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Sept 10, 2020 15:12:02 GMT
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About 10 days ago I changed the antifreeze and thermostat on my 2004 Fiat Scudo van. When put the 3 bolts back that hold the stat cover on I put a smear of copper grease on them. The bolts are steel screwing into aluminium casting.
Yesterday I read online that copper grease should not be put on aluminium as it will cause it to corrode. Is this true? Will I be causing damage? What should I do?
Thanks for any advice.
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nel5on
West Midlands
Posts: 270
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Sept 10, 2020 16:08:41 GMT
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I use Ceramic grease now, because of corrosion concerns
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Covin 996.2 Tucson
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 10, 2020 16:09:42 GMT
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Yesterday I read online that copper grease should not be put on aluminium as it will cause it to corrode. Is this true? In theory, yes; google galvanic table. In practice, I doubt it. The internet is a great source for all kinds of horror stories.
Will I be causing damage? Maybe, but I would think probably not as there won't be much oxygen between the threads. It's your car, so that's entirely up to you. I would leave well alone until the next time the thermostat needs changing.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Sept 13, 2020 12:27:16 GMT
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Thank to all who replied. I'm a bit of a worrier so I undid the stat cover's 3 bolts, lost a bit of coolant and cleaned up the bolt threads and holes. Just put a smear of ordinary Castrol LM grease on the threads, reassembled and refilled. Borderline OCD??
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Last Edit: Sept 13, 2020 14:37:03 GMT by woodbine
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Sept 13, 2020 14:17:55 GMT
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I always use copper grease and still own my first resto, a BMW R90s. I own it over 20 years now and used copper grease in the alu engine with steel or SS bolts and there is no sign of corrosion. Also on my MGB with a Rover V8 engine which i own over 15 years there are no signs of corrosion where sopper grease was used on alu
Peter
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Last Edit: Sept 13, 2020 14:18:29 GMT by petervdv
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Sept 13, 2020 14:39:26 GMT
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Thanks Peter. I knew I was wasting my time, but something was nagging in the back of my head. No, not 'er indoors for once.
Got some aluminium anti-seize now too for future bolts into ali.
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Sept 19, 2020 16:01:48 GMT
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Hi there. I can confirm that coppergrease shouldn't be used on Aluminium. I was on the phone to Lockheed Technical discussing a braking issue one time when the subject of copper grease came up. The Technical advisor said " I wish sometimes that that brown s*^te had never been invented." It is a totally unsuitable lubricant for brake componenents. It does however have an application as an anti squeal medium for brake pads. This does not extend to sliding surfaces or bolts. It's actually a metal rich clay based lubricant for extreme temperature, so like exhaust studs and nuts for example and not for using on bolts , especially not into aluminium. Regular grease is more than adequate, or graphite grease if you want to be really posh.
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 19, 2020 16:09:22 GMT
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I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make stevethegrease, I don't think anyone was suggesting using copper slip as a brake component lubricant in this thread? The question was if copper grease on steel bolts in an aluminium casting would cause damage, and the answer is probably no.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Copper grease on the bolts in my rover V8's has never caused me a problem over the years.
Having said that I do have a tin of "Duralac" on the shelf- it's an anti corrosion compound used in the marine world and is bloody good stuff.
I bought some a couple of years ago as extra insurance on the water pump,thermostat housing and timing chest bolts (at least one, maybe two of these go into the water jacket) after I had one timing chest bolt snap on me. I can confirm that these have been easy to get out subsequently when needed.
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elfman
Part of things
Posts: 393
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You can get bad reaction between copper and aluminium being an electrician we had to be careful when using alloy cables especially if connected to any copper/brass and had to use a special Aluminium wire anti-oxidant cream.
But i have never seen any sign of this happening using copper grease on alloy, I have used it for many years and also behind alloy wheels to stop them sticking to the steel hubs.
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Hi, I think the main constituent in copper grease is oil and this is what helps not the copper.
Colin
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