiators? 1 core 2 core, cross flow, etc...
Replies
13
Views
106
patprimmer
patprimmer
RSRacing
  • Locked
  • Question
Intercooler grounding
Replies
2
Views
55
turbocohen
turbocohen
RSRacing
  • Locked
  • Question
Throttle body grounding
Replies
1
Views
51
Fabrico
Fabrico

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top Bottom