Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Sacrificial annodes

In a cathodic enviroment all anodes react to a corrosive enviroment and are linked that way they dissolve to protect the metal it is connected to.Any steel hull or shafts etc may be protected by zinc.All ships have most of the protection on the outside which are changed in dry dock every couple of years those fitted on the inside are normally fitted in the ballast tanks.In leisure use on boats under 50ft annodes are normally changed every year as they are smaller and easier to access(outside of the hull)

Em

Sacrificial anodes are not easy to use on cars. Ships....easier due to size for fitting etc.
Avoid copper!
Early Aluminium window frames were made from duralumin, Al/4%Cu alloy. They corroded badly, especially in coastal areas.
The key to sZcrificial protection is the quality of the bond or connection to eZch metal, the electrochemical process needs this. A bit like corroded earth connections as an analogy. Poor contact = poor result.
For protection of the coolant system just use the correct antifreeze...simple solution (excuse the pun).

Aerotaff and CBY. Thank you! Your posts are starting to get to the core of what I am after. So what sort of anode in the radiator of a Morgan, and what on the wings. MG?

Jinty, I wouldn't worry about the rad, just use the correct antifreeze.
The wired wings are possible to sort. Your best bet is to contact a bodyshop/restorer with experience of wired wing edges. Corrosion inhibitor treatment might work with a repaint.. I am sure others here will have experienced and sorted the wing edge problems.
I think the newer Superform wings are not wired but have stick on raised edging simulating the wired seam?
The redox table shows the relevant electrochem values of Fe and Al.
Steel wire was used to wire the wings so not really a good mix!

I think I have my answer after a long discussion with Bill, who was, or is , a Telstra electrolysis expert in Melbourne .
Don't worry about the radiator. I could put an ampmeter in there to test, but if it read high then I would be better to deal with the cause rather than putting in an anode.
Regarding the wings-Sacrificial annodes do need an electrolyte to work, so the suggestion that as my car is not a ship in saltwater then anodes will not work is correct ...at face value.
But, there is electrolysis on the wings of my car, therefore I must assume that wet drives, and moist nights , provide enough medium for electrolysis to occur between the aluminium and steel wire . It is fair to assume then, that wet drives and damp nights will provide a medium for a sacrificial anode to work if correctly stuck on the car.
Magnesium is further up the scale of whatever than aluminium, but too far up, and could damage the wings. Zinc should work fine, the aluminium should slightly passify? against it, and hopefully, any electrolysis will sacrifice my anode.