Electrolysis in aluminum heads?

34 ford

Cadet
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Messages
28
Hi,
Have a 5.7 omc engine , that previous owner installed aluminum heads on.
The boat is only used in fresh water. But when I took the heads off there is corrosion
starting in the water passages.
Is there any way to prevent futher corrosion? with some device?
Thanks for the help.
 

Howard Sterndrive

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2008
Messages
4,603
Re: Electrolysis in aluminum heads?

aluminum or cast iron.. they are going to corrode in a RWC i/o.
I would imagine your block and exhaust manifolds look the same or worse

just put new parts once they are too far gone
 

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: Electrolysis in aluminum heads?

Is there any way to prevent futher corrosion? with some device?
Thanks for the help.

Closed cooling and 50/50 antifreeze. but it's probably too late (hours/years) to make that worth it.....
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,103
Re: Electrolysis in aluminum heads?

Hi,
Have a 5.7 omc engine , that previous owner installed aluminum heads on.
The boat is only used in fresh water. But when I took the heads off there is corrosion
starting in the water passages.
Is there any way to prevent futher corrosion? with some device?
Thanks for the help.

Ayuh,.... Cast Iron heads....
 

Kainon

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
608
Re: Electrolysis in aluminum heads?

Cant reduce with ANODEs in the water jacket? maybe using the temp sender port(s) in the intake, and depending on the verion there's threaded ports on each head that cna be used. ( thats where the temp sender was on my '69 327ci. ) Magnesium would be what you'd want. Add to that ideally as mentioned a closed cooling system with 50/50 anti-freeze.

But as Mr. Bond-o suggested might be cheaper to put a set of cast iron ones on. Will handle sustained high temps better too !! If I'm not mistaken.

bowing to the great & powerful bond-o
 
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