Just finished installing my Be Cool direct fit radiator and they attached a tag that said "make sure that your engine, transmission and electric fans are properly grounded". So far, so good. Then they listed a Be Cool part number, so I did a search on their site and it popped up a radiator ground kit.
Do I need to ground my radiator? I've never heard of this but if it helps I'll do it especially since I have an aluminum head stroker being built right now.

your coolant is the radiator ground. i would recommend a sacrificial anode, like a rad cap or plug-type because of the dissimilar metals and electrolysis.

An anode in place of the petcock would help. Coolant does not conduct. Grounding radiator is like Mom's chicken soup, certainly doesn't hurt.

If anode is too long, cut it off. They are replaceable, you buy a stick of zinc and cut/thread the anode to fit into the threaded host.

coolant certainly does conduct electricity. missing ground straps or high resistance in the engine ground circuits can cause electrolysis ,damaging the radiator and heater core and causing leaks. check this on how to check for excessive stray voltages present in the cooling system http://www.radiatorinfo.com/electro-repair.html

went through three leaking heater cores in my old S-10 until I figured it out that I should reconnect the ground strap. I would defiantly ground the core and Radiator.

The headlamp harness is twice grounded to the radiator support..
The battery is grounded to the LH fender which is bolted to the radiator support..
The radiator is directly bolted to the radiator support on the LH side..

So why on Earth do you need a radiator ground kit? (Why on Earth.. get it? :p)
So, how much more can you possibly ground the radiator?

Got an ohms meter?

I think the anode is a good idea, definitely going to get one right away. I'll bring a meter home from work just out of curiosity to check for the stray voltage. But Steve makes a good point, there is a lot of stuff interconnected so I'm not sure how much good another ground strap will do. I have connectors and braided ground straps at work so I could fab one up and save some money.
Thanks everybody for the input.

So why on Earth do you need a radiator ground kit? (Why on Earth.. get it? :p)


i got it, but most yanks won't. good one! :thumbsup: