Replacement for perfect seal on drain plugs

[nola mike]

Drained my block for some cold weather. The drain plugs weren't corroded, but were difficult to remove after having put some permatex on them. They were pretty sticky. Anything else I can put on them, to make them a bit easier to remove. Maybe some Teflon tape?

 

[achris]

Teflon tape should be fine.

 

[Lou C]

You can find Evinrude gasket sealer on Amazon I think it’s the same product as the Merc perfect seal. I have also used Permatex Aviation and not had trouble getting them out. Are you using metal plugs or the plastic Merc ones?
Another option if using metal plugs is just trailer wheel bearing grease

 

[nola mike]

You can find Evinrude gasket sealer on Amazon I think it’s the same product as the Merc perfect seal. I have also used Permatex Aviation and not had trouble getting them out. Are you using metal plugs or the plastic Merc ones?
Another option if using metal plugs is just trailer wheel bearing grease

Not a ton of trouble, they're brass, but the engine drains are petcock types and just unscrew by hand. More difficult than need be with the limited access. And one of the drains is somewhere in the bilge atm...
I generally try to stay away from Teflon tape anywhere around an engine, but didn't see the harm in it in this case.

 

[Alumarine]

Maybe you're over tightening them?
I've always just hand tightened them and then snugged them up.
I've never used anything on them.
You're not dealing with any pressure to speak of.

 

[Lou C]

The idea of the sealer is to keep the threads in the block from rusting, mine has the brass fittings screwed into the block and the brass drain plugs screwed into that but I still use sealer. If your plugs go right into the threads in the cast iron block then for sure use gasket sealer, grease or marine anti seize to prevent corrosion. The brass plugs have had no corrosion on them to speak of even in salt water.
In this pic you can see the 90* fitting on the starboard side of the block, I think they used that because of the large size of the older Delco style starter and the front brace that those came with....not needed with the modern PMGR starters....
BTW, the only issue I have had with draining/winterizing over the years is with this 90* fitting, they can get clogged with rust flakes more so than the straight fitting on the other side, so you really have to rod them out with a pick, if the 90* one gets clogged repeatedly I'd replace it with a straight fitting that won't clog so easily. Once you change from the old Delco starter to the PMGR units, you don't need this 90* fitting any longer, the straight one will fit fine.

 

[zellerj]

I replaced my drain plugs with 1/4 inch brass ball valves. Much easier to winterize and I find them easy to poke to clear any debris so it drains well. Three years on and no issues.