The lesser known zincs could cost you your engine! Most people are familiar with changing the zincs on the outside of their boat, but many overlook the engine zincs on the inside of the engine. This is especially true for all marine engines run in salt water, regardless of whether you own a Mercury, Mercruiser, OMC, Honda, Yamaha, or other.
Zinc anodes are inexpensive to replace, but can be very costly if ignored. The engine parts specialists at Go2marine have heard many horror stories. Failure to change engine zincs can cause catastrophic effects by introducing saltwater to your engine cooling system, or worse? into the transmission via the Oil Cooling Heat Exchanger.
Zincs are a critical part of any vessel maintenance program. They are used as anodes to help prevent electrolysis by sacrificing themselves in place of the more noble metals commonly found on boats and in engines. The zinc material is inexpensive and effective in saltwater therefore it is the most widely used anode.
Zinc anodes may be found in heat exchangers, oil coolers , shafts, props, rudders as well as other possible locations. Typically, the engine anodes are a pencil type that is threaded into a brass pipe plug. Most pencil type anodes tend to look like drain plugs, hence these zincs have a tendency to go unchecked.
Although it is recommended to check zinc anodes monthly, appropriate times may vary greatly depending upon salinity of the water and local conditions. Pencil zincs can be purchased with or without the brass plug.
It is recommended to use anti-seize when installing the plug. Go2marine carries all styles of pencil zincs and just about any other zinc anode you may need. Styles and sizes are available from simple bolt-on zincs for your outdrive, to large weld on plates for ships.V
Wait don't throw out those used pencil zincs! If you have sea strainers with metal baskets, throw the used bits in the bottom. Go2marine carries over 100,000 marine parts and products from over 900 manufacturers including a full line of Heat Exchangers and Oil Coolers (for those who fail to heed the zinc maintenance tip!)
