Re: [HSS] Colloidal Graphite For Radiators?

Unknown

Hudson29@aol.com wrote:

>

> I have been having an interesting conversation with a twenties Studebaker

> enthusiast in Australia about various matters concerning these old cars. In

> one of his recent emails he mentioned a product I have NEVER even heard of

> before, a product that is used as a radiator antirust. The following comes

> from Anthony in Sydney AU:

>

> "As for the coolant I have given up on that horrible green rubbish that

> is put out for modern, plastic cars. I have been using colloidal graphite

> for a number of years and my cooling systems are absolutely clean and rust

> free. Even the Humbers (and they have a lot of aluminium in the systems)

> have ceased to give trouble. Graphite (being carbon) is not going to give

> corrosive by-products when exposed to exhaust gasses, either."

>

> In a follow-up email he elaborated:

>

> "The stuff that I use should be available in your part of the world

> because it is made by an American company - Acheson. The particular product

> from them is called Aquadag. I have found no bad habits at all. I have it in

> my modern car (1975) and have done 200,000 km with it in the system and the

> water is crystal clear. Initially the water goes black (a friend of mine who

> has a 1929 Dodge calls it 'aboriginal water') but after a few months it goes

> clear and stays that way. I have it in 3 Humbers and 1

>

> Studebaker (as well as my Escort). It lubes the water pump, stops corrosion

> in the cast iron, aluminium and radiator core. I have found no bad habits at

> all. It is a bit pricey because of the minimum quantity that you have to buy

> but it is well worth it.

>

> When I took the head off one of the Humbers after the Aquadag had been in

> for a year or so I found clean, shiny cast iron inside the water passages,

> not rust or scale like I expected. The only explanation that I can come up

> with is perhaps the graphite gets absorbed into the pores of the cast iron

> (maybe as ferric carbide - non corrosive - or some such compound) and stays

> put. I don't know but it works."

>

> Has anyone any experience with this stuff? Does anybody know where we

> might purchase it? The website for the company that makes it is:

>

> http://www.achesonindustries.com/

>

> click on the Lubricant Additives button and when the next page loads, hit the

> Aquadag button to get specific technical information.

>

> What do you think of this stuff? It sure sounds good to me, and I'm

> inclined to try the Aquadag if I can find it.

>

> Paul O'Neil, Hudson29@aol.com

> NEW email list for Hudson Super Six Cars, 1916-1929!

> http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/HudsonSuperSix16-29

> 1926 Hudson Anderson Bodied Coupe

> 1926 Hudson Parts Car "The Grapes Of Wrath"

> 1928 Hudson Roadster Project

> 1929 Hudson Town Sedan

> 1939 Cadillac Coupe (How'd that get in there?)

> Fullerton, California USA

> AEROMARK - Need Rubber Stamps or Signs? See:

> http://www.aeromark.net

>

>

> Community email addresses:

> Post message: HudsonSuperSix16-29@onelist.com

> Subscribe: HudsonSuperSix16-29-subscribe@onelist.com

> Unsubscribe: HudsonSuperSix16-29-unsubscribe@onelist.com

> List owner: HudsonSuperSix16-29-owner@onelist.com

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> http://www.onelist.com/community/HudsonSuperSix16-29

I haven't heard of it being used in cooling systems, but have known it

to be used in the oil with very good results, particularly regarding

cylinder walls. An acquaintance used it in a Triumph Herald 1200cc

with outstanding results. The motor did 120,000 miles, and when pulled

down for a valve job at that mileage there was no discernible wear in

the cylinders. As for cooling systems, I am using a pint of soluble

oil in my'29 H as a means of lubricating the water pump seals. My

reason for this is the fact that that there is no way of lubricating the

front bushing of the water pump. There is a grease fitting on the rear

bush, but in my experience if you grease this you just finish up with

grease in the water. The only negative effect I have noticed with the

sooluble oil is a rather messy brownish gunge tends to build up in the

radiator neck. I have tried the green anti-freeze anti-boil anti

corrosion stuff, and found that this tends to leak out the seals and

leave a white powdery coating around the water pump shaft. I use

graphite coated string packing for the seals, and have had no problems

with water leakage so far with the soluble oil. I tried teflon seals and

found them hopeless. Certainly sounds like a good idea Paul, let's know

how you get on with supplies.

Geoff