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Subject:Re: GoWesty coolant repair kit vs SS pipes
From:Don Hanson
Date:Mon, 18 May 2009 05:59:12 -0700

Not familiar with these kits.  Don't even know if I have the item talked
about in the thread in my inline 4 conversion but I learned some stuff about
dissimilar metals while working as a sailboat rigger for a while.

  One interesting factoid is the difference in the way Bronze and SS react
to the electrolysis;  That may be causing some of the problems in Vanagon
cooling systems.  Stainless and Aluminum corrode (electrolysis) when used
together.  Bronze and Aluminum...different rate of corrosion than SS/ Alu...
The cooling system of a Vanagon with its' hot water acting as a conductor
between the aluminum radiator and the pipes..that is something to
consider..I am recalling bronze/alu is a less 'reactive' combo than SS/alu.
I saw some poorly built rigs on boats where you could pluck the ss screws
out of an alloy mast with your fingers...
  Losing a mast 1/2 way to Tahiti is a bit more problematic than overheating
on a highway...but the factors causing the failures are probably similar.
  Don Hanson

On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 11:34 PM, Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@mac.com>wrote:

> I just bought this kit from them and will install it within the next 2
> weeks, will let you know how it goes.
>
> Robert
> NY
>
> On May 13, 2009, at 9:39 PM, John Reynolds wrote:
>
> I searched the archives and there are those who are happy with the
>> GoWesty plastic coolant line repair kit.
>> However, I still like to hear the pro's and con's vs stainless pipes
>> (Other than cost).
>>
>>
>> I was set on the Go Westy kit, but I noticed that the brass pieces
>> do not actually replace the metal insert,
>> which is what I first thought the kit was doing.
>>
>>
>> GoWesty claims this kit is on every van they sell.  If I were
>> spending $30K+ for a van or
>> I had a syncro that I off-roaded, I personally would go with
>> stainless pipes.
>>
>>
>> John
>> LiMBO
>>
>