22 replies to this topic

[bob540]

Haven't driven the mini since late October and when I lifted the bonnet over the weekend I noticed a pink/white gunk around the stat housing. Can anyone tell me what it is?

[Sprocket]

It is aluminium oxide caused galvanic corrosion. Basically the different metals, iron, steel, and brass (in this case) are reactive with each other in the presence of an electrolyte. The electrolyte is commonly water with the presence of salts. The salts can come from the air, but in the case of a car during winter, it comes from the road. The fact that you have a ground strap connected to the thermostat housing probably isn't helping much either as electrical current is flowing through this localised  area.

 

Unfortunately, in the main galvanic corrosion will always occur, especially in winter, but removing that ground strap (connect it somewhere else) might help. Regularly washing down these parts with clean water will also help.

[bob540]

Great information, thanks Sprocket! I'll clean it up over the weekend and move the strap elsewhere.

[gazza82]

Try some bi-carb of soda mix .. works on battery acid "fluff" .. might help. Otherwise elbow grease ...

 

 

Odd place to fit an earth strap? Thought they went on the gearbox end?

Edited by gazza82, 22 February 2017 - 09:16 AM.

[nicklouse]

does not actually matter where they go or how many you have.

[dyshipfakta]

Also what type of coolant do you use? The red stuff dries like that

[Steve220]

It's also the wrong type for the a series

[dyshipfakta]

Use to see quite a lot of that running down the front of the block of my MGf every year or 2.

[Dusky]

It's also the wrong type for the a series

Depends on the rad.

[gazza82]

Red doesn't have the right adfitives for cast iron blocks ... more for alloy engines. Blue ethyl-glycol in an a-series ...

[pdaykin]

The later minis didn't use blue.

[nicklouse]

But as they still had brass plugs in the engine they should not be using red.

But again the colour is not really a correct way of choosing.

Cooling system materials should be considered. Cast iron. Brass, steel and aluminium. And maybe some copper.

Edited by nicklouse, 22 February 2017 - 11:56 PM.

[Steve220]

The later minis didn't use blue.

They should have done. The red will rot iron blocks. It has FA to do with the rad material.

[Dusky]

The later minis didn't use blue.

They should have done. The red will rot iron blocks. It has FA to do with the rad material.

Prove it.

[Steve220]

Look at the evidence. Most radiators nowadays are made by calsonic or denso. In any of their spec sheets it doesn't mention what coolant type you need to use. Copper core radiators will eventually corrode in either. Alloy radiators have more resistance to corrosion yet, again, don't specific what coolant to use. If you're so determined to prove me wrong, there are lots of articles online about what the differences in the coolants mean vs engine materials.

Edited by Steve220, 23 February 2017 - 07:39 AM.