electrolysis ??

Jezz I have a cat motor in my TV, maybe I should watch this post

Never heard of electrolysis in a Cat motor. Is this something new?

dons2346 wrote:
Never heard of electrolysis in a Cat motor. Is this something new?

my first cat motor, which is why I am watching this post

Back in the 70's Catapillar was selling these tiny colored beads (they came in a tube) at the Cat House and it was used to retard electrolysis. I also had a friend (in Forks, WA.) and Gene would put nothing in the radiator except pure rain water! He had barrels under every down spout around his house. None of his Cat Motors experienced electrolysis.

Interesting question. I'm not familiar with Electrolysis in engines.
Do a Google search, lots of info available.
It sounds like the OP is doing his homework before buying a unit.

They make test strips for the additive. A truck garage may give you one stip and show you what the colors mean after a test.
If you are buying from the owner, ask very general questions to see if the owner knows, thus telling you if the know what they are talking about.
Pat

Cavitation is probable what you are concerned about.
There is no way to check the condition of the sleeves.
There are no warning signs.
Where diesel cylinder cavitation is concerned, the bubbles are formed by the rapid flexing of the cylinder wall liners as the high compression, high energy diesel combustion process takes place. Much like if you filled a plastic liter pop bottle up with water and rapidly flexed the sides of the bottle back and forth with your hand. Bubbles form without any heat present. The bubbles in diesel cylinder wall cavitation don't explode, they implode due to pressure. It is this implosion against the metal surface that causes the pitting to form in the outside of the cylinder wall. Eventually the prolonged pitting will become a hole. Water/coolant enters the cylinder, and thus we have engine failure (usually via hydrolock). Unlike gasoline engines, all diesel engines experience some level of inherent cavitation, some worse than others.
Only thing you can do is check the ph of the coolant and maintenance records for coolant flush and change.
If the engine has extended life coolant or has the ph checked and has been serviced regularly then the chances of cavitation problems will be minimal.
No maintenance = big problems.

Cavitation can be an issue. Never heard of electrolysis on any diesel engine being an issue.

Cavitation is caused by not maintaining the coolant/ not changing it as prescribed. Coolant maintenance with "regular diesel coolant" involves replenishing the SCA(Supplemental Coolant Additive).

BTW, the Caterpillar engine you are looking at is NOT a linered engine, so cavitation would not be an issue.

The additive is added to the radiator...was a standard maintenance procedure in large diesels...Baldwins FleetStrip kits are the most widely used/available. Can be a very costly repair. Now the smaller modern diesels may not require it.

google international powerstroke engines for cavitation problems.
They have no liners.