Lets have a little discussion regarding corrosion between dissimilar metals

[OCD Solutions]

Like the title says, Lets discuss the reaction between aluminum and other metals such as brass and stainless.

I just bought an annodized aluminum fuel fill assembly and needed fittings to connect all my hoses. I was looking for something better looking than standard brass fittings when I came across an article talking about what happens in salt water when dissimilar metals are in contact. Apparently the aluminum becomes the sacrificial anode and is eaten away.

So what do i want to use then?

I found these little guys at Jegs and was wondering if they would be better than brass? They are Nickel Plated.
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/16010/10002/-1

I was going to go with stainless until I saw the $9.95/each price tag.

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

Galvanic corrosion is a fact of life. Really it might not even be an issue if you don't need to ever take them apart. If you ride in salt you are going to deal with corrosion anyways. The best solution is to use fittings made of the same material. Check out mcmaster carr pn 5357K31 or similar.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Galvanic corrosion is a fact of life. Really it might not even be an issue if you don't need to ever take them apart. If you ride in salt you are going to deal with corrosion anyways. The best solution is to use fittings made of the same material. Check out mcmaster carr pn 5357K31 or similar.

Those are the ones i was originally looking at but held out to see if i could find them in annodized aluminum. I could find one or two here and there but they are in red or blue and I wanted natural aluminum to match the filler and i didn't want to order them from multiple sources.

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

Hmm, that is an odd duck. They have what you want in 1/4"npt (5058K44) but not 1/8". They do offer one in a black nylon (5463K442). That might not look to bad and no worries about corrosion there. I love a good mcmaster challenge, lol.

 

[GReenANt]

Explanation of the science behind the corrosion
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Forms-galvanic/galvanic-corrosion.htm

Galvanic compatibility section explains it in the most useful way
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Definitions/galvanic-series.htm

 

[orangefinger]

I have a question about corrosion

We never ride salt water only freshwater and the Top heads of Headscrews are rusty as also the spacers of my ADA head bolts and the nuts on my intake manifold holding the Carburators everything else is ok no rust anywhere ??

 

[OCD Solutions]

Explanation of the science behind the corrosion
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Forms-galvanic/galvanic-corrosion.htm

Galvanic compatibility section explains it in the most useful way
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Definitions/galvanic-series.htm

So the closer two items are on the list means that they will react less together than ones further away. That's good to know.

So the nickel plated fittings are way better than brass and much better than most common Stainless choices?.?.?

 

[QuickMick]

Just throwing this out there. I can get some USED but still good sacrificial anode here at work. They are in the shape of a donut and somewhere between a baseball and softball. They are easy to cut with a hack saw and I have made a few custom anodes with these.

If anyone wants one, or part of one to cut up and try I can bring a few to Daytona.
They are free.

 

[Idok]

interesting mick.....i wonder if it'd make any difference to mount one in the hull???

 

[QuickMick]

interesting mick.....i wonder if it'd make any difference to mount one in the hull???

I had good intentions to bolt a few to my ski/motor somewhere, never did. I did mount a few on my buddies John Boat though.
I did make a few to bolt in the cylinder though.