Galvanic corrosion in car heater circuit.

[RaceDiagnostics]

Guys, on another car forum I'm on someone warned that using copper fittings in the heater circuit of my car will lead to damage of the aluminium heads due to galvanic corrosion.

Anyone know how worried I need to be?

These are the copper parts I used to splice in an electronically controlled water valve.

 

[grim_d]

The inhibitors in your coolant would put a stop to any significant issues.

There are incompatible metals in probably every cars coolant system.

 

[bricol]

If they aren't actually in physical contact and you are using a suitable anti-freeze with anticorrosion additives, I don't think you have a problem. Certainly had aluminium head on iton blocks cooled via copper and brass radiators in the past with no issues.

 

[supaimpy]

plenty of copper cored radiators out there, and heater matrix so cant be a big problem .

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Thanks guys, puts my mind at rest.

 

[armalites]

Usual internet scientists, I've also read somewhere that using the water from dehumidifier in you coolant can be an issue because it's so pure it will absorb minerals. I understand the science but in the real world.

More importantly what's with subliminal advertising? I've got a sudden urge to buy a tent.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

More importantly what's with subliminal advertising? I've got a sudden urge to buy a tent.

It's early in the morning, but you've lost me there?

 

[pedrobedro]

It's early in the morning, but you've lost me there?

There is a go outdoors card at the back of the valve unit, wake up and get some bacon slim

 

[Wallace]

I ran a couple of Rover V8’s with copper in the system on Blucol antifreeze, no corrosion.

 

[123hotchef]

Guys, on another car forum I'm on someone warned that using copper fittings in the heater circuit of my car will lead to damage of the aluminium heads due to galvanic corrosion.

Anyone know how worried I need to be?

These are the copper parts I used to splice in an electronically controlled water valve.

what you made/doing anyway?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

There is a go outdoors card at the back of the valve unit, wake up and get some bacon slim

 

[bricol]

Usual internet scientists, I've also read somewhere that using the water from dehumidifier in you coolant can be an issue because it's so pure it will absorb minerals. I understand the science but in the real world.

More importantly what's with subliminal advertising? I've got a sudden urge to buy a tent.

Deionised water is pretty reactive and will "grab" ions from where it can - so stick in an assembly with disimilar metals, and stuff happens! I remember brass bodied valves, and the aluminium extrusion used to hold strip brushes in a machine using deionised water to give final rinse to components, just rotting away in very short order. Required specific materials to stop it happening.

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

slightly OT but where did you get the valve from. I do an uprated replacement for the MG ZT260, but supply of the danfoss valve bodies is coming to an end

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

what you made/doing anyway?

OK, in the old heating system there was an on/off water valve in the heater circuit that was controlled by a vacuum actuator. Since I ditched all the (unreliable) vacuum systems (heater, central locking, head light leveler etc) in the car., I needed an electrically controlled valve instead. So I spliced into the brass pipe going to the heater matrix and put the valve in circuit there as it needed to go on the dry side of the firewall.

You can see it in action in this video.

The valve came from Vintage Air in the US. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vta-50507-vua


As for the plastic cards, I needed to close up a couple of 20mm diameter holes on the body of the heater box so stuck these on with some PU sealant.

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

superb, thanks. just clocked its a 2 port valve though, although they may do a 3 port one

 

[voipio]

Usual internet scientists, I've also read somewhere that using the water from dehumidifier in you coolant can be an issue because it's so pure it will absorb minerals. I understand the science but in the real world.

???? Deionised, distilled, demineralised, dehumidifier water all tend to reduce corrosion, compared to mineralised water/ tap water. See e.g.:

http://axiomind.sasktelwebhosting.com/pdf/hvactech29.pdf

There's a lot of misinformation out there on this subject.

 

[chris y]

What coolant are you using?

The modern long life OAT coolant, most commonly pink / red colour is only suitable for relatively modern cars which have a limited range of metals in them, apparently used in earlier cars some things can corrode, the new stuff is supposed to have less corrosion inhibiting properties, but of course is suitable for the limited metals in a newer car (radiators etc are all aluminium). Its advantages are long life and I think less toxic.

I say this because you are adding copper, I would think with old fashioned blue antifreeze it should be fine.

PS I dont know this all to be certain fact, its just what I've read.