MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - PROTEK plug

Moss sells what is described as a "spark plug dehydrator kit", at $57 not cheap. Its 4 plastic cylinders about the size of a spark plug, containing what I believe are silica gel beads. They screw into the spark plug hole and is supposed to absorb moisture when the car is in storage. The name PROTEK is molded into the clear plastic housing. A Google search suggests that this is a product going back to WWII times, when it was used on aircraft engines during storage and transit, and substantially reduced commissioning time when the aircraft was needed. Moss has no instructions on how to "dry out" the beads, although I think they change color when saturated with water. I will be contacting Moss about this. Has anyone heard of, or used these?

Thanks, George
George G.

I have a big jar of this stuff from when copiers were delivered with big bags of the stuff in the crate (I work for a large printer manufacturer). As a kid my sister used to use the stuff for drying and preserving flowers without pressing them. Do a search under silica dehydrating crystals. It's great for drying out electronic devices that have been subject to excessive humidity (or dropped in the toilet, which is apparently the greatest cause of insurance claims for mobile phones, peaking at the launch of a new iPhone...)

To dry it just put it in the oven and bake till the colour (if it has a change indicator agent added) reverts to "DRY"

I'm not sure what benefit it has if the rest of the car is sitting in a high humidity environment that would affect the engine enough to justify its use. I think you would then better invest the money in a car tent and a dehumidifier.
dominic clancy

All the round engines that I worked on (radial)had that sort of plug. These engines were in steel pressurized containers by RHEEM. The crystals would turn blue if there was moisture present. We reused them by baking them in a oven until the blue was all gone.
Sandy

Sandy

This strikes me as a solution looking for a problem. Use the car frequently and there should not be an issue.
Bill Haglan

If humidity is this bad, move the car or wrap it and de-humidify the whole thing.

These plugs protect the combustion area only. What about the rest of the cylinder wall exposed in the crankcase and engine?

If they can be dried, they must be able to cast off humidity too. So, they absorb moisture when it's humid, then cast it off when it's arid, humidifying the combustion chamber.

Silly idea IMHO.

MAndrus

Changes in humidity and temperature can cause ingestion and condensation of large amounts of water via the exhaust and intake valves if these happen to be open. I had a snowblower sitting outside under wraps for a couple of years and found lots of liquid water in the cylinder and rusted rings.

So I would say its probably a good idea fo long term storage, along with plugging the exhaust
Art Pearse

Bill, Chicago winters can be rough, with lots of snow and salt on the roads. Many in this area store our cars for a few months during the winter. The only one who drives his MG year round here is Barney, but now he heads south!

Art, yes, the exhaust pipe gets plugged, to keep moisture and mice out!
George G.

You would have to plug the intake also
gary starr

Mothballs will keep mice out of the interior or the exhaust.
Bill Haglan

- and moths too, Bill
Graeme Williams

If you want cheap silica gel crystals - use cat litter which is 100% silica gel - it's £2.99 from Home & Bargain for a 2kg bag. I fill cloth bags ( or old hiking socks) with them and put them under the car seats or in the glove box.
Cam Cunningham

I spoke to Moss about my concerns. I was told that the "dehydrator plugs" can not be baked out once saturated with moisture. The beads should be a blue color as received, and will turn to pink with moisture absorption. The plug-sized cylinder is clear so that the bead color is easily seen. My beads are a golden color however, which the Moss tech rep could not explain. They are sending a new set. I'll install and see how they work in the interest of an "experiment". How long they can be used is a function of the moisture environment the car is stored in of course, but at $57 a set I don't think they're worth the trouble IMO.

George
George G.

This thread was discussed between 10/11/2015 and 20/11/2015

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.