OT--but car related

[Jorgeman]

The scenario: My son's beautifully restored and maintained '48 MG TC. The PROBLEM: Gross growth of garbage and ooze--almost stalagmite and stalagtite like at the radiator drain petcock and the thermostat housing. Suspected cause--trickle charger left on the battery all winter with the battery left in the car.
The thermostat housing is aluminum bolted to an iron head with steel bolts. The drain is brass in a steel radiator shell. THOUGHTS: Outgassing of the battery OR Electrolysis in some way attacking the metals. The paint in these areas is bubbled and blistered. This MAY serve as a warning to us P-car owners that put them up for the winter. Always remove the battery if you're going to keep a charger on it for months!
Anyhow--any of you chemists and engineers have an explanation as to just what occurred?


George 86T

[jpnovak]

Sounds to me like the battery acid is attacking the car. The acid could eat through the paint(blisters, cracks) and also do significant damage to other parts. The corrosion "stalagtites" could be the oxide goo as the brass, iron, and aluminum are decomposed. That's just my chemist opinion.

Jamie

------------------
Jamie
71 911T targa
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~jpnovak

[Jorgeman]

jpnovak--do you mean acid atmosphere because of out-gassing or are you suspecting a leaking battery? Battery and battery case are (he tells me) clean and unaffected. However the MG TC is kept covered at all times and the bonnet was down and latched so the stage WAS set for the accumulation of noxious fumes and whatever. Interestingly, he says no other part of the engine was affected--only the parts where there was a connection between the radiator and the motor--insulated by a rubber hose but with water and anti-freeze in the system. He has had this little roadster for twelve years and this is the first time the battery was kept on a trickle charger and the first time he's had any kind of corrosion!

[Jorgeman]

Here are a couple pics of the crud I described above. Some of it has been knocked off but you can get the idea.


SRC="http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/image_uploads/P7030019.jpg">

George 86T

[RWebb]

cleaned up yet?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RWebb

cleaned up yet?

OP's last visit was 2005. But maybe you knew that.

[RWebb]

heh

[Steve Carlton]

Things have continued to go downhill...

[Bill Douglas]

The English Car Club gave me an update on George's car situation. And it's not looking too bad as far as English made cars go.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

The English Car Club gave me an update on George's car situation. And it's not looking too bad as far as English made cars go.

Put that on BaT for $40k as a project car (complete in boxes) "needs a little TLC."

Thanks for the laugh, folks.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Things have continued to go downhill...

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

The English Car Club gave me an update on George's car situation. And it's not looking too bad as far as English made cars go.

And yes, those two photos are of the same car taken 10 mins apart!

[t-tom]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

The English Car Club gave me an update on George's car situation. And it's not looking too bad as far as English made cars go.

I have Datsun Fairlady Z that looks just like that

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

The English Car Club gave me an update on George's car situation. And it's not looking too bad as far as English made cars go.

Lil epoxy and some paint and it'll be good as new!