Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

[liquidlew]

Just noticed a small water stain on the port exhaust manifold drain plug, which means it needs to be tightened. I would tighten it, but the dang motor mount stud is in the way. I know I could go thru the great big hassle of removing the riser and manifold, and that means running to the marine store for new gaskets (probably don't have them in stock either), alot of work to stop a very small leak. Question is, is there something I could just smear on it to hold it till end of this season?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

Not really.You might get something like J-B weld or smear some silicone on it but the heatup and cooldown from start and stop will just make it come loose.
There is only ONE way to do a job.J

 

[full stringer]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

try the red permetex high heat silicone but try to roughen the area first perhaps using steel wool, brillo pad, sand paper? to allow adhesion. it will handle the fluxuation of heat/cold. up to 1200 degrees f' however keep an eye on it from time to time and permanently repair at season end happy boating all the work is still worth the outcome sincerely, full stringer

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

Yeah, I know I need to do it right and pull the manifold to tighten the plug. Good news is it is just barely leaking, not enough to cause any overheating or massive dripping. I just happened to notice it when doing a visual check of everything before first river trip in 2 weeks. Just a faint brown line on the drain plug. I will keep an eye on it and might just smear some silicone on it.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

You certainly can seal it.I did mine and it lasted for years and years.Drain the manifolds completely.Get a stiff wire brush that looks like a big Q-tip.Work it back and forward on the leak until it shines like new everywhere.Take your time ,no shortcuts.Wipe it with acetone and cover it completely with marine tex.I used a heat lamp to speed up the curing so it did not sag.Could not have worked better.Charlie

 

[full stringer]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

kind of a redundant response ya think? besides it's his call really. anything worth doing is worth doing right. a small freshware leak on that aint gonna hurt just order the gaskets delivered do the job when they come . run the boat and have fun til then end of story......

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

Yeah, I know I need to do it right and pull the manifold to tighten the plug. Good news is it is just barely leaking, not enough to cause any overheating or massive dripping. I just happened to notice it when doing a visual check of everything before first river trip in 2 weeks. Just a faint brown line on the drain plug. I will keep an eye on it and might just smear some silicone on it.

If you can't access the plug to remove and use pipe dope and teflon tape then how are you going to smear silicone on it?
What type of head does the plug have square or allen, you can get into some really tight spots with the right tools and a little patience.

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

Seems to be a little confusion, I will try to clear it up. The plug is made of plastic, and it comes straight down and has a 90 turn on it where the hose connects to it. I can see where it is threaded into the bottom of the manifold, I can see the threads and has white sealant on them. I can't just turn it and tighten it because the motor mount stud is right there and stops it from turning anymore. I see a faint brown water stain on the white sealant, so it is just a very tiny leak, probably don't even need to mess with it, but I thought I would ask about smearing something on it until I have time to do it right. I can easily get my finger in there to smear something on it. The manifolds are GLM and I put them on 2 years ago, the location of the plug is different than on the last manifolds, unfortunately, the motor mount is right in the way now so the plug has to be put on before installing. So yeah, I gotta remove the manifold to tighten it.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

Ok I understand now I think? It's a nylon barbed 90 degree ell with a hose attached, at the end of the hose is a plug of some sort making draining the manifold quick and easy. Is that close?

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

Ok I understand now I think? It's a nylon barbed 90 degree ell with a hose attached, at the end of the hose is a plug of some sort making draining the manifold quick and easy. Is that close?

Exactly! I was just out there messin with it and was able to loosen it almost 3/4 turn and smeared some Rectoseal pipe dope up in there and tightened it back till it hits the motor mount stud. Should get me thru the summer.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Leaking manifold drain plug, can't tighten, can I seal it with?

Whenever you do decide to take the plunge just go to the hardware store and get one with a 45 degree barb and it may just clear the stud, just break the old one off or whatever, you may even find that nipple will bend enough to get past the stud without breaking, they seem to never break when you want them too.