Core plug replacement--- sealant?

[Arthurdaily]

Good afternoon. I'm changing the core plugs on a 1960 Austin B Series engine, and no the basic idea -

Hit one side of the old plug so it spins a bit, remove with long nose pliers, clean hole with wire wool or similar, put domed plug in 'dome side out', then hit with a hammer and suitable round ended device so the plug expands, and bobs your uncle.

BUT - should one smear the pljug / hole with some sort of sealer? If so WHAT sealer? Would this do it for example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/hylomar-Hylot ... 3f1c9cd7e9

Any help really appreciated.

[mogbob]

Hylomar would do nicely.Some people don't bother/ some do.I'm a belt and braces man...don't want to have to do the job twice if I can help it, so I'd be smearing on a little Hylomar personally.
Bob

[Arthurdaily]

Brilliant, thanks!

[bmcecosse]

I have to say - in this case (and this case only..) I would use Hermatite Red - and carefully wipe away all evidence of the crime after the disc was in place..... Hylomar has it's use - I don't think this is one of them....

[philthehill]

I have replaced quite a few core plus over the years and have never had the need to use a sealant. If you must use a sealant use Hermatite RED as BMC says. I would agree that Blue Hylomar is not the most suitable sealer for use with core plugs as it remains soft or as it says on the packet " Remains Plastic". If a sealer is to be used it needs to harden off which is what Hermatite RED does. And as BMC says "clean off the evidence".

[Arthurdaily]

I'm a little confused? Both say they are semi hardening products...? Hylotyte red says it is a replacement for Hermitite red?

[Arthurdaily]

What IS Hylotyte red for then - I used it to help seel a thermostat housing... was that wrong?

[LouiseM]

Yes, I'm confused too Hylomar is the company name. Hermatite Red has been withdrawn and replaced by Hylotyte Red. I wonder if the references to Hylomar mean Hylomar Blue, which is non setting?

[bmcecosse]

Dunno about recent acquisitions... I have a long suffering tube of Hylomar (yes - it's soft and blue) had it maybe 30 years now. And a pot of Hermatite red, equally aged - and it does go hard. It should NOT be used on anything around an engine really, with this one exception of sealing core plugs. I agree - when the block was NEW it didn't need any sealant, but now - I would want to use a good smear of the red - bang in the plug - wipe away the evidence and either paint or rub oil over to hide any sign of what's been done....

[Arthurdaily]

AHH! Hylomar red is like Hermatite red, It goes semi-hard, it is the new Hermatite red since they ceased production. I have used it on other engine parts as a sealer - as recommended on the packet... with no ill effects so far, no leaks and yet easy to scrape off when something needs to be done / changed.

[Arthurdaily]

What would you use Hylomar (read hermitite) red for then if not general engine jobs? And what would Hylomar blue be used for?

[bmcecosse]

You don't need ANY sealant around the engine - clean surfaces and good gaskets are all that is required. The blue hylomar was given to me as a half used tube all these years ago (by an RR engineer) - I think I may have used it on Mini diff output cover gaskets to hold them in place while I fitted the covers (notoriously awkward) - and for nothing else. Similarly - can't say I have used the red Herm anywhere on my cars - it's probably gone hard in the pot.... But I would use it for core plugs in an old block....

[Arthurdaily]

Thanks BMC - I'll do that... then maybe I'll leave mine to go hard in the tube

[bmcecosse]

There is nothing worse than an engine with sealant spewing out of the gasket edges.....

[philthehill]

Reference my post above. I have been on the Hylomar web site and looked at the description of Hylotyte Red so where I have quoted Hermatite RED substitute Hylotyte RED. It appears that Hylotyte RED is of a slightly different composition though in that it is Non Flamable and Does Not Oxidise. I suspect that when the solvent (flamable element) in Hermatite RED evaporated what was left went hard a bit like paint when the lid is left off. I have never suspected or seen any oxidising with Hermatite RED over many years use. It is a pity Hermatite RED has gone, it was a good product. I also suspect that H&S had a hand it bringing about its demise as anything flamable is now a no no. Most things seem to be water based these days. My opinion regarding the application of Hermatite RED/Hylotyte RED against Blue Hylomar for the sealing of core plugs in my post remains the same.

[katy]

Hit one side of the old plug so it spins a bit

It's not going to spin, it's against a shoulder. You need to punch or drill a hole in the centre, put a punch through the hole and twist it to spin the plug.

[mike.perry]

I use Hylomar Blue on gaskets which need to be held in place whilst fitting eg fixing the rocker box gasket to the rocker box whilst it is manoevered into position.

[bmcecosse]

I did wonder what the 'spinning' was all about........ but thought I had better not ask!

[Arthurdaily]

The spinning - having never done this before I used the usual you-tube and google technique, and on most cars the freeze / core plugs can be sharply hit on one side causing them to spin like a bottle top - then you just pull them out. I didn't know, when writing, that A and B series engines had a ridge thus preventing that.

[Arthurdaily]

For example, so I am not seen as a total cretin, here is a video of one being 'spun' out on a larger BMC engine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... jrpyi0Xx6U#!