washers and aluminum...

[hardtimes]

Will stainless washers from say hardware store be ok to use with aluminum heads, or are 'special' washers necessary

[Jack E/NJ]

Should be fine. I use SS hardware store washers with the aluminum intake manifold bolts to prevent gouging.


Jack E/NJ

[bige386]

Yeah I would have to agree with Jack. Should work just fine.

[Richard in Florida]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

Will stainless washers from say hardware store be ok to use with aluminum heads, or are 'special' washers necessary

Use hardened steel washers. Ask the gurus.

[KiWinUS]

Yep RiF is correct you need haredend washers for heads. Hardware SS washers are way too soft !
Cheers
Tony

[ford1]

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im going to agree with jack and bige, they will be fine, the washers dont need high strength on the head, all they need to do is protect the aluminum head from being gouged or galled by the head nut

[itslow]

Stainless and aluminum should be prevented from contacting each other - or coated with an anti-seize - due to galvanic corrosion.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by itslow

Stainless and aluminum should be prevented from contacting each other - or coated with an anti-seize - due to galvanic corrosion.

Hmm, varied opinions on two types washers?
Well, if galvanic corrosion affects stainless steel washers...what's its' affect on hardened steel washers Think that anti-seize will do the job,eh?

I do understand the benefit of using washers to prevent tearing up the alumminum head.

[ford1]

a couple of reasons for using washers under head nuts, the steel nut will gouge the aluminum head and they will dig in the head and prevent acurate torque readings

[Richard in Florida]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

...hardened steel washers...

One reason for hardened versus softer hardware store washers is if the softer washers get distorted when tightening the bolts or nuts, you'll never get accurate torque readings.

Put a tiny bit of oil between the bolt or nut and the washer.

[john worden]

Isn't the whole point of using flat washers under bolt heads on alloy parts to prevent the bolt head from sinking into the alloy resulting in inaccurate bolt torque readings? If so, a hard steel or hard SS washer seems best. Corrosion is probebly not a big issue in this situation but worth noting.

john

[JM 35 Sedan]

I'm with those who are saying hardened steel washers should be used between the nut and aluminum head material. Stainless Steel is NOT your best choice to use here. Call the folks at Totally Stainless and they can tell you all about why you should not use SS against or threaded into aluminum. Plus a SS washer normally found in your local hardware store is not hard enough to properly do the job. IMHO, stay with the same type and material washer that 'Henry' put there in the beginning. If you don't have or can't find the original type washers I can send you some.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

I'm with those who are saying hardened steel washers should be used between the nut and aluminum head material. Stainless Steel is NOT your best choice to use here. Call the folks at Totally Stainless and they can tell you all about why you should not use SS against or threaded into aluminum. Plus a SS washer normally found in your local hardware store is not hard enough to properly do the job. IMHO, stay with the same type and material washer that 'Henry' put there in the beginning. If you don't have or can't find the original type washers I can send you some.

John, thanks! You've convinced me and I will look for hardened steel washers. BTW, this winfield is going onto a Russian B four cylinder.

[Ian NZ]

I use hardened steel washers and have them cadmium plated on my engines.
All grades of Stainless steel washers will be to soft and will distort and st/st and Aluminium are a no no in a damp environment unless you use anitseize in certain applications.

[Fe26]

Originally Posted by Ian NZ

I use hardened steel washers and have them cadmium plated on my engines.
All grades of Stainless steel washers will be to soft and will distort and st/st and Aluminium are a no no in a damp environment unless you use anitseize in certain applications.

X2 winner!

[itslow]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

Hmm, varied opinions on two types washers?
Well, if galvanic corrosion affects stainless steel washers...what's its' affect on hardened steel washers

The washer is not the part that will corrode; the aluminum head will corrode because it's the more anodic material.

Steel (non-stainless) and aluminum are closer to each other on the anodic index. As such, the potential for the aluminum to corrode is less when used with steel than with a more cathodic material such as stainless-steel.

People put sacreficial zinc anodes in the cooling system when there are aluminum components (heads, water pumps, etc) for the same reason - galvanic corrosion.

[alchemy]

Originally Posted by itslow

People put sacreficial zinc anodes in the cooling system when there are aluminum components (heads, water pumps, etc) for the same reason - galvanic corrosion.

Anybody with aluminum heads should already have these in their system. But will it reduce the corrosion between the head and the washer?

[Jack E/NJ]

http://vincentmetals.com/encyclopedi...tainless_Steel
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF METALS AND ALLOYS --- Galvanic corrosion --- Galvanic corrosion occurs when a galvanic cell is formed between two dissimilar metals. The resulting electrochemical potential then leads to formation of an electric current that leads to electrolytic dissolving of the less noble material. This effect can be prevented by electrical insulation of the materials, e.g. by using rubber or plastic sleeves or washers, keeping the parts dry so there is no electrolyte to form the cell, or keeping the size of the less-noble material significantly larger than the more noble ones (e.g. stainless-steel bolts in an aluminum block won't cause corrosion, but aluminum rivets on stainless steel sheet would rapidly corrode.)

Jack E/NJ

[john mullen]

Originally Posted by itslow

Stainless and aluminum should be prevented from contacting each other - or coated with an anti-seize - due to galvanic corrosion.

Positivly you should not use ss washers as the react badly to aluminum. BAD BAD / NOT GOOD / NEVER DO

[Jack E/NJ]

Ahem...."ENCYCLOPEDIA OF METALS AND ALLOYS...stainless-steel bolts in an aluminum block won't cause corrosion, but aluminum rivets on stainless steel sheet would rapidly corrode."... 8^)

Jack E/NJ