Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Water in plugs

On my last run at Curborough Ruby started misfiring. I decided to head for home after checking all the leads were on. It was a difficult journey she would run ok if I kept a steady throttle but would miss like crazy if I tried to accelerate. OBD reader said misfire cyl 1. Tonight I took out the plug, the well was full of water despite the car being run all day the heat had not dried it out. The plug was covered in brown sludge. Dried it out with tissue shoved down the well and fitted new plug, good as gold. Most find a cover for the top of the engine.

I've been looking but had no joy.

I believe that others here have found a solution to this issue.

They vary from adapting a current Ford part (cheap) to a tailor made carbon fibre shield (expensive).

This seems to be a common concern. When I had my car serviced at the factory, I remember Mark Baldwin showing me the severely corroded plugs which had to be replaced when only a couple of years old. I now ensure that the engine is covered when washing the car and also make sure the plugs are removed and checked at least annually.

This could be an opportunity for someone with good metal bending skills to come up with a solution. I would certainly be interested.

Cain maybe? !!!

Would a very fine metal mesh fixed under the bonnet louvres prevent significant amount of water getting through?

What you need Keith is a bonnet with fewer louvres!

I bought a cover from eBay for £15 and made a pair of brackets. The brackets are 'L' shaped and pick up on the existing holes tapped into the head where the Duratec engines have lifting eyes mounted for engine installation and removal.

Some Duratecs are lucky enough to have threaded brass inserts in the cam covers but sadly mine do not. I serviced a 2011 car for an owner yesterday and the rear 2 plugs were a mass of rust on the outside, car had done 30,000 and plugs were originals.

Cheapest and simplest if you don't fancy making something up is to change your plugs every year or so, if you use NGK Platinum tipped they are only £12-15 a set, you don't need Iridium unless your planning on leaving them in for 40K+ and that causes other issues with coil packs as per later Ford Technical Buulettins.

I'd wondered about an alloy plate on plinths, glued underneath the louvres. It would still give ventilation but stop water falling directly onto top of the engine.

meabh's car appears to have some hinged covers that open with the bonnet