Aluminum and Stainless steel fastener REACTIVITY?

Hey guys I'm getting ready to do some heavy modifications and I can't remember if it's a bad thing to use Stainless Steel fasteners (316) holding Aluminum plates. Is this the bad combination where they eat into each other?

I think water has to be present to really get the electrolysis action going. That's why you have to be real dilligent with antifreeze or use a sacrificial anode with using aluminium cooling system parts. The small bolts that attach the housing cover on the lower trans are stainless into aluminium and I've not seen a problem.
[addsig]

Yeah this is going on a lower radiator support that will see road salt and grime too.

Put a little anti-seize on the mating surfaces of the aluminium. That should hold it.

The process you're thinking of is call electrolysis. You need to worry about one metal "eating" another when they are in direct contact and there is either water or electricity passing though the two pieces. So if you can put something on the bolt, like loctite that will keep most of the contact seperate you should be okay. Anti-sieze would work also.
[addsig]

Hi the loctite and or antiseize is correct methods for that I used to install boat lifts in the saltwater where the conductivity is much greater than regular lake type water on all out mating surfaces we would use a heavy vinyl type tape and rubber washers on all the stainless and actually antiseize is best thats what we used mainly and as always stated have alot of good solid grounds to the frame which wil help reduce that as well Good Luck!

Robert
[addsig]

when I went to aluminum heads I was concerned about the reaction, I was told to put a little antisieze on the threads and that would take care of the problem. So far so good, plugs come rigth out, with no signs of any reactions at all.
[addsig]