Glow plug stuck

[Mark300TD]

Hi i've a E300TD which needed the glow plugs replacing. I've changed 2 but the others are stuck fast. I read guidance on the site about making sure the engine is hot and use prenetrating oil. I've done this - The plugs will move but they are VERY tight.

Does anyone have any other ideas for making the plugs easier to remove? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Regards Mark

 

[kebo57]

Hi i've a E300TD which needed the glow plugs replacing. I've changed 2 but the others are stuck fast. I read guidance on the site about making sure the engine is hot and use prenetrating oil. I've done this - The plugs will move but they are VERY tight.

Does anyone have any other ideas for making the plugs easier to remove? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Regards Mark

Hi sound like you have a good chance of getting these out
"The plugs will move but they are VERY tight."
Apply easit, plus gas etc for a couple of days try to get the motor hotter than before
Then undo maybe 1/2 of one flat (1/12 of a turn) our less then tighten a bit less than 1/2 a flat then undo 1/2 a flat the tighten and so on (don't just keep undoing it in one hit)

Kevin

 

[Mark300TD]

hi, thanks for the advice. Appreciated. I've not heard of easit and can't find on the internet. Can you advise where i can get this from or send me a link. Also you mention gas - is this petrol?

Regards Mark

 

[mattkh]

Also you mention gas - is this petrol? Regards Mark

Hi
It is not petrol, it is called Plusgas.

 

[wireman]

Douse it in penetrant and keep trying in a bit out a bit.

If that does not work and it sticks part way and if you can access it end on, A healthy clonk with a hammer and suitable drift (hollow to take the terminal pin and allow the drift to be in contact with the plugs steel body) might help crack any carbon thats built up in the seat and threads.
This might not be easy in situ, but it does work on rusted bolts and the like.

Only hit the steel body bit, the terminal will probably colapse into the plug if you clout it and that wont help.

Only hit it dead centre and along its axis, otherwise it may bend and things will then get worse.

It is not unknown that the cylinder head needs removal to do the job properly.

There are several types of penetrant easing agents (I have not seen plusgas for years), they all need time to get into the sized up parts. Diesel oil is pretty good.

 

[Mark300TD]

Hi, thanks everyone for the advice. Despite all the steps i took these plugs were stuck very tightly into the head. I soaked in diesel oil for days, warmed the engine and kept rewarming, unscrewed slightly then screwed back in i.e. out a bit, in a bit.

If anyone is planning to change the plugs then be very careful. It's not unusual to shear a plug. Ideally you'd want to change the lot whilst the manifold is off. As there is a risk of shearing the heads off i'd recommend you only swap the ones which will remove easily and those which are faulty.

I ended up shearing the head off a plug. They can be removed without removing the head but you'll need to be good with a set of drills and taps and you'll need lots of patience.

The car is working fine now. For the hassle i've gone through i wished i'd only replaced the faulty plug - or left it and put up with the lumpy start up for the first 20 seconds.