Aluminum anodes

[Gregory S]

Anybody here switch to aluminum anodes for salt and brackish water? Did you convert your pencil zincs in the oil cooler and HE also?

 

[CurrentSea]

I asked this a while back.
I used aluminum on IPS transom as that is volvo recommendation.
Insides pods I use zinc.
Center anode is zinc.
Engines I still use zinc.
Aluminum is cheaper and I think a mix is good since aluminum will sacrafice first.

 

[Gregory S]

Thanks Dave. Everything I read says not to mix aluminum and zinc, but haven't found anyone using aluminum pencil anodes in oil cooler and heat exchanger. Surely somebody here knows the answer.

 

[CurrentSea]

I would not use aluminum in engines. It is too soft. The engine anodes you want to wear slowly or they will break off in large chunks and block inlets.

Mixing zinc and aluminum must be okay as that is what volvo recommends. If everything is bonded the aluminum will wear away faster than the zinc.
I think my boat is over protected but then again, I have 1400lbs of nibral under the boat!!

 

[Gregory S]

Thanks, I'll go with zinc inside and aluminum outside. Surprised to see aluminum cheaper than zinc at West Marine.