My car has sat for about 6 months, and before starting I pulled the radiator car to check the water level...

There was some white deposits on the radiator cap and just inside the neck (around the overflow hole and cap sealing area/seat)...

Just wondering what's going on, what it is, and what I need to do to prevent problems...

It is an aluminum radiator/heads/intake/WP, but stock cast iron block.

The coolant is mostly distilled water with Redline Water Wetter and some residual green coolant (green stuff is probably 3-4 years old, as I drained the system but didn't flush last time)... I honestly don't recall using tap water (hard water here), but specifically went to the store to buy the distilled water...

Thanks

No big deal......likely silicates left over. They will harden in air much like calcium in a water glass.

Thanks Steve... I had just never noticed anything like it before (wonder if I should get one of those sacraficial anodes?)...

Don
here again . I HAVE THE ANODES
Roto metals sells them , but theres a $25.00 minium order so I bought a bunch... I thought we would give them a try for the guys here that wanted them . you can call me 1 517 404 6262 .. they are 10.00 shipped to your door .
THEY WILL REPLACE YOUR DRAIN COCK ... 1/4 NPT THREAD ..Thats the easyest way to install them shout of welding in a new drain bung
DON



www.chevellecooling.com

Well,.... sacrificial anodes are for a complete other reason and won't affect what you saw in the cap. They help protect aluminum parts when mixed with iron or steel components in a bi-metal concoction. This along with an "acidy" coolant mix will displace aluminum atoms along other metal surfaces and is actually electro-plating or in this case electro- "displacing".

Sacrificial anodes were very good ideas for system with alot of steel or iron and very little aluminum because it was always the aluminum part that was "picked" on so to speak by the electrolysis and damaged. If that part was only a water outlet neck (this was common on Ford small block water outlets) or just a waterpump the damage could get serious in a hurry due to the low surface area(s) involved. But, in todays aftermarket performance engines, aluminum has run amuck with intakes, heads, radiators...etc all being part of the mix. The shear surface area available for transfer of atoms is now outstripping the iron and steel surfaces, so really sacrificial anodes are not really needed if you have all these....or at least more of these. But, if you want one, magnesium is actually a better protector than zinc....even tho zinc anodes such as this one are cheap insurance from JC Whitney

http://www.jcwhitney.com/wcsstore/jcwhitney/images/imagecache/10013395.gif

I would also suggest using G05 "HOAT" coolants or any phosphate and silicate free coolant to keep the PH balance of the radiator up to snuff. This protects ALL the parts.

I just found the same white deposits in my aluminum radiator, was wondering what the heck was going on, the search function on this site is awesome! Thanks Team Chevelle!!!!!!

Alright, which one of you perverts keeps leaving white deposits in these nice aluminum radiators.......



Wrap that Rascal next time.......or get your own damn radiator.