volts in my radiator coolant, please HELP

[98tahoe]

hello, i have a 98 tahoe 5.7L vortec. and I've gone through 6 radiators n 3 heating core valve this year alone, my mechanic dont know whats causing the problem, he have checked everything and found nothing until recently he found 0.9 voltange running in the radiator coolant thats eating all the alumimun (radiator n heating core valve) in the engine, he think its a loose ground somewhere in the SUV. i've taken it to get look at n nothing. have anyone ever heard of something like this? i really need help im running out of radiator money!!!

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 98tahoe

hello, i have a 98 tahoe 5.7L vortec. and I've gone through 6 radiators n 3 heating core valve this year alone, my mechanic dont know whats causing the problem, he have checked everything and found nothing until recently he found volts in the radiator coolant thats eating all the alumimun (ratiator n heating core valve) in the engine, he think its a loose ground somewhere in the SUV. i've taken it to get look at n nothing. have anyone ever heard of something like this? i really need help im running out of radiator money!!!

do you have dexcool antifreeze in your coolant system ??? If not this the problem....you must have at least 50% dexcool GM approved ....If not keep buying radiators....



dump all that coolant or dirty water and flush/drain the entire engine coolant system use air to blow out the heater core...fill with the mixture at 50% with distilled water....


your coolant is conductive this is why its eating up your metal parts....



dexcool prevents freezing as well as engine damage



I'm sure you have all the answers though.


I really don't know what I'm talking about !

[98tahoe]

Originally Posted by j cAT

do you have dexcool antifreeze in your coolant system ??? If not this the problem....you must have at least 50% dexcool GM approved ....If not keep buying radiators....



dump all that coolant or dirty water and flush/drain the entire engine coolant system use air to blow out the heater core...fill with the mixture at 50% with distilled water....


your coolant is conductive this is why its eating up your metal parts....



dexcool prevents freezing as well as engine damage



I'm sure you have all the answers though.


I really don't know what I'm talking about !

read again!

[Airjer_]

Has it been flushed?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 98tahoe

read again!

just as I suspected .....a total waste of my time....

[maxwedge]

Not a waste of time, stray voltage is entering your cooling system, the max reading should be .25v. There is a poor ground in one of the accessories, and the lack of solid ground is causing the stray voltage to enter the cooling system, causing corrosion of the heater core and/or radiator core. Check and solidify all the harness grounds throughout the underhood and nearby chassis ground, this should correct the problem.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Not a waste of time, stray voltage is entering your cooling system, the max reading should be .25v. There is a poor ground in one of the accessories, and the lack of solid ground is causing the stray voltage to enter the cooling system, causing corrosion of the heater core and/or radiator core. Check and solidify all the harness grounds throughout the underhood and nearby chassis ground, this should correct the problem.

when different metals are submerged in a conductive solution this causes electrolysis....these coolants must be PH neutral and be of high resistance...


when these coolants are not maintained to the correct level as per manufacturer spec's this is what occurs..



In a Mercrusier engine with the closed fresh water coolant system, for a boat used in the ocean,,, an extremely conductive solution runs through the heat exchanger .the heat exchanger has a zinc electrode that must be replaced every year....this protects the coolant system [heat exchanger ] from being destroyed by the electrical currents flowing between the metals...

[chuck's]

Would connecting a wire from the rad to a ground help with eliminating some of the stray voltage??

chuck's

[maxwedge]

Actually that is worse as it gives the voltage a path thru the radiator, the source must be located.

[sailon]

I've got a 97 Tahoe.
I am betting your problem is grounding.
I am cleaning all the ground attachment points.
I've cleared a bunch of problems already.
The bolts were tight and everything looked good.
I polished the terminals, washers, and attachment points.

I found:
1 front of engine block
1 rear of engine block
1 on frame passenger side of engine
2 rear frame
1 inside next to steering column

I'm still looking for more.

[mathteacherrob]

Originally Posted by sailon

I've got a 97 Tahoe.
I am betting your problem is grounding.
I am cleaning all the ground attachment points.
I've cleared a bunch of problems already.
The bolts were tight and everything looked good.
I polished the terminals, washers, and attachment points.

I found:
1 front of engine block
1 rear of engine block
1 on frame passenger side of engine
2 rear frame
1 inside next to steering column

I'm still looking for more.

You are right about trying to find the grounds. Here is a website that has the recall/service notice from chevy about the voltage in radiator.

Website is http://search.ebscohost.com/
username: greatfalls
password: publiclibrary

click on auto repair select year and make and model. Hope this helps

[j cAT]

[quote=mathteacherrob]You are right about trying to find the grounds. Here is a website that has the recall/service notice from chevy about the voltage in radiator.

If you go thru these TSB'S you'll find GM mentions owners/repair personal are not installing the correct coolant and at the correct percentages required to keep corrosion under control...

Usually vehicles from the far south and other non freezing areas THINK that coolant is not required because it is ONLY for cold weather..

then you get this post...

[maxwedge]

Gentlemen this thread is " long of tooth", start a new one if you wish to continue.