Zinc Aodes - quality?

If they comply with MIL codes at least the content should be standardized

http://www.cc-marine.co.uk/Anodes/Anode_Mil_Spec/anode_mil_spec.html

Byond that the performance of anodes vary a lot depending on how/when/where you use them. A bit like antifouling, actually.
I've had great results on longevity by fitting a galvanic isolator ("zink saver").

Sleveral available, I went for a Sterling (not connected, just happy customer ec.)
 
With anodes, quality is everything. I will happily fit an unbranded or aftermarket filter or drive belt to my engine but I buy anodes from a reputable source. Don't have to be branded by your engine manufacturer, but someone like MG Duff I would hope only source anodes of the right quality. The risks to me are too great to worry about saving a few quid. My experience of attractively priced Chinese products, and I have bought plenty of them, is that you usually get what you pay for.
 
Be very careful of buying from ebay. I ride motorbikes and there is a serious issue with fake chains at the moment on ebay. They look like the real thing, are the same price but last only 25% of the time.

If buying something form ebay that is critical such as an anode i would make sure i go to a known trusted supplier or importer.

But for a few £'s is it worth the risk?
 
Be very careful of buying from ebay. I ride motorbikes and there is a serious issue with fake chains at the moment on ebay. They look like the real thing, are the same price but last only 25% of the time.

If buying something form ebay that is critical such as an anode i would make sure i go to a known trusted supplier or importer.

But for a few £'s is it worth the risk?

Agree got a "HONDA" regulator for a tenner, from ebay. £10, as opposed to £60/70 from Honda cooked it in 3 days. Get proper stuff especially if they are looking after your engine £15,000 worth?
 
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I buy the zinc bar from a seller at boat jumbles, then drill and tap the end to fit the plug. If it fizzes over a few months it is working just fine. Works out about £3 per anode.

Such serious concern for such a simple and should be non expensive component ! Engines do not dissolve overnight because of a Chinese anode. Better a Chinese anode than no anode, and hardly a motor bike chain, a concern I can understand.
 
Ther are some very atractively priced engine pencil anodes on e bay, often Chinese made from American supppliers. Does anybody know if they do the job OK?

As stated they must comply with one of the relevant standards.

Zinc anodes, for example, must have a very low iron content or they will be ineffective. The figure quoted is the maximum allowable and that is only tolerated if they contain a small amount of cadmium.

If you buy zinc bar to make your own be sure that that it complies with the relevant standard.

The fact that they are consumed over a period of several months is not necessarily an indication that they are being effective.

If they visibly "fizz" I would suspect some problem with the boat's electrical system causing electrolysis.
 
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I have just been informed, by someone who works in a local boatyard, that the 2 MG Duff anodes they've just bought in had 'Made in China' stickers on them.

I'm sure they'll be well up to spec and do the job - but it seems you can't escape the general migration to Chinese sourced products by many UK companies.
 
The Chinese are perfectly able to make top quality products, but, and it's a big one, they are also very good at making utterly awful carp. The key is supervision, specification and quality control. I would guess that mg duff has these in place. If you buy direct, or from a third party who has bought direct, you have none of these safeguards.
 
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