MTFCA Forum

I have been informed that it is necessary to use an "Aluminum Head Saver" when using an aluminum head on a Model T. There is one style sold by vendors that fits into the outlet connection to the radiator and then there is another called "Bars Leak Cooling System Treatment. Like to hear from others as to what they use. [/size][/b]

While I have seen people talk about just running 50/50 in their systems to prevent electrolysis between the cast iron and aluminum forming deposits and attacking the aluminum, I didn't find that. My passages were getting plugged up on the aluminum adapter plate between the cast iron block and head. Could be the type of aluminum used for the heads compared to the 6061 I used for the plate. I didn't know about the Bar's product, but depending on cost would give that a try. Except for the overflow tube, there is really no place to hang the other one in the radiator and once it is used up, you would have to retrieve the steel wire hanger if just dropped in.

I "pinched" the wire on mine onto the overflow tube with a needle nose - I'd have to have an overheated Old Faithful gusher to dislodge it.

Place the head saver in the radiator top tank. Take the wire and form it in a circle around a old radiator cap. Place the wire between two paper radiator cap gaskets into the filler neck. The radiator cap will hold head saver in place. Check from time to time and replace head saver when needed.

Good idea Kevin !

How long generally do the Ford head savers work? I put mine in a not so great place. Wondering when to check on it. I love Kevin's suggestion.

I installed one in my top tank and after several months it had turned into a gray goo and had plugged some tubes and there were parts floating in the coolant, i removed the radiator and flushed everything out. I have not had a problem with corrosion. Remember it attaches to any bare metal, brass, copper, aluminum, iron, so your radiator can get coated. Be careful.

Rick

Richard what was the PH of your coolant, it sounds like it may have been to acidic ? A 50/50 mix of the older green type coolant : PH water is 7, PH just green is 10.5, so mix = 8.75.. The best PH in a older car with aluminium and cast iron is between 10 and 11. The newer coolants are a lower PH, more acidic, for modern cars for other reasons. Also the head saver should hang in the top tank and not sit on the top of the tubes, this should help with the tube plugging problem. You could get coolant PH test strips at NAPA parts house at one time.

For my money, with a thermosyphon system, I would not put anything in the radiator that had the potential to clog tubes.

The zinc anode should make electrical contact with the aluminum head so it should be placed in the outlet and the wire inserted between the head and the outlet fitting and wound once around the bolt. Or any other method to make electrical contact. The zinc will dissolve over time which is its normal function to protect the aluminum. It will last longer with a 50/50 mixture of the green antifreeze and water. The instructions say to check it once a year. The zinc and the aluminum work like a battery with the zinc being sacrificial to the aluminum but only with electrical contact.

Yes for a aluminium head iron block system. Try to stay near the 10 PH number, even the 50/50 mix of the green coolant at PH 8.75 would be OK. As the coolant and head saver age the PH goes down some, more acidic.The zinc metal of the head saver as it goes away in the electrolysis shouldn't plug the radiator tubes, it should stay in the coolant. Having the head saver hung in the coolant top tank allows you to check it by just pulling up the wire with pliers from time to time, say 4 times a year or so..
The coolant acts like the acid in a battery but on a smaller scale. The aluminum gives up metal faster thain the iron, the zinc is even faster. Changing the coolant every other year or so is also a good idea

I have 2 T's with aluminum heads. One head has been on there for 30 years now, the other about 10 maybe. Both use 50/50 Prestone. Neither have any "head savers". So far, so good.