Block heater problems? Galvanic corrosion?

[SnowDrifter]

Got my block heater in the mail today. Freeze plug variety. I noticed the heating element is copper... Or copper looking. Well being a Subaru, everything else in my motor is aluminum. Don't aluminum and copper tend to react negatively with each other? Galvanic corrosion?

 

[901Memphis]

The corrosion inhibitors should be able to cope with such a small amount of copper. Plenty of people use block heaters and i don't hear any big problems with them. This could effect your coolant interval though.

I know mixing copper and aluminum in a water cooled pc system usually ends up pretty bad, but car systems are probably different.

 

[SnowDrifter]

Well I ended up installing it. Did a 70/30 coolant ratio when I filled it. Hoping the extra anti corrosion agents will do their thing. I guess only time will tell.