Mmm. Are we talking much current flow through the engine components then
Mathew; like I've never thought this bimetallic potential would actually do
much more than corrode the earth strap/bolt/head locally - does the starting
current go through the bulk of the engine - surely not.

Regards
Clive

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew Pollard" <poll7356@UIDAHO.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 2:14 AM
Subject: Re: A question about grounds...

> bad idea. you want to ground the head. here is what were are looking at.
> Dissimilar metals will produce a small voltage between themselves and
> eventually eat the metal away. Ever wonder why you can't connect a copper
> water pipe to a steel water pipe? So my adding a ground strap, you are
> encouraging the electrons to take the path of least resistance instead
> eatting the head and case halves. Why there is not a groundstrap on the
> passanger side is puzzling to me. But put a ground strap in place. More
> the merrier. One from each head to the block and from teh block to the car
> chassis.
>
> matthew
>
>
> Matthew Pollard          "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
> Dept. Of Chemistry        So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
> University of Idaho
> www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356